Devotions

20231124

near

Psalm 119:145-152 (JDV)

Psalm 119:145 I call with all my heart; answer me, Yahveh. I will obey your prescriptions.
Psalm 119:146 I call to you; deliver me, and I will keep your warning signs.
Psalm 119:147 I rise before dawn and cry out for help; I put my hope in your word.
Psalm 119:148 I am awake through the night watches to meditate on your promise.
Psalm 119:149 In keeping with your covenant faithfulness, hear my voice. Yahveh, give me life in keeping with your justice.
Psalm 119:150 Those who pursue evil plans come near; they are far from your instruction.
Psalm 119:151 You are near, Yahveh and all your commands are true.
Psalm 119:152 Long ago I learned from your warning signs that you have established them permanently.

David’s troubles are keeping him up all night. The conspirators are near and he is afraid. But God is also near and David experiences that nearness by meditating of God’s word. Try it!

20231122

understanding

Psalm 119:129-136 (JDV)

Psalm 119:129 Your warning signs are miraculous; therefore I obey them.
Psalm 119:130 Exposure to your word brings light and gives understanding to the inexperienced.
Psalm 119:131 I open my mouth and pant because I long for your commands.
Psalm 119:132 Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is your practice toward those who love your name.
Psalm 119:133 Make my steps steady through your promise; don’t let any sin dominate me.
Psalm 119:134 Redeem me from human exploitation, and I will keep your directions.
Psalm 119:135 Make your face shine on your servant and teach me your prescriptions.
Psalm 119:136 My eyes pour out streams of tears because people do not follow your instruction.

understanding

Some people talk as if they can only get understanding by experiencing life. David rejects that notion. He says that the inexperienced need to be exposed to God’s word. We don’t have to fail to learn what failure is. We don’t have to keep sinning to learn the consequences of sin. What we need is to turn to God and follow his instruction. David sees a world not doing that, and his eyes stream with tears.

20231121

gold

Psalm 119:121-128 (JDV)

Psalm 119:121 I have done what is just and right; do not leave me to my exploiters.
Psalm 119:122 Guarantee your servant’s well-being; do not let the arrogant exploit me.
Psalm 119:123 My eyes grow weary looking for your deliverance and for your righteous promise.
Psalm 119:124 Deal with your servant based on your covenant faithfulness; teach me your prescriptions.
Psalm 119:125 I am your servant; give me understanding so that I may know your warning signs.
Psalm 119:126 It is time for Yahveh to act because they have violated your instruction.
Psalm 119:127 Since I love your commands more than gold, even the purest gold,
Psalm 119:128 I carefully follow all your directions and hate every false road.

gold

When we learn to love God’s commands more than gold, we can expect him to deliver us as David did here. We need eyes to see God’s word as the valuable asset that it is.

20231117

firm

Psalm 119:89-96 (JDV)

Psalm 119:89 Yahveh, your word is permanent; it is firmly fixed in heaven.
Psalm 119:90 Your faithfulness is for all generations; you established the earth, and it stands firm.
Psalm 119:91 Your judgments stand firm today, for all things are your servants.
Psalm 119:92 If your instruction had not been my delight, I would have died in my misery.
Psalm 119:93 I will never forget your directions because you have given me life through them.
Psalm 119:94 I am yours; deliver me, because I have studied your directions.
Psalm 119:95 The wicked hope to destroy me, but I contemplate your warning signs.
Psalm 119:96 I have seen a limit to every perfect thing, but your command is without limit.

firm

Because God is the author of his word, it stands firmly fixed. By focusing on the instructions in his word, we can survive the storms we will encounter in our ever-changing world.