Psalm 119: Teth

There are times when I read God’s Word and I feel as though I am tested in my belief.  It is easy to say I believe in what I am reading.  However, to say you believe in something is one thing, to live as if you do is another! The psalmist’s words in this stanza are difficult to make my own.  Do I really believe in God’s commandments?  If so, why?  Do I believe that God is good and does good?  Why?  Do I delight in God’s law? Do I believe it is good when I am afflicted?  Are the words of God’s mouth more important to me than thousands of gold pieces?

Today’s passage is a deeply reflective one.  I don’t want us to miss the importance of what is written here.  We can easily dismiss it because they are “someone else’s words.”  Maybe we don’t do it consciously, but on some level when faced with a difficult scriptural passage, we find a way to dismiss it.  Maybe we consider that it was written to a different audience in a different time.  Maybe it’s “just a poem” and we aren’t supposed to take it literally.  Maybe this passage “isn’t for me” or I don’t understand its point, so I can avoid the awkwardness of being confronted by God’s holiness and truth and therefore sidestep its transformative power.

Take a moment to reread Psalm 119: Teth slowly.  Note the lines that aren’t true in your life.  Be honest with yourself and then ask God to show you why it isn’t true.  How can it become true?  Where do you need God’s help?  Where do you need humility?  What needs to change in your life so that you revere God’s Word in the way the psalmist does?

Do you have it?  Did you write it down? My most challenging verse is 67: Before I was afflicted I went astray; But now I observe thy word. I can admit that previously in my life I was afflicted and astray, but to be bold enough and honestly say I observe God’s Word is not something I could say with 100% confidence.  I do observe, however, that when I do not observe God’s Word, I am astray!  My commitment then is to learn more of God’s Word so that I won’t go astray!  I believe this is the reason God nudged me to start writing again, because it is through this very blog that I am able to dig deeper into God’s Word and understand it so that I may not go astray.

One other thing that stands out to me in this passage is the psalmist’s delight in being afflicted.  This is a hard saying!  Yet, I am reminded of what is written in Hebrews 12:

5 And have you completely forgotten the exhortation which instructs you as sons? My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,        or give up when you are corrected by him. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one whom he loves, and punishes every son whom he accepts.”  7 Endure it for discipline. God is dealing with you as sons. For what son is there whom a father does not discipline? 8 But if you are without discipline, in which all legitimate sons have become participants, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we have had ⌊our earthly fathers⌋ who disciplined us, and we respected them. Will we not much rather subject ourselves to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a few days according to what seemed appropriate to them, but he does so for our benefit, in order that we can have a share in his holiness. 11 Now all discipline seems for the moment not to be joyful but painful, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness for those who are trained by it.

Difficult times are uncomfortable, yet they forge us as God’s children.  This passage can easily be misunderstood as every difficult circumstance is a punishment from God because we did something bad and now must pay for it.  We could dive really deep into the theology of payment for sins, but the gist is: why would God punish us for something Jesus already died and paid for?  There are consequences for our actions and we must abide by the law of the land.  However, the Lord’s discipline is so that we can learn from our mistakes and be a better child of His.  It’s His grace, love, and mercy that disciplines us.  Otherwise, He wouldn’t care and just leave us to our devices.  A parent punishes his child when he keeps running out into the street…not because he wants to “exact justice” on the child, but to protect him and teach him not to take the dangerous path that could one day be detrimental and even fatal for him!  Have you ever thanked your parents for disciplining you as a child?  Discipline creates disciples, obedient followers of the Law.  If this is true, then what is God trying to teach you through His discipline?

I don’t do this often, but I want to encourage you to comment on today’s devotional what God is teaching you. What is one thing you are doing so that this stanza rings true for you?  Where can you grow in obedience to God’s Word so that it becomes worth more to you than thousands of pieces of gold?