Psalm 119: Yodh

Today’s stanza of Psalm 119 rings of comfort and solace.  The psalmist sets a foundation in the first line, taking rest in God as Creator.  The God of the universe who has created us, give us understanding. This is my own paraphrase, but take a moment to rest in that prayer.

We don’t have to figure it all out!  He gives us what we need when we need it.  In James 1:5 we read:

Now if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask for it from God, who gives to all without reservation and not reproaching, and it will be given to him.

In Matthew 7 Jesus encourages us:

7“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened for you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

The big question here is: do we ask God for comfort according to His Word?  Do we find solace in His Word?  He has promised to care for us, protect us, and in fact called the Holy Spirit the Comforter.  I find sometimes my behaviors or thoughts follow the belief that God is some overseeing slave master nodding with approval or disdain and I must “mind my p’s and q’s” or else something bad is going to happen.  Maybe we wouldn’t outwardly explain our relationship with God like that, but what does our behavior reveal?  While God does watch over us and is disappointed when I act outside of His will, this isn’t the overarching character of the Father.  He loves us!  He is with us, He is caring for us, and He comforts us.

In my focusing prayer meditation today, it referenced the two greatest commandments (yes, I am writing this on Friday, but you are getting it today).  It revealed to me that our focus should be on love.  Loving God and loving others in kind.  You can listen by clicking here to the Pray As You Go daily meditation if interested. I believe this is what the psalmist was writing about!  Maybe it’s just because it was at the forefront of my mind as I started reading scripture, but the bible is an aid for us in how to love God better and love others well.  Why else would the psalmist constantly plead for God to give him more understanding?  In verse 77 he asks for God’s compassion so that he may live. There is life and freedom in God’s Word!  It teaches us how to live life to the full.  Sometimes we need it just to survive life, but that gets us “over the hump” so we can have life and have it abundantly.  In John 10, the chapter of the “good shepherd,” Jesus (aka The Word become flesh) tells us plainly:

9 I am the door. If anyone enters through me, he will be saved, and will come in and will go out and will find pasture. 10 The thief ⌊comes only⌋ so that he can steal and kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

The abundant life isn’t about how much money we have, but in how much comfort we take in the Lord!  But how do we get that comfort?  By reading God’s Word!  We then can learn from Him, cling to His promises, and walk in His truth.