... in the name of the Father, and
of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Amen. Through the prayers of our
holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us. Amen. Glory
to You, our God, Glory to You.
O Heavenly King,
the Comforter, the Spirit of truth, You are everywhere and fill all things,
Treasury of blessings, and Giver of life: come and abide in us, and cleanse us
from every impurity, and save our souls, O Good One.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy
Immortal, have mercy on us (three times).
Psalm 119, Part C
Forever, Lord, Your word
is settled in heaven. Your faithfulness [is] to all generations. You have established the earth. It abides.
They continue this day according to Your ordinances: for [all] are Your servants. Unless Your law [had been] my delight, I should then have perished in my affliction. I will never forget Your precepts: for with
them You have brought me to life. I [am] Yours. Save me: for I have sought Your precepts. The wicked have waited for me to destroy me. I will consider Your testimonies. I have seen an end of all perfection. Your commandment [is] exceeding broad.
Oh how I love Your law! It [is]
my meditation all the day. You, through Your
commandments, have made me wiser than my enemies: for they [are] ever with me. I have more understanding than all my
teachers: for Your testimonies [are]
my meditation. I understand more than
the ancients: because I keep Your precepts.
I have refrained my feet from every evil way, so that I might keep Your
word. I have not departed from Your
judgments: for You have taught me. How
sweet are Your words to my taste! [Sweeter] than honey [is] to my mouth! Through Your precepts, I get understanding. Therefore, I hate every false way.
Your word [is] a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path. I have sworn, and I will perform, that I will
keep Your righteous judgments. I am
afflicted very much. Make me alive, Lord, according to Your word. Accept,
I beseech You, the freewill offerings of my mouth, Lord. Teach me Your judgments. My soul [is]
continually in my hand. Yet I forget not
Your law. The wicked have laid a snare
for me. Yet I erred not from Your
precepts. Your testimonies have I taken
as a heritage forever: for they [are]
the rejoicing of my heart. I have
inclined my heart to perform Your statutes always, [to] the end.
I hate [vain]
thoughts. But Your law I love. You [are]
my hiding place and my shield. I hope in
Your word. Depart from me, you
evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God. Uphold me according to Your word, so that I may
live. Let me not be ashamed of my hope. Hold me up, and I shall be safe. I will have respect to Your statutes
continually. You have trodden down all those
who err from Your statutes: for their deceit [is] falsehood. You put away
all the wicked of the earth [like]
dross. Therefore I love Your
testimonies. My flesh trembles for fear
of You. I am afraid of Your judgments.
I have done judgment and justice. Leave me not to my oppressors. Be security for Your servant for good. Let not the proud oppress me. My eyes fail for Your salvation, for the word
of Your righteousness. Deal with Your
servant according to Your mercy. Teach
me Your statutes. I [am] Your servant. Give me understanding, that I may know Your
testimonies. [It is] time for [You], Lord, to work.[6] They have made void Your law. Therefore I love Your commandments above
gold, yes, above fine gold. Therefore I treasure
all [Your] precepts [concerning] all [things to be] right. I hate
every false way.
Your testimonies [are] wonderful. Therefore,
my soul keeps them. The entrance of Your
words gives light. It gives
understanding to the simple. I opened my
mouth, and panted: for I longed for Your commandments. Look on me, and be merciful to me, as You use
to do to those who love Your name. Order
my steps in Your word. Let not any
iniquity have dominion over me. Deliver me
from the oppression of man. So I will keep
Your precepts. Make Your face shine on Your
servant. Teach me Your statutes. Rivers of waters run down my eyes, because
they keep not Your law.
________
If you have been
blessed or helped by any of these meditations in Psalms, please repost or share
all of them.
[1] Lamed
moves beyond Resurrection to the Ascension, Glorification, and Enthronement of
Christ on the throne of David (Acts 2:30-31), which is certified and sealed to
The Church by and on the Day of Pentecost 33 AD. A great number of moral issues are debated
among men. Not one of these is open for
discussion in heaven. Man’s
responsibility is not to debate, but rather to get in step, “Your
word is settled in heaven.” The defiant
can only be destroyed. This heavenly
reality forms the basis of the psalmist’s delight in the Law. God’s very faithfulness prevents his annihilation
(perished). Consequently, he does not
forget the Law, because he is already a dead and resurrected man. This resurrection enables him to seek, and
overthrows his wicked enemies, who in the service of Satan seek to destroy
him. The Law expresses heavenly
perfection. Its scope covers the
Universe (it’s exceeding broad).
[2] Mem
shows that increased love for Your Law grows from understanding its heavenly
nature. The Law is not merely another
set of earthy ordinances, like the code of Hammurabi; it is specifically, Your
Law. The Law is Yahweh’s loving
instrument that imparts wisdom to His child, the psalmist. Because the psalmist meditates on the Law day
and night, he is wiser than his enemies, his earthly teachers, and even the
ancients. Commitment to God’s Law constructs
a building wherein each generation is able to build on previous ones. We are wiser because we stand on our father’s
shoulders. This is indeed sweet, filled
with understanding, and the power to reject falsehood. The psalmist does not yet understand what
this sweetness will do to his belly (Revelation 10:10). Ultimately, God’s Word lights a fire in the
belly that cannot be extinguished.
[3] Nun
discloses that the Law (word) is a light to ward off encroaching darkness. The day of life is spent and evening
approaches rapidly. The afflictions of
age are increasing. Resurrection (Make me alive) through the Law becomes more intense. The psalmist does not take for granted that
his offerings are acceptable. He still
needs to be taught. All his remaining
human faculties and powers are committed to the Law, “I have sworn … will perform
… keep….” He does not forget or err. He is determined to follow God anywhere he
leads, even to the grave, and beyond the grave.
[4] Samech
brings a certain peacefulness. Much of
life is seen as vanity, but the Law remains supreme. The Law shows that Yahweh is the psalmist’s hiding
place: he is safe and protected in God.
He brushes off evildoers in order to rush to God and His Law. He confesses his need for continuing
help. He realizes that despisers of the
Law are being trampled down to death by death.
As the force of this life and death reality sinks in, the psalmist is
not so old or so wise that he does not fear.
He trembles and is afraid. Fear
does not mean respect. Fear means fear;
he trembles.
[5] Ain
pictures the Divine Judgment that is coming swiftly. The psalmist does not wish to be left in the
hands of proud oppressors: the strength to resist them is declining with
age. He cries out to Yahweh for rescue, for
security, for help with failing eyesight, for mercy. He is still God’s servant and still needs to
be taught: he has not arrived at perfection.
The Law becomes more and more valuable, as if it were fine gold, better
than gold; so the psalmist treasures it and hates falsehood all the more.
[6] “[It is] time for [You], Lord, to work.” Yahweh’s Law time is not human time: it is
not time for man to work. Yahweh’s Law
time is time for Christ to arise as our Champion, with healing in His wings
(Malachi 4:2); and to make the Law come to life through His Incarnation, life,
sufferings, death, Resurrection, Ascension, Glorification, and Seating until
all His enemies are put under His feet (1 Corinthians 15:24-25; Hebrews 10:13). This is not about an earthly healing
ministry. This healing does not consist
of the mere healing of earthly disease, although it certainly includes that in
heaven; it involves especially the treading down of the wicked and the smiting
of the earth with a curse.
[7] Pe
begins with praises for all the wonderful things the psalmist has learned from
Yahweh, from and about His Law throughout life.
Yet, he realizes that all of these, even his thirst (panted) for the
Law, are only the gifts of God’s mercy.
He still needs to have his steps ordered in God’s Word of Law. He still needs protection from the dominion
of iniquity. He still needs to see the
face of God; this is the principal thing, the beatific vision. He still needs to be taught. Human oppression blocks the path of love for
the Law. Yet, he is still God’s
servant. The psalmist breaks down in
tears; sobbing because of the realization of how far short he comes from the
Law, from the face of Yahweh.
