"Lead Me (Psalm 119)"

(by David Thomas LaChance) Lead Me (Psalm 119) - The Invitation

Lead Me (Psalm 119) by David Thomas LaChance on Grooveshark

I don't know if this makes me a nerd, but I love Psalm 119! If I can be completely honest, though, that hasn't always been the case. It used to seem long, boring, and repetitious to me. When I would reach it while doing some sort of Bible reading plan, I would take a deep breath & determine to just endure it. But as verse 18 says, God has opened my eyes to see the wonderful truth in His instructions. And that truth brings such joy to my heart & my soul that I can't help but love it now!

So today I'd like to share a few of my favorite verses from Psalm 119. I recently read through it in the NLT, ESV, & NASB. You probably don't care for an explanation, but the verses I have quoted are from the NLT unless otherwise noted. I've tried to condense my favorites down to the verses that summarize what I love about this psalm (so that y'all might actually read this post & not just skip over it because it looks boring or something). Here goes...
Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect Your decrees! Then I will not be ashamed when I compare my life with Your commands. As I learn Your righteous regulations, I will thank You by living as I should! (vs. 5-7)

Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through Your word. (v. 37)

You have done many good things for me, LORD, just as You promised. (v. 65)

You are my refuge and my shield; Your word is my source of hope. (v. 114)

The unfolding of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. (v. 130, NASB)

The very essence of Your words is truth; all Your just regulations will stand forever. (v. 160)

I rejoice in Your word like one who discovers a great treasure. (v. 162)
For now I'd like to draw your attention to a few more, and then I promise I'll be done! I am thankful when I read the psalmist tell of the results of his affliction & suffering. Like David (maybe?), I have found that it is in the trials that God comforts & revives (v. 50). And it is because of them that I have been drawn to Him & taught to pay attention to His words (v. 71)

The psalmist also [repeatedly] talks about being blameless & not wandering away, which can make me feel like a big ol' failure if I were to stop there {which would be the first verse, by the way!} But I love the transparency in verses like 176 {the last one, in case you're keeping track} where he admits that he has wandered away. But he hasn’t forgotten the Lord’s commands & asks Him to come and find him. Again like the psalmist, I fail and wander away at times. But God never relents. And as I continue to turn back to Him, He restores me and redeems my failure. To quote Kay Arthur in a book I've mentioned before, "God and obedience to His precepts are what take us from failure to success by humbling us to the point where we know that the only way to genuinely succeed --to be blameless-- is through Him."

As for the song, of course I love how it repeats, "Your Word has been the theme of my song..." (v. 54) ♥ I could go on, but this is getting to be way longer than I had originally intended. Do you have a favorite verse in Psalm 119? I'd love for you to share it ~ or your favorite verse from any part of the Bible!

Amy

Comments

Love your thoughts here Amy! I love this... Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Such a wonderful image to me! :)
Brooke said…
what kind of readers do you think we are, randomly skipping over boring-looking stuff ;)

i'm currently reading through the Davidic Psalms right now. Been a while since I've read 119, and its not for a few more months on the plan.
Zion said…
Amen! That is encouraging.

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