Day 22, and the final day, of the 119th Psalm, verses 169-176.
“Taw
“169 Let my cry come before You, O YHWH; give me understanding according to Your Word!
“170 Let my plea come before You; deliver me according to Your Word.
“171 My lips will pour forth praise, for You teach me your statutes.
“172 My tongue will sing of Your Word, for all Your commandments are right.
“173 Let Your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen Your precepts.
“174 I long for Your salvation, O YHWH, and Your Law is my delight.
“175 Let my soul live and praise You, and let Your rules help me.
“176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek Your servant, for I do not forget Your commandments.”
– Psalm 119:169-176
THE BREAKDOWN
Verse 169: A prayer for understanding. But more importantly, listen to how the writer speaks of his prayer. He cries out to God for understanding. He is desperate for understanding. Oh, that we should spend time on our knees crying out to God.
Verse 170: A prayer for deliverance.
Verse 171: The more we learn about God’s statutes, the more we will want to praise Him.
Verse 172: We will want to sing praise to Him. His ways are righteous.
Verse 173: God will help those who live obediently to His ways.
Verse 174: We all need salvation. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23). We have put our faith in His salvation and should love His Law.
Verse 175: To this verse, I say, Amen! Let my soul live and praise You, and let Your rules help me.
Verse 176: God will call us back to Him when we have gone astray. Like the prodigal son who remembered how good it was in his father’s house, we should remember God’s commandments and return to them in humility.
Lord, I am desperate to understand Your Law. Deliver me from my sin and teach me Your Law. I will praise you with my lips. I will praise You in song. Let Your rules help me daily. When I go astray, call me back to You. Amen.
Shalom.