Psalm 119:153-176

r Resh

¹⁵³ Look upon my suffering and deliver me,
for I have not forgotten your law.

¹⁵⁴ Defend my cause and redeem me;
preserve my life according to your promise.

¹⁵⁵ Salvation is far from the wicked,
for they do not seek out your decrees.

¹⁵⁶ Your compassion is great, O LORD;
preserve my life according to your laws.

¹⁵⁷ Many are the foes who persecute me,
but I have not turned from your statutes.

¹⁵⁸ I look on the faithless with loathing,
for they do not obey your word.

¹⁵⁹ See how I love your precepts;
preserve my life, O LORD, according to your love.

¹⁶⁰ All your words are true;
all your righteous laws are eternal.

S Sin and Shin

¹⁶¹ Rulers persecute me without cause,
but my heart trembles at your word.

¹⁶² I rejoice in your promise
like one who finds great spoil.

¹⁶³ I hate and abhor falsehood
but I love your law.

¹⁶⁴ Seven times a day I praise you
for your righteous laws.

¹⁶⁵ Great peace have they who love your law,
and nothing can make them stumble.

¹⁶⁶ I wait for your salvation, O LORD,
and I follow your commands.

¹⁶⁷ I obey your statutes,
for I love them greatly.

¹⁶⁸ I obey your precepts and your statutes,
for all my ways are known to you.

t Taw

¹⁶⁹ May my cry come before you, O LORD;
give me understanding according to your word.

¹⁷⁰ May my supplication come before you;
deliver me according to your promise.

¹⁷¹ May my lips overflow with praise,
for you teach me your decrees.

¹⁷² May my tongue sing of your word,
for all your commands are righteous.

¹⁷³ May your hand be ready to help me,
for I have chosen your precepts.

¹⁷⁴ I long for your salvation, O LORD,
and your law is my delight.

¹⁷⁵ Let me live that I may praise you,
and may your laws sustain me.

¹⁷⁶ I have strayed like a lost sheep.
Seek your servant,
for I have not forgotten your commands.

Psalm 119:129-152

p Pe

¹²⁹ Your statutes are wonderful;
therefore I obey them.

¹³⁰ The unfolding of your words gives light;
it gives understanding to the simple.

¹³¹ I open my mouth and pant,
longing for your commands.

¹³² Turn to me and have mercy on me,
as you always do to those who love your name.

¹³³ Direct my footsteps according to your word;
let no sin rule over me.

¹³⁴ Redeem me from the oppression of men,

that I may obey your precepts.

¹³⁵ Make your face shine upon your servant
and teach me your decrees.

¹³⁶ Streams of tears flow from my eyes,
for your law is not obeyed.

c Tsadhe

¹³⁷ Righteous are you, O LORD,
and your laws are right.

¹³⁸ The statutes you have laid down are righteous;
they are fully trustworthy.

¹³⁹ My zeal wears me out,
for my enemies ignore your words.

¹⁴⁰ Your promises have been thoroughly tested,
and your servant loves them.

¹⁴¹ Though I am lowly and despised,

I do not forget your precepts.

¹⁴² Your righteousness is everlasting
and your law is true.

¹⁴³ Trouble and distress have come upon me,
but your commands are my delight.

¹⁴⁴ Your statutes are forever right;
give me understanding that I may live.

q Qoph

¹⁴⁵ I call with all my heart; answer me, O LORD,
and I will obey your decrees.

¹⁴⁶ I call out to you; save me
and I will keep your statutes.

¹⁴⁷ I rise before dawn and cry for help;
I have put my hope in your word.

¹⁴⁸ My eyes stay open through the watches of the night,
that I may meditate on your promises.

¹⁴⁹ Hear my voice in accordance with your love;
preserve my life, O LORD, according to your laws.

¹⁵⁰ Those who devise wicked schemes are near,
but they are far from your law.

¹⁵¹ Yet you are near, O LORD,
and all your commands are true.

¹⁵² Long ago I learned from your statutes
that you established them to last forever.

Psalm 119:105-128

Nun

¹⁰⁵ Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light for my path.

¹⁰⁶ I have taken an oath and confirmed it,
that I will follow your righteous laws.

¹⁰⁷ I have suffered much;
preserve my life, O LORD, according to your word.

¹⁰⁸ Accept, O LORD, the willing praise of my mouth,
and teach me your laws.

¹⁰⁹ Though I constantly take my life in my hands,
I will not forget your law.

¹¹⁰ The wicked have set a snare for me,
but I have not strayed from your precepts.

¹¹¹ Your statutes are my heritage forever;
they are the joy of my heart.

¹¹² My heart is set on keeping your decrees
to the very end.

Samekh

¹¹³ I hate double-minded men,
but I love your law.

¹¹⁴ You are my refuge and my shield;
I have put my hope in your word.

¹¹⁵ Away from me, you evildoers,
that I may keep the commands of my God!

¹¹⁶ Sustain me according to your promise, and I will live;
do not let my hopes be dashed.

¹¹⁷ Uphold me, and I will be delivered;
I will always have regard for your decrees.

¹¹⁸ You reject all who stray from your decrees,
for their deceitfulness is in vain.

¹¹⁹ All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross;
therefore I love your statutes.

¹²⁰ My flesh trembles in fear of you;
I stand in awe of your laws.

v Ayin

¹²¹ I have done what is righteous and just;
do not leave me to my oppressors.

¹²² Ensure your servant's well-being;
let not the arrogant oppress me.

¹²³ My eyes fail, looking for your salvation,
looking for your righteous promise.

¹²⁴ Deal with your servant according to your love
and teach me your decrees.

¹²⁵ I am your servant; give me discernment
that I may understand your statutes.

¹²⁶ It is time for you to act, O LORD;
your law is being broken.

¹²⁷ Because I love your commands
more than gold, more than pure gold,

¹²⁸ and because I consider all your precepts right,
I hate every wrong path.

Psalm 119:81-104

I don't know about you, but I HATE to be patient! Sometimes the only thing that gets me thru the "waiting period", is verse 82... "my eyes fail, looking for your promise; I say, When will you comfort me?" You know, sometimes I am so focused on "waiting" that I loose sight of Him...

Kaph

⁸¹ My soul faints with longing for your salvation,
but I have put my hope in your word.

⁸² My eyes fail, looking for your promise;
I say, "When will you comfort me?"

⁸³ Though I am like a wineskin in the smoke,
I do not forget your decrees.

⁸⁴ How long must your servant wait?
When will you punish my persecutors?

⁸⁵ The arrogant dig pitfalls for me,
contrary to your law.

⁸⁶ All your commands are trustworthy;
help me, for men persecute me without cause.

⁸⁷ They almost wiped me from the earth,
but I have not forsaken your precepts.

⁸⁸ Preserve my life according to your love,
and I will obey the statutes of your mouth.

Lamedh

⁸⁹ Your word, O LORD, is eternal;
it stands firm in the heavens.

Those simple 12 words are something I repeat over and over on any given day. Sometimes I repeat them out loud in the middle of the grocery stores and sometimes I scream those words at the top of my lungs while locked in my car. When there is nothing else, His word stands firm forever, and that, it something I can count on.

⁹⁰ Your faithfulness continues through all generations;
you established the earth, and it endures.

⁹¹ Your laws endure to this day,
for all things serve you.

⁹² If your law had not been my delight,
I would have perished in my affliction.

⁹³ I will never forget your precepts,
for by them you have preserved my life.

⁹⁴ Save me, for I am yours;
I have sought out your precepts.

⁹⁵ The wicked are waiting to destroy me,
but I will ponder your statutes.

⁹⁶ To all perfection I see a limit;
but your commands are boundless.

I love that He is boundless. I love that while the wicked wait to destroy me, I can ponder His word and He will answer me. I just love the fact that He is on my side and will never leave.

Mem

⁹⁷ Oh, how I love your law!
I meditate on it all day long.

⁹⁸ Your commands make me wiser than my enemies,
for they are ever with me.

⁹⁹ I have more insight than all my teachers,
for I meditate on your statutes.

¹⁰⁰ I have more understanding than the elders,
for I obey your precepts.

¹⁰¹ I have kept my feet from every evil path
so that I might obey your word.

¹⁰² I have not departed from your laws,
for you yourself have taught me.

¹⁰³ How sweet are your words to my taste,
sweeter than honey to my mouth!

¹⁰⁴ I gain understanding from your precepts;
therefore I hate every wrong path.

I want His word to be inseparable from me. I want my life to be consumed by His word. I want to know His word, I want it to roll of my tongue like my phone number does. I want to be captivated by His word. I want to understand it, love it more than any thing else and I want hear from Him when I open it.

Psalm 119: 73-80

Yodh

⁷³ Your hands made me and formed me;
give me understanding to learn your commands.

⁷⁴ May those who fear you rejoice when they see me,
for I have put my hope in your word.

⁷⁵ I know, O LORD, that your laws are righteous,
and in faithfulness you have afflicted me.

⁷⁶ May your unfailing love be my comfort,
according to your promise to your servant.

⁷⁷ Let your compassion come to me that I may live,
for your law is my delight.

⁷⁸ May the arrogant be put to shame for wronging me without cause;
but I will meditate on your precepts.

⁷⁹ May those who fear you turn to me,
those who understand your statutes.

⁸⁰ May my heart be blameless toward your decrees,
that I may not be put to shame.

Your hands have formed me, You created me, just as I am. Man, it is great to know that He created me, He formed, all of me, even the parts of me that I don’t like, such as my feet. He created me. I cannot get over that…

And then I come to “May your unfailing love be my comfort…” and I want to finish the sentence like this… “May your unfailing love be my comfort, when I look in the mirror and not like what I see.” Or this “May your unfailing love be my comfort, when my heart is broken by the ways of the world.”

And if you can believe it, there is MORE…

“Let your compassion come to me, that I may lice”… First, I was created by Him, all of me was created by Him, then His love for what He created, which is me, is unfailing. AND THEN, I get compassion too!

My prayer is that my heart may be blameless in return for all He has done for me and given me. Man, HE IS GOOD and I LOVE HIM!

Psalm 119: 65-72

Teth

⁶⁵ Do good to your servant
according to your word, O LORD.

⁶⁶ Teach me knowledge and good judgment,
for I believe in your commands.

⁶⁷ Before I was afflicted I went astray,
but now I obey your word.

⁶⁸ You are good, and what you do is good;
teach me your decrees.

⁶⁹ Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies,
I keep your precepts with all my heart.

⁷⁰ Their hearts are callous and unfeeling,
but I delight in your law.

⁷¹ It was good for me to be afflicted
so that I might learn your decrees.

⁷² The law from your mouth is more precious to me
than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.

Sometimes I feel alone. Sometimes I feel like no one is on my side. Sometimes I feel like an outcast. And if I was REALLY honest, I would say most of the time, rather than sometimes. And when those moments come, I beg my Sweet Jesus to be good to His servant, according to His word.

Which means, I often shout at the top of my lungs… Jesus PLEASE, never leave me or forsake me. Never give me more than I can handle and NEVER turn away from me.

And just shortly after the tears fall, I am reminded of how good HE is. Sometimes it feels like there are traps yet out before me, by people who just want to see me fail. Sometimes I feel like I am not smart enough to even read His word, let alone teach it to me son, let alone WRITE a book. For goodness sakes, I am the world’s WORST speller!

And then I am reminded that through the struggle comes strength. Through the pain comes healing and through the loneliness comes comfort. Through the silence comes His Word. And the very words I hear are more precious to me than a winning lottery ticket. After all, He gave up His life for me, a mere lottery ticket is the least I could do… right?

Psalm 119: 57-64

Heth

⁵⁷ You are my portion, O LORD;
I have promised to obey your words.

⁵⁸ I have sought your face with all my heart;
be gracious to me according to your promise.

⁵⁹ I have considered my ways
and have turned my steps to your statutes.

⁶⁰ I will hasten and not delay
to obey your commands.

⁶¹ Though the wicked bind me with ropes,
I will not forget your law.

⁶² At midnight I rise to give you thanks
for your righteous laws.

⁶³ I am a friend to all who fear you,
to all who follow your precepts.

⁶⁴ The earth is filled with your love, O LORD;
teach me your decrees.

As I read over these eight verses, my heart is at peace. His face is peaceful, His face is warm and His face is friendly. I have considered His Word, I have thought about it, I have thought about it again, and again and again. I see Him everywhere I go, I hear Him in a song, a country song, a hip hop song, and a praise song. I see Him in TV shows and I see Him in my son’s face. I cannot sleep because I am still thinking about His Word. I love those who love Him, and I want those who don’t love Him to know Him and love Him. The earth is filled with His glory and I am so excited to watch Him receive the glory that is His…

Psalm 119: 49-56

Zayin

⁴⁹ Remember your word to your servant,
for you have given me hope.

⁵⁰ My comfort in my suffering is this:
Your promise preserves my life.

⁵¹ The arrogant mock me without restraint,
but I do not turn from your law.

⁵² I remember your ancient laws, O LORD,
and I find comfort in them.

⁵³ Indignation grips me because of the wicked,
who have forsaken your law.

⁵⁴ Your decrees are the theme of my song
wherever I lodge.

⁵⁵ In the night I remember your name, O LORD,
and I will keep your law.

⁵⁶ This has been my practice:
I obey your precepts.

There are times when His Word is the ONLY thing that keeps me going. It is the only thing that gets me out of bed some mornings. It is the only thing that keeps me sane when dealing with those mean people who suck and it is the only thing that speaks to me when the world is silent or yelling lies. Sometimes it is the only thing I have, He is the only one I have when I feels like everyone else has left me. And yet, His word sustains and is enough, more than enough. I think there is nothing more beautiful than a tear stained Bible.

Psalm 119: 41-48

Here we are on the 6^th section of Psalm 119 and I must be honest, I am starting to feel like I am not the only one out there that has ever been irrationally emotional towards my Sweet Jesus, and there is more to come. I pray you are walking along with me as I type and I pray He is speaking to you as you read of these words.

Waw

⁴¹ May your unfailing love come to me, O LORD,
your salvation according to your promise;

⁴² then I will answer the one who taunts me,

for I trust in your word.

⁴³ Do not snatch the word of truth from my mouth,
for I have put my hope in your laws.

⁴⁴ I will always obey your law,
for ever and ever.

⁴⁵ I will walk about in freedom,
for I have sought out your precepts.

⁴⁶ I will speak of your statutes before kings
and will not be put to shame,

⁴⁷ for I delight in your commands
because I love them.

⁴⁸ I lift up my hands to your commands, which I love,
and I meditate on your decrees.

Sometimes I think if I screw up just one more time, Sweet Jesus will finally give up on me. Sometimes I question His promise to never leave me or forsake me, and sometimes, I just push Him away. But then there are the words from verses 41 – 48 and peace suddenly comes over my heart. You see, I am not the only one that has ever said to Sweet Jesus “Flood me with your unfailing love and remind me of my salvation because I am really feeling unworthy of you at the moment.” Note verse 41

I am often the most frustration with my Sweet Jesus when mean people surround me. I am not the only one out there that thinks mean people suck! It is right there in verse 42 – I will answer the mean people who suck, I will answer them in love because I trust your word and I trust YOU to deal with them. It is often at this very moment, you know, when I am face to face with one of those mean people, and I really want to say something not so Jesus like and either nothing comes out of the mouth when I open it with every intention to say something nasty, or something straight from His word comes out. I tell ya, it is a miracle! Note verse 43…

I want to be able to say that “I will always obey your law, for ever and ever.” But the reality is, I screw it up every day, every minute of the day. But then, no matter how much I screw up, He forgives me and allows me to speak on HIS BEHALF! I am trusted with His Word and instructed to share it with others, and yet, nine times out of ten, I screw it up.

At the end of the day, when my list of screw ups in longer than my list of successes, I can find a quiet place, open His Word and hear from my Sweet Jesus. I am renewed, forgiven, loved and cherished, no matter what happens to be on my list. How cool is that!

Psalm 119: 33-40

There are many times I spend time asking my Sweet Jesus the very simple and yet complicated questions “why”, and most of the time I feel really bad about questioning the One who created the Heavens and the Earth. And that is where this part of Psalm 119 comes in. You see, I am not the only one out there that has questioned Him…

He

³³ Teach me, O LORD, to follow your decrees;
then I will keep them to the end.

Jesus, teach me about your Word. Teach me what each word means and what you are trying to say to me. Teach me, show me and stretch me so I might never forget the lesson.

³⁴ Give me understanding, and I will keep your law
and obey it with all my heart.

Jesus, why…. Give me understanding for what You do and why You do it when You do it… Sometimes I just don’t get what You do or don’t do…

³⁵ Direct me in the path of your commands,
for there I find delight.

Sweet Jesus, I know I am not always the smartest one in the crowd so even when I don’t understand and am somewhat pissed about it, show me. Don’t give up on me, show me where I am to go or what you are trying to tell or teach me. If I am not hearing you, show me. Show up in a big way!

³⁶ Turn my heart toward your statutes
and not toward selfish gain.

Jesus, capture my heart. Hold on to it tight and don’t let go.

³⁷ Turn my eyes away from worthless things;
preserve my life according to your word.

Jesus, my Sweet Jesus, protect me. Warn me of the things that are not of You, the people, places and things. Keep your promise to never give me more than I can handle. Never leave me or forsake me.

³⁸ Fulfill your promise to your servant,
so that you may be feared.

I hate to admit it, my Sweet Jesus, but sometimes I feel like You are not there when I need you most. Sometimes I doubt the very power Your promises hold. Forgive me, but fulfill Your promises over and over again my Love.

³⁹ Take away the disgrace I dread,
for your laws are good.

Jesus, your redemption is sweet. Your forgiveness is ever lasting and I cannot thank you or praise you enough. I love you. Remove the disgrace from my life, the very stuff I have brought on myself, remove it and replace it with your grace and compassion.

⁴⁰ How I long for your precepts!
Preserve my life in your righteousness.

Jesus, I crave your word. I cannot go without it. I never want to go without it, or without you. Save me, through you, save me, over and over again.

Are you with me? Are you seeing how this very Psalm, the LONGEST Psalm is yet also one of the most personal? How freaking fabulous is His word!!! I pray you are seeing a side of Him you have always wanted to see.