January 19, 2010 (Psalm 119: 1-176)

Psalm 119 is the longest Psalm in the Bible. I reread the whole thing this morning, even though I had read the first half a couple of days ago. It seems my mind has been 'consumed' with thoughts of our friend David, still buried in the rubble in Haiti.

This Psalm is one of my favorites, even though it is so long. It tells of my heart's cry...

⁴ You have charged us
to keep your commandments carefully.
⁵ Oh, that my actions would consistently
reflect your decrees!

And how do we keep ourselves pure?

⁹ How can a young person stay pure?
By obeying your word.
¹⁰ I have tried hard to find you—
don’t let me wander from your commands.
¹¹ I have hidden your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.

By hiding His word in our hearts. By memorizing. This past week has been a reminder of how important that is. I will renew my efforts to memorize.

I wonder how much David Hames has memorized, as I'm sure he has needed reminders of God's protection and faithfulness. When we can't open God's word to receive His promises and comfort, it's important to have His word hidden in our hearts.

²⁵ I lie in the dust;
revive me by your word.
²⁸ I weep with sorrow;
encourage me by your word.
⁴⁹ Remember your promise to me;
it is my only hope.
⁵⁰ Your promise revives me;
it comforts me in all my troubles.
⁵² I meditate on your age-old regulations;
O Lord, they comfort me.
⁸¹ I am worn out waiting for your rescue,
but I have put my hope in your word.
⁸² My eyes are straining to see your promises come true.
When will you comfort me?
⁸⁸ In your unfailing love, spare my life;
then I can continue to obey your laws.
⁹² If your instructions hadn’t sustained me with joy,
I would have died in my misery.
⁹³ I will never forget your commandments,
for by them you give me life.
⁹⁴ I am yours; rescue me!
For I have worked hard at obeying your commandments.
⁹⁷ Oh, how I love your instructions!
I think about them all day long.
⁹⁸ Your commands make me wiser than my enemies,
for they are my constant guide.
¹⁰⁵ Your word is a lamp to guide my feet
and a light for my path.
¹⁰⁶ I’ve promised it once, and I’ll promise it again:
I will obey your righteous regulations.
¹⁰⁷ I have suffered much, O Lord;
restore my life again as you promised.
¹⁰⁸ Lord, accept my offering of praise,
and teach me your regulations.
¹⁰⁹ My life constantly hangs in the balance,
but I will not stop obeying your instructions.
¹¹⁶ Lord, sustain me as you promised, that I may live!
Do not let my hope be crushed.
¹¹⁷ Sustain me, and I will be rescued;
then I will meditate continually on your decrees.
¹²³ My eyes strain to see your rescue,
to see the truth of your promise fulfilled.
¹²⁴ I am your servant; deal with me in unfailing love,
and teach me your decrees.
¹³² Come and show me your mercy,
as you do for all who love your name.
¹⁴⁰ Your promises have been thoroughly tested;
that is why I love them so much.
¹⁴¹ I am insignificant and despised,
but I don’t forget your commandments.
¹⁴² Your justice is eternal,
and your instructions are perfectly true.
¹⁴³ As pressure and stress bear down on me,
I find joy in your commands.
¹⁴⁵ I pray with all my heart; answer me, Lord!
I will obey your decrees.
¹⁴⁶ I cry out to you; rescue me,
that I may obey your laws.
¹⁴⁷ I rise early, before the sun is up;
I cry out for help and put my hope in your words.
¹⁴⁸ I stay awake through the night,
thinking about your promise.
¹⁴⁹ In your faithful love, O Lord, hear my cry;
¹⁵³ Look upon my suffering and rescue me,
for I have not forgotten your instructions.
¹⁵⁴ Argue my case; take my side!
¹⁵⁹ See how I love your commandments, Lord.
Give back my life because of your unfailing love.
¹⁶⁶ I long for your rescue, Lord,
so I have obeyed your commands.
¹⁶⁷ I have obeyed your laws,
for I love them very much.
¹⁶⁸ Yes, I obey your commandments and laws
because you know everything I do.
¹⁶⁹ O Lord, listen to my cry;
give me the discerning mind you promised.
¹⁷⁰ Listen to my prayer;
rescue me as you promised.
¹⁷¹ Let praise flow from my lips,
for you have taught me your decrees.
¹⁷² Let my tongue sing about your word,
for all your commands are right.
¹⁷³ Give me a helping hand,
for I have chosen to follow your commandments.
¹⁷⁴ O Lord, I have longed for your rescue,
and your instructions are my delight.
¹⁷⁵ Let me live so I can praise you,
and may your regulations help me.

Those are just a few of the verses that are so applicable to this situation. Call me stupid but I know, even after a week, God is able to sustain and keep David alive. He can give supernatural sustenance. There are examples in the Old Testament of people going without food and water for 40 days. Lazarus was dead for three days, and yet Jesus called him from the grave and he walked out alive. We love and serve an amazing God. I continue to hope and pray for a miracle.