Deal bountifully with Your servant,Gimel-- (The "G" sounds like an "H") the third letter of the Hebrew alphabet and the third segment of this acrostic poem, written by the Psalmist to express their desire to really know God and obey, in spite of those who ridiculed them.
That I may live and keep Your word.
Open my eyes, that I may see
Wondrous things from Your law.
I am a stranger in the earth;
Do not hide Your commandments from me.
My soul breaks with longing
For Your judgments at all times.
You rebuke the proud—the cursed,
Who stray from Your commandments.
Remove from me reproach and contempt,
For I have kept Your testimonies.
Princes also sit and speak against me,
But Your servant meditates on Your statutes.
Your testimonies also are my delight
And my counselors. Psalm 119:17-24 NKJV
In this segment, we see the Psalmist seeking God's generosity in pouring out understanding of His laws. The Psalmist realizes that without knowing and understanding how God wants us to live that our lives are cut short and we do not accomplish all that God has planned for us.
Do we understand that if we do not obey God's commandments, we will not receive all He plans for us? Are our souls disturbed when we do the wrong things enough to instantly repent and seek God's guidance? Are we overly concerned about what people say about us--those who ridicule us for our belief in God and in keeping His commandment of love?
There are many who sit in high places as well as low places (hierarchy of either class or authority) who ridicule Believers on a regular basis. Some of them claim to be atheists and others are simply born to be obnoxious. What they haven't learned yet is they are entitled to not believe just as we are entitled to believe--without all the vitriol constantly launched in our direction. Many claim to want to "open our eyes" to their truths so we won't believe, but the truth of the matter is--they have no truth--other than what has been contrived in the minds of those who are influenced by the enemy--and they are many!
However, for those of us who are steadfast in our belief and faith in a living God, we have no reason to be concerned about the enemy's attempt to ridicule us. We can stare them down, smile, remind them God loves them and keep going. We do not have to argue our faith--we simply need to live it!
The Psalmist has observed what happens to those who turn away from God and they are determined not to suffer the same fate. The testimonies of God is what we witness--what happens to other people--either those who stand firm in their faith or those who turn aside.
It is not that difficult then to understand what is happening in our world today. We see the results of a land in which many have turned aside from obeying God and all other authority in the land. If we choose to refute and live in opposition to God's Word, we have no choice but receive what we deserve. If those who obey are blessed, then those who don't are cursed. If we delight in obeying God's Word, then those who don't are bitter.
Where are we on this journey in life? Are we seeking God's counsel or we just living by the seat of our pants--with no understanding or direction?
The path to happiness and abundant joy is accessible--we simply have to choose to follow the way God has determined for us.
No comments:
Post a Comment