Scripture
Vs 173 Let your hand be ready to help me,
for I have chosen your precepts.
Vs 174 I long for your salvation, O Lord,
and your law is my delight.
Vs 175 Let my soul live and praise you,
and let your rules help me.
Vs 176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant,
for I do not forget your commandments.
Observation
The psalmist is distinguishing between what he is does and what he wants the Lord to do.
The psalmist “chooses” and “delights” and “praises” the Lord and his word.
The Lord “helps” and “seeks” and “saves” the psalmist.
The psalmist also has many various words for God’s word.
“Precepts” … “law” … “rules” … “commandments”.
Application
Every day is full of choices. Every hour is actually.
Am I filtering those choices through the lens of God’s Word?
The psalmist makes it an active process: “I have chosen your precepts”.
How often to act as if God’s Word and His precepts simply exist, but are not an active, life giving, Spirit-filled breath for me to live by!
If I try to live independently of God’s Word, there is no actual life!
And consider what I’m pushing away if I don’t remain active in the Word:
Twice the psalmist references “help”!
Why would I not embrace help from the Lord?!
He is the very giver of life and of salvation!
The psalmist says he “longs” for your salvation, O Lord!
Do I “long” for it?
The psalmist says his “delight” is the Lord’s law!
Do I “delight” in it?
The grace here is refreshing, though.
Even though I “have gone astray like a lost sheep” …
It is “your salvation” … and the Lord “seeks His servant”.
Prayer
Thank You, God, again for you Word
Help delight in it!
Help me remember it!
Help me actively choose it!
In Jesus name,
Amen