9/28/20 Monday
Journal Ps 119:25-48 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)
Scripture: “Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works…for I find my delight in your commandments (which I love)…I will lift up my hands toward your commandments (which I love) and I will meditate on your statutes…my hope is in your rules…” excerpts from Ps 119:27; 47-48; 43b
Observation: Looks like a very large part of Psalms 119 is worship of and because of the Word of God. If I thought very hard, I wonder if I would remember a time where, after seeing a particular section of scripture, I just sat back, lifted my hands, and worshipped?
I am thinking now and coming up with nothing. I don’t think that is good…
Analysis: Reading today, and wondering about what I was reading, Mary and Martha showed up in my gray matter between my ears.
Thinking about it, these two women are the poster children for the “Let’s go and DO!” verses “Wait on the Lord.” I would say that these are two sides to the same coin, but I have seen a lot of folks pay attention to one side and ignore the other.
In my mind, I would say I am balanced between both (fairly, anyway)—but the mirror always tends to give a skewed and favorable ego reflection. Takes work to get through the self–“pat on the back” stage and listen to the Spirit’s evaluation of me. He tends to be blunt, if you know what I mean…
Still, I would rather do nothing and wait on the Lord than to go off all enthusiastic and half-cocked. Candidly, I know this is a shaky position, but I don’t know of anything better just yet.
At the same time, what better can I do in this time given by God than to “delight in his commands?” To kindle a love for His Word?
A ton of folks I grew up with would vehemently crow against “my hope is in your rules” because that would “be against the Spirit” and tantamount in being a Pharisee. But that is not what the Psalmist is writing at all…
I just got off Hebrews and reviewing “foundations” (or the lack of) and here I am in Ps 119 reviewing “love My Word, love My precepts, love My doctrine, love My law”—not just “love” like in I have a favorable inclination of emotion towards it, but “love” as in DELIGHT which drives me to worship.
I wonder what the Hebrew word is for delight?
Prayer: Lord, the more I read, the more I am seeing that delighting in your word has emphasis; maybe more so than doing stuff.
Step by step, moment by moment, one block upon another—learn by building on a strong foundation of good, godly doctrine…that’s the ticket. AMEN