The Decrees that Changed the World for the Better (Psalm 118-124)
“It’s the longest chapter though. Ugh! I’ll read a shorter one today….” If you’ve ever heard yourself say that, know that you are not alone. It is common to shy away from a longer Psalm in lieu of a quick, shorter Psalm. However, when you break it down, the love for the decrees show a heart that Christian’s can emulate.
The NIV Study Bible, describes the unknown author as follows:
- Israelite with extreme piety/reverence;
- passionately devoted to the decrees in the Word of God as the Word of his life;
- humbly acknowledged the errant ways of his heart and life;
- knew the pain and fruits of God’s corrective discipline; and
- suffered much at the hands of those who arrogantly disregarded God’s Word and made him the target of their hostility, ridicule, and slander.
all is lost
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Requests for Guidance…
The man knew hardships, but he also knew the love of God. Take note of, then, the multiple times he requests these of the Lord:
- Do not let me stray from your commands
- Teach me your decrees
- Open my eyes
- Do not hide your commands
- Remove from me scorn and contempt
Deep Desire for the Word…
Similarly, we can take great lessons from this Israelite by requesting the same of God. But lest we think our allegiance stops there, he also confirms his role in the relationship he has with God. He also displays a right attitude for us to emulate, I will:
- praise you
- obey your decrees
- seek you
- have hidden your Word in my heart
- recount all the laws
- rejoice in following your statutes
- meditate on your precepts
- delight in your decrees
- not neglect your Word
- obey your Word
- meditate on your decrees; and
- my soul is consumed with longing for your laws.
Deep Desire for the Decrees…
Clearly, the decrees of the Bible were not burdensome or restrictive but a guiding light along a dark path, a welcome gift to one who sought a righteous life.
This was a vastly different viewpoint than the Israelites as a whole during Isaiah’s time, emphasis added:
So then, the Word of the Lord to them will become: Do and do, do and do, rule on rule, rule on rule.
Isaiah 28:13a
The Lord says, “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.
Isaiah 29:13
A motto that should hold fast to every area in our lives… why not grab a daily reminder to boast of Our King!
Devotion to the Word…
Undoubtedly, the theme of the longest chapter is defined well, devotion to the Word of God. “God’s directives for life” and “God’s promises–the one calling for obedience, the other for faith (the two elements of true godliness)” are explained thoroughly by the author.
The Psalmist ends the poem with a confession that he still sins even though he holds the decrees so dear. Surely, a humble servant.
Before the day is over, I implore you to read the longest chapter for yourself (again) to grasp for yourself the absolute passion the Psalmist had for the decrees in His Word, and hopefully to carry over into your own life even more than you already do!
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The psalmist’s emotional connection to the scriptures is breathtaking and so convicting.
Thank you for hosting! This is a beautiful Psalm. I love how he clearly desires to keep the Law, yet admits that he cannot, for we are all human. It is impossible to keep the full Law, and God knew that. In the greatest demonstration of love ever displayed, He came to keep that Law and paid the ransom demanded for sins!