Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

In ‘Acts’ there were wicked men who set a trap to murder the Apostle Paul for keeping the law and testimony of Christ in his heart. Their plot was reported to the Roman Governor by Paul’s nephew and he avoided their trap: “Some Jews are going to ask you to bring Paul before the Jewish high council to- morrow, pretending they want to get some more information. But don’t do it! There are more than forty men hiding along the way ready to jump him and kill him.” (Acts 23:20,21)

“Your decrees are my treasure; they are truly my heart’s delight.” (111)

God’s decrees are the inheritance he has left for the believer. They are a rich gift that thrills the heart of those who seek him day and night: “Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be.”(Mt. 6:21)

“I am determined to keep your principles, even forever, to the very end.”(112)

The battle against temptation is won by the boundaries we pre-determine for ourselves. In moments when we are allured to sin is not the time to be making those moral decisions. We must be determined to finish the race at all costs: “And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish.” (Heb. 12:1, 2)

Samech s

The undecided- “I hate those who are undecided about you, but my choice is clear–I love your law.” (113)

In this ‘Samech’ section of 8 verses there is an equal balance of describing evil people (4 verses) contrasted with the person of prayer (4 verses). It begins with the double minded, a person who is un- decided about two different opinions. The prophet Elijah confronted the nation of Israel about this per- ilous condition of the mind: “’How long are you going to waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!’ But the people were completely silent.” (1 Kgs. 18:21)

“You are my refuge and my shield; your word is my only source of hope.” (114)

The NKJ version describes “refuge” as “You are my hiding place…” . God’s promise provides a place where the emotions of fear and worry cannot enter. They are completely cancelled next to the thoughts of God! In the presence of his word, the anxieties of the soul are filtered out and replaced with the cre- ative power of hope.

The evil-minded “Get out of my life, you evil-minded people, for I intend to obey the commands of my God.” (115)

Although we are to love those who are controlled by sin and share our Savior with them, there is an essential chasm that separates our manner of life: “Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can goodness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and the Devil?” (2 Cor. 6:14, 15)

“Lord, sustain me as you promised, that I may live! Do not let my hope be crushed.” (116)

The essence of this psalm is captured here; God’s grace empowers the entire process of under- standing, believing and acting out the commands of God. Faith in his promise propels us into a state of hope where we ‘want or expect something’, we are filled with a ‘confident desire’ or the sense of a ‘like- lihood of success.’ 19 If the promise were not true, hope would be an illusion; but his promises are real and our hopes are justified.

“Sustain me, and I will be saved; then I will meditate on your principles continually.” (117)

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