Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

“Night-time” Prayer: “I stay awake through the night, thinking about your promise.” (148)

Instead of being kept awake at night by worry and fear, he purposely arises to meditate upon all the promises of God. To meditate means to focus upon a thought, to speak or sing to oneself. In Hebrew this is “watches of the night”, 4 segments of 3 hours each in which the soldiers would guard the camp. Jesus prayed through all the watches of the night in the garden of Gethsemane before his crucifixion; “So he went back to pray a third time, saying the same things again. [‘My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away until I drink it, your will be done.’]” (Mt. 26:44, 42)

“Confident” Prayer: “In your faithful love, O Lord, hear my cry; in your justice, save my life.” (149)

There is peace in his prayer because he is reminded of the ‘covenant love’ God has promised to his followers and his absolute justice that will not allow the wicked to triumph.

“Reality” Prayer: “Those lawless people are coming near to attack me; they live far from your law.” (150)

True prayer acknowledges the unpleasant realities of life; his enemies are very ‘near’ him and very ‘far’ from any acknowledgement of the laws of God. He is about to suffer a literal attack upon his life.

“Close” Prayer: “But you are near, O Lord, and all your commands are true.” (151)

In the previous verse he affirms the nearness of his enemy but in this verse he counters that thought with ultimate ‘closeness’ of God. He stands upon the ground of truth together with Christ who himself is the ‘truth’; “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” (Jn. 14:6)

“Heritage” Prayer: “I have known from my earliest days that your decrees never change.” (152)

The psalmist draws upon the heritage of his knowledge of God from his earliest recollections to face the challenge before him. Paul told Timothy: “You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.” (2 Tim. 3:15)

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“Rescue Me”: “Look down upon my sorrows and rescue me, for I have not forgotten your law.” (153)

The battle against God’s word is most intense at the end of the psalm reflecting the psalmist’s life. He has stood against the flood of ungodliness as the people around him have left the commandments of God; “Yet my people have forgotten me; they burn incense to worthless idols, which made them stum- ble in their ways and in the ancient paths.” (Jer. 18:15)

“Protect my life”: “Argue my case; take my side! Protect my life as you promised.” (154)

He appeals to the justice of God and asks him to be his defense attorney. This is the role of the Holy Spirit today: “And when he (the Advocate, the Holy Spirit; legal representative in courts of law) comes, he will convince the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.” (Jn. 16:8) “The wicked”: “The wicked are far from salvation, for they do not bother with your principles.” (155) The writer is taking into account the spiritual geography of those who neglect the word of God; they are “far from salvation.”James tells us the way back to a relationship with him; “Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you.” (James 4:8)

“Great is your Mercy”: “Lord, how great is your mercy; in your justice, give me back my life.” (156)

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