Psalm 119:81-88 “My soul faints for your salvation. I hope in your word. My eyes fail for your word. I say, ‘When will you comfort me?’ For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke. I don’t forget your statutes. How many are the days of your servant? When will you execute judgement on those who persecute me? The proud have dug pits for me, contrary to your law. All of your commandments are faithful. They persecute me wrongfully. Help me! They had almost wiped me from the earth, but I didn’t forsake your precepts. Preserve my life according to your loving kindness, so I will obey the statutes of your mouth.”

The Israelites had a reoccurring problem. They would worship God until it seemed like they weren’t getting anything out of it. Then they would turn to idolatry to find a more accommodating God!

Exodus 32:1 “When the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron, and said to him, ‘Come, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we don’t know what has become of him.’ ”

Here the Psalmist reminds us that we don’t just give up on God and His Word when things aren’t going well. In fact, that is precisely when we need to worship and follow Him the most!

Question: Do you search God’s Word so much that your eyes “faint” from exhaustion?

For additional worship: More Precious Than Gold (Acappella)

Psalm 119:73-80 “Your hands have made me and formed me. Give me understanding, that I may learn your commandments. Those who fear you will see me and be glad, because I have put my hope in your word. LORD, I know that your judgements are righteous, that in faithfulness you have afflicted me. Please let your loving kindness be for my comfort, according to your word to your servant. Let your tender mercies come to me, that I may live; for your law is my delight. Let the proud be disappointed, for they have overthrown me wrongfully. I will meditate on your precepts. Let those who fear you turn to me. They will know your statutes. Let my heart be blameless towards your decrees, that I may not be disappointed.”

There are several lessons we learn from our passage. First of all, the God who made us is the one who instructs us and enables us to understand His Word.

1 Corinthians 2:12 “But we received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God, that we might know the things that were freely given to us by God.”

Second, one of the great joys of being believers is the community of faith. We encourage and help each other!

1 Thessalonians 5:11 “Therefore exhort one another, and build each other up, even as you also do.”

Third, when God allows bad things to happen to us, it’s for a purpose.

Romans 5:3-5 “Not only this, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope doesn’t disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

Finally, it’s God’s Word that guides our steps and keeps us from sin, so that we can be blessed!

Psalm 37:30-31 “The mouth of the righteous talks of wisdom. His tongue speaks justice. The law of his God is in his heart. None of his steps shall slide.”

For additional worship: The Word of God has Spoken (Travis Cottrel)

Psalm 119:65-72 “You have treated your servant well, according to your word, LORD. Teach me good judgement and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments. Before I was afflicted, I went astray; but now I observe your word. You are good, and do good. Teach me your statutes. The proud have smeared a lie upon me. With my whole heart, I will keep your precepts. Their heart is as callous as the fat, but I delight in your law. It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn your statutes. The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of pieces of gold and silver.”

Affliction comes, and it doesn’t have to be punishment from God. Sometimes it comes because we go against God’s commands. His Word isn’t just a bunch of arbitrary laws. He gives us important instructions for living righteous and fulfilling lives. He is good, and He does good by giving us the Scriptures. When we run into trouble because we don’t follow, it should drive us back to His Word. It really is better than thousands of pieces of gold or silver!

For additional worship: Your Words are Wonderful (Sovereign Grace)

Psalm 119:57-64 “The LORD is my portion. I promised to obey your words. I sought your favor with my whole heart. Be merciful to me according to your word. I considered my ways, and turned my steps to your statutes. I will hurry, and not delay, to obey your commandments. The ropes of the wicked bind me, but I won’t forget your law. At midnight I will rise to give thanks to you, because of your righteous ordinances. I am a friend of all those who fear you, of those who observe your precepts. The earth is full of your loving kindness, LORD. Teach me your statutes.”

You can use this passage to diagnose your own spiritual temperature. Is the Lord your portion? Do you desire Him more than anything? Do you trust Him to be merciful based on His Word? Do you know His statutes well enough to resist the wicked? Do you give thanks to Him for His guidance? Do you desire to help and befriend other believers? Do you believe that we are recipients of His loving kindness? Do you want know His law more and more?

Mark 12:29-31 “Jesus answered, ‘The greatest is: “Hear, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” This is the first commandment. The second is like this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these.’ ”

For additional worship: Your Words (Third Day)

Psalm 119:49-56 “Remember your word to your servant, because you gave me hope. This is my comfort in my affliction, for your word has revived me. The arrogant mock me excessively, but I don’t swerve from your law. I remember your ordinances of old, LORD, and have comforted myself. Indignation has taken hold on me, because of the wicked who forsake your law. Your statutes have been my songs in the house where I live. I have remembered your name, LORD, in the night, and I obey your law. This is my way, that I keep your precepts.”

God’s Word does bring hope and comfort, but it can also bring indignation. We are right to be troubled when we see so many refuse to follow and believe. The key is to not allow that to take away our joy. Instead, we should sing about God, His Word, and His ways, and we should continually remember Him, even as we lay down to sleep at night. When we do, it will help us to keep His commands!

For additional worship: Living Word (Jeremy Camp)

Psalm 119:41-48 “Let your loving kindness also come to me, LORD, your salvation, according to your word. So I will have an answer for him who reproaches me, for I trust in your word. Don’t snatch the word of truth out of my mouth, for I put my hope in your ordinances. So I will obey your law continually, forever and ever. I will walk in liberty, for I have sought your precepts. I will also speak of your statutes before kings, and will not be disappointed. I will delight myself in your commandments, because I love them. I reach out my hands for your commandments, which I love. I will meditate on your statutes.”

God speaks to us through His Word, even as the world tells us we’re fools to believe and follow. The irony is that it’s the very Word they disparage that gives us hope and shows us how to answer them! In fact, the lives that we live and the testimony of our lips show our faith, hope and love to a world that needs to know God.

2 Peter 3:3-4 “knowing this first, that in the last days mockers will come, walking after their own lusts and saying, ‘Where is the promise of his coming? For, from the day that the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.’ ”

2 Peter 3:13-14 “But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, seeing that you look for these things, be diligent to be found in peace, without defect and blameless in his sight.”

For additional worship: Show Us Christ (Sovereign Grace)

Psalm 119:33-40 “Teach me, LORD, the way of your statutes. I will keep them to the end. Give me understanding, and I will keep your law. Yes, I will obey it with my whole heart. Direct me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in them. Turn my heart towards your statutes, not towards selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from looking at worthless things. Revive me in your ways. Fulfil your promise to your servant, that you may be feared. Take away my disgrace that I dread, for your ordinances are good. Behold, I long for your precepts! Revive me in your righteousness.”

There are many ways this world defines success. Wealth. Happiness. Health. Influence. God defines success by our willingness to follow Him, and we see this reflected in the Psalmist’s prayer. Not only should we desire to keep God’s statutes to the end, but we need to recognize that we can’t do that without God’s help. How often do we pray to Him for revival, strength, direction, guidance, protection and desire?

Matthew 6:13 “Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.’

For additional worship: Break Thou the Bread of Life (Acapeldridge)

Psalm 119:25-32 “My soul is laid low in the dust. Revive me according to your word! I declared my ways, and you answered me. Teach me your statutes. Let me understand the teaching of your precepts! Then I will meditate on your wondrous works. My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word. Keep me from the way of deceit. Grant me your law graciously! I have chosen the way of truth. I have set your ordinances before me. I cling to your statutes, LORD. Don’t let me be disappointed. I run in the path of your commandments, for you have set my heart free.”

If God has set us free, why wouldn’t we want to hear from Him? That’s why His Word is so wonderful. It’s His direct communication to us. The very fact that God hasn’t left us without hope and direction should cheer our souls! When we are depressed and weary we should turn to the Bible. He speaks to us every day if we’re willing to read and to hear.

For additional worship: Wonderful Words of Life

Psalm 119:17-24 “Do good to your servant. I will live and I will obey your word. Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things out of your law. I am a stranger on the earth. Don’t hide your commandments from me. My soul is consumed with longing for your ordinances at all times. You have rebuked the proud who are cursed, who wander from your commandments. Take reproach and contempt away from me, for I have kept your statutes. Though princes sit and slander me, your servant will meditate on your statutes. Indeed your statutes are my delight, and my counsellors.”

We read the Word because we are servants in need of instruction. We read the Word because we are blind and in need of direction. We read the Word because we are strangers in need of guidance. We read the Word because we are humble and long to follow. We meditate on the Word because it is a delight!

For additional worship: Speak O Lord (Keith & Kristyn Getty)