Psalm 119:65–72 (ESV):
Teth
65 You have dealt well with your servant,
O Lord, according to your word.
66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge,
for I believe in your commandments.
67 Before I was afflicted I went astray,
but now I keep your word.
68 You are good and do good;
teach me your statutes.
69 The insolent smear me with lies,
but with my whole heart I keep your precepts;
70 their heart is unfeeling like fat,
but I delight in your law.
71 It is good for me that I was afflicted,
that I might learn your statutes.
72 The law of your mouth is better to me
than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
God treats us in accordance with Scripture, 'You have dealt well with your servant, O Lord, according to your word.' If you follow God’s Word, then you receive a blessing from Him, if you disobey, then you will receive discipline. You can be assured that God will deal well with you and always uphold His Word. He will reward you and bless you when you are faithful to Him, plus He will give you opportunity to correct your behaviour and be led into righteousness and forgiveness when you err, because He is good.. The psalmist confesses, ‘Before i was afflicted i went astray, but now i keep your word.’ Sometimes when you encounter difficulty, do you assess your heart and mind to see if there is some error or sin on your part? This writer did, and as he evaluated his motivation and actions, he realised that they were not in alignment with God's Law. Therefore he acknowledged the source of the affliction, changed his heart, mind and actions and concluded that following God's direction is best. To avoid the; shame, heartache, guilt and suffering that disobedience brings, it is better to read God's ways and follow them. Save yourself from affliction.
It is important to note that not all suffering is due to disobedience, sin or error, but sometimes it is. The sense in this psalm seems to be that the author knows they have messed up and deserved the discipline, and they have learnt from it. Sometimes, do you suffer because you know you are disobeying the Word of God? Or is the suffering due to the fact that their is brokenness and sin in the world? Be sure to check your own heart and motives to see if there is any ungodly way in you. David did, in psalm 139 he says, 'see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!' (v24). Are you of the same mindset? It should not be a shameful thing for you to assess your heart and actions. Jesus died for a reason - to forgive you of ALL sin and free you from affliction. So, admitting that you have gone wrong gives you the opportunity to appreciate Jesus; his life, death and resurrection and learn to live different empowered by the Holy Spirit.
God can show you how to live a faithful life - He has given His Word to instruct you, and His Son to show you. As a good parent, God highlights where you are going wrong, and champions your right living. Good parents want to train you to have a good, healthy life, and to be kind and considerate of others. When it is noticed that you are not doing so, it is good and loving of a parent to let you know. God is that loving Father for you. So, don't be worried or afraid if he points out things to you that He wants you to change, it is not judgement, it is love. Other people do not love or care about you in the same way. Even if they end up trying to ‘smear me with lies’ that this behaviour or manner of life is ok, remember that, 'their heart is unfeeling like fat'! Whereas God will always love you and tell you the truth. Therefore, be more concerned about what He says through the Bible than what others say. Like this writer, learn to love the Word of God for it never changes. Yet, it will challenge and change you because God loves you, and wants you to live the best life you can. Learn to be happy when God disciplines you, for it shows that He cares about you and loves your life. Remind yourself that, ‘it is good for me that i was afflicted, that i might learn your statutes’.
Psalm 119:73 -80 (ESV):
Yodh
73 Your hands have made and fashioned me;
give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.
74 Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice,
because I have hoped in your word.
75 I know, O Lord, that your rules are righteous,
and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
76 Let your steadfast love comfort me
according to your promise to your servant.
77 Let your mercy come to me, that I may live;
for your law is my delight.
78 Let the insolent be put to shame,
because they have wronged me with falsehood;
as for me, I will meditate on your precepts.
79 Let those who fear you turn to me,
that they may know your testimonies.
80 May my heart be blameless in your statutes,
that I may not be put to shame!
No-one else has such a claim on your life than God does! He is your Father who made and fashioned you - he hand-crafted your outer and innermost being. Therefore He has a greater right to guide you and should be permitted to have greater influence in your life than anyone else. Do you let Him?
Learn to live for the One who made you, who knows you and loves you unconditionally. Then you will be loved and rejoiced in by those who also know and acknowledge Him. You have a beautiful family through faith in God that will help, lead and guide you in His ways. They will support you in righteousness and lead you to the Word of God. Plus, you will be able to guide and guard others as they see your righteous living, they will come to you ‘that they may know your testimonies’. What a privilege and a responsibility you have within God’s family! The privilege of many who love and invest in you, and the responsibility to lead, love and guide others into the ways of God.
This passage of psalm 119 repeats the word ‘let’ from verse 77. It seems almost a plea, a request that God helps the author to allow; God’s steadfast love become a comfort, mercy to be exciting, sinful people to become unattractive because they lie, growing relationships among other God-fearing people. Do these things echo your prayers? Are you more concerned about learning to be obedient and faithful to God than pleasing yourself and those who disregard Him? If you are not sure how to do this, then learn to understand and apply scripture to your life. Search God's Word so that you can learn what is right and wrong that you ‘may not be put to shame’. Plead with God to connect you well, to build your godly relationships and to reveal His way to you.
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