Gimel ג: God’s word and Trails of life.
Psalm 119:17-24 (Part 3)
Rev. Dr. Devadosan Sugirtharaj
Introduction
- The psalmist continues to explore the preciousness of God’s word to him. This passage is a simple prayer to connect himself with the word of God.
- Gimel is the third alphabet of the Hebrew language and the first letter of this passage is started with this alphabet.
- When we read the Bible, what kind of prayers do we ask God? This passage gives wonderful light to this question.
1. Prayer for Blessing to keep God’s word. Psalm.119:17
- The psalmist asks God to bless him bountifully so that he may depend on the Lord of blessings. It is not expressing his greed, but rather his high expectations of God. The reason for it is not to be above all but to keep God’s word so that he may live based on it.
2.Prayer for Insight to understand God’s word. Psalm 119:18
- The psalmist acknowledges that he could not understand God’s word without his enlightenment. He asks God to open his eyes to see the wonders of God’s word. He doesn’t ask for new revelation but new eyes to see the revelation that was already given. He knows that there are many wondrous things in God’s word.
3.Prayer for Revelation to long for God’s word. Psalm 119:19-20
- The psalmist wants to know and keep God’s word. He knows that the earth is not his home but his eternal home. He considers that he is a stranger in the world. As a stranger in the earth, he wants to learn how to live as a godly person. He longs for God’s word for more revelation and this spiritual desire makes him break his heart until he finds more revelation in the word of God.
4.Prayer for Refuge in God’s word. Psalm 119:21-24
- The psalmist recognizes that the proud people stray from God’s word and are rebuked by God for their disobedience. The princes and those who are in power speak against the Lord. So he asks the Lord to remove this prideful life and its consequences of reproach and contempt. The Lord is the only person who removes this kind of slander.
- When he delights and trusts in God’s word more than the powerful people on earth like princes, he calls the words of God his delight and counselors. He wants the word of God to be more precious and so he wants God to keep him in the word of God.
Conclusion
When you read the Bible and study it, please ask God for bountiful blessings, enlightenment, revelation, and refuge in God’s word.