Psalm 119
81 My soul faints with longing for your salvation, but I have put my hope in your word.
82 My eyes fail, looking for your promise; I say, “When will you comfort me?”
83 Though I am like a wineskin in the smoke, I do not forget your decrees.
84 How long must your servant wait? When will you punish my persecutors?
85 The arrogant dig pits to trap me, contrary to your law.
86 All your commands are trustworthy; help me, for I am being persecuted without cause.
87 They almost wiped me from the earth, but I have not forsaken your precepts.
88 In your unfailing love preserve my life, that I may obey the statutes of your mouth. [NIV]
>§§§>
A different plan for reading backwards, writing & praying today:
I have put my hope in your word, my soul faints with longing for your salvation. When will you comfort me? My eyes fail looking for your promise. I do not forget your decrees though I am like a wineskin in the smoke. When will you punish my persecutors? How long must your servant wait? Contrary to your law, the arrogant dig pits to trap me. I am being persecuted without cause. Help me. Your commands are trustworthy. I have not forsaken your precepts but they almost wiped me from the earth. The statutes of your mouth in your unfailing love, preserve my life that I may obey them. [Amen]
The most intriguing phrase in this part of Psalm 119 was “I am like a wineskin in the smoke.” The wineskin was vital to carrying the wine from place to place in ancient times but eventually it deteriorated as it was exposed to the smoke from fires of life inside a tent. There are many meanings of that phrase, and Kaph, but John Piper gets credit for an idea I thought worth passing on that relates the phrase to Kaph. Kaph is the open hand of God that can “tame” and “open” the life of one who will “bend” to His will. The wine is the Gospel. The fragile “wineskin” of life is what God has given us to carry His Gospel from place to place. That opportunity won’t last forever.
Read and Ponder - Faith in Daily Life 