Psalm 119
129 Your statutes are wonderful; therefore I obey them.
130 The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.
131 I open my mouth and pant, longing for your commands.
132 Turn to me and have mercy on me, as you always do to those who love your name.
133 Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me.
134 Redeem me from human oppression, that I may obey your precepts.
135 Make your face shine on your servant and teach me your decrees.
136 Streams of tears flow from my eyes, for your law is not obeyed.
>§§§>
The sun comes up
It’s a new day dawning
It’s time to sing your song again
Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes
Bless the Lord O my soul
O my soul
Worship his holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I’ll worship your holy name
Left to right reading has been suspended today because the words from the Psalmist mouth have surely played a part in my morning’s surprise, the music to go along with the Psalmist’s words.
My heart agrees with the Psalmist. I want to obey but honestly when he asks God to “give understanding to the simple” he’s writing to me. I don’t always understand the light I’ve been given. The Psalmist spoke the words of my heart when he asked God to have mercy on him and direct his footsteps. I could easily read verse 134 as redeem me from the oppression of being human, “that I may obey your precepts.” I’ve worked my way through this very long Psalm to these verses and then this morning the music of the Psalm became real for me. The surprise was awakening with a song in my head. I lay there, before turning the bedside lamp on, and decided to sing the song outloud [sorry Ken]. I knew the first three lines by heart and filled in the words I couldn’t remember singing “whatever, whatever” to get to the “Let me be singing…” but then I had to finish that last line of the verse with a final “whatever, whatever.” I thank God for that early morning music because it’s a very “simple” object lesson for me and a reminder of why I sit here every morning, reading and pondering what I almost know “by ”heart.” Almost is a process of growth.
I knew the tune and almost all the lyrics: “The sun comes up, it’s a new day dawning, it’s time to sing your song again” but the “whatever’s” reminded me what I really want to be taught is the “unfolding” words of God that fill in the blanks of my heart and song, with truth that eliminates “whatever’s” and will remove the “almost” so I know “by heart” what my mouth speaks [and sings] is what fills my heart.
Read and Ponder - Faith in Daily Life 