Devotions
Rev Gav
Orbit
Psalm 119.161–168
Princes have persecuted me without a cause,
but my heart stands in awe of your word.
I am as glad of your word
as one who finds great spoils.
As for lies, I hate and abhor them,
but your law do I love.
Seven times a day do I praise you,
because of your righteous judgements.
Great peace have they who love your law;
nothing shall make them stumble.
Lord, I have looked for your salvation
and I have fulfilled your commandments.
My soul has kept your testimonies
and greatly have I loved them.
I have kept your commandments and testimonies,
for all my ways are before you.
Reflect
Victorian polymath, John Ruskin wrote that Psalm 119, “overflows with a glorious passion for the law of God.” Almost every verse mentions scripture — the word of God — and each verse stands on its own to form a collection that reads like a meditative prayer.
The whole Psalm is an acrostic with the verses divided into twenty-two sets of eight. The verses in each section begin with a successive letter of the Hebrew Alphabet. Today’s Bible Reading of verses 161-169 are in the second to last section with each verse beginning with the letter שׂ/שׁ (Sin/Shin) that can sound like ‘s’ or ‘sh’.
The Psalms, including this one, are deeply rooted in human experience. The writer, David, alludes to his own personal set of circumstances where he feels alienated, isolated, and is subject to derision and slander. He reacts to his isolation with tears and anger and, conscious of his own temptations and shortcomings, sometimes feels as though he is struggling to survive. Sound familiar?
And so, David needs an anchor, and he does this through orienting himself around God’s word which is a written reflection of God’s character. When life is spiralling out of control he re-orbits himself around God’s word.
In the same way, as we resonate with David’s circumstances, and our own lives feel like they are spiralling out of control, we too need an anchor, and that anchor is the living word and reflection of God’s character that is found in Jesus Christ.
In Psalm 119 there are lots of ‘words’ used to describe God’s word — laws, testimonies, precepts, statutes, commandments, ordinances, and promises. Think of each of these as being the same word to describe God’s character and therefore the character of Jesus Christ.
Today, as you seek to re-anchor yourself to God, and re-orbit your life around Christ, re-read slowly this section of Psalm 119 (perhaps out loud) and focus on each verse, allowing your heart (emotions) and mind (thoughts) to re-connect to the One who can bring you liberty, enlightenment, life, and counsel.
Pray
Holy God
Sometimes it feels
as if my life is
spiralling out of control,
and I feel alienated, isolated,
spurned and rejected.
Through my tears and anger
help me to recentre
my life around you,
my anchor and my lifeline,
my Saviour and my God.
This day and forever.
and then