Psalm 119 is a lengthy chapter is the Bible. The writer is anonymous, but I believe as he was writing, he was pondering several questions, what does God asks me to do and what do I need of God? I believe God, through the writer wanted us to know the answers to these questions. I took some time awhile back to dissect the chapter. Here are my findings from this passage.
What does God asks me to do?
God asks me to follow His instructions, search for Him with all my heart, obey and hide His Word. He asks me to study, reflect, meditate, understand His Word and not forget. He wants me to praise, rejoice, delight, cling and pursue. I need to understand I was chosen to be His. Remain faithful and to put His Word into practice. I need to walk with eagerness, longing to obey and speak with delight of His honor and love for me. He wants me not to turn away but promise to obey, to hurry and rise and thank Him with belief and delight and put all my HOPE in Him. In my meditating continually and always thinking about Him to accept, stand in awe, see the truth and find joy in my longing for Him. He wants me to pant with expectation, feel overwhelmed as I cry out to Him as I rise early and stay awake thinking and praising and rejoicing that I have chosen to follow Him and praise will always flow from my mouth and my tongue will sing.
What I need God to do?
I want Him to open my eyes, teach me, give me understanding and turn my eyes from evil. I need Him to reassure me and renew my life. I ask Him to comfort me and be merciful, but also to discipline me. I want Him to promise me, surround me, protect me, rescue me, sustain me and restore my life. God don’t leave me, guarantee a blessing for me, deal with me, come and show me. Help me to understand your Word, guide my steps. Oh God, hear my cry, argue my case, take my side, protect my life and give back the life I lost. Listen to my prayers and teach me with a helping hand. Find me God!
I see myself asking God for these things often and I am humbled knowing that He will do all of them for me. It is what He does out of His love for me. As I read these it makes me want to make sure that I do the things He asks of me with more passion and purpose.
There were other words that I took out of this chapter that could be turned into a mission statement for my life.
I want to live with joy and integrity, not be ashamed, living as I should a foreigner in this land. My desire is to always be overwhelmed with the happiness and hope that I have found in You and Your Word. You are my only hope, you have done many good things, you have died for me and I want to be your servant. Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. You are a refuge and my shield. I believe all your commands are true and I stand forever with great peace because You are my delight.
