“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105). Every year, about 1.5 million immigrants join the United States of America.  On the court date of their naturalization, these new citizens are required to take, not the Pledge of Allegiance, but the stronger Oath of Allegiance–to swear to … More The Oath of Obedience and the Vow of Praise: A Meditation on Psalm 119:105-112

“O how I love thy law!  It is my meditation all the day” (Psalm 119:97). In driving, cooking, and even reading, at some point, the mechanic becomes the artist.  Gone are the step-by-step procedures.  Gone are the frustrations over buttons and levers, precise calculations, and the sounding out of words.  Instead, all concentration now is … More To Love the Law of God: A Meditation on Psalm 119:97-104

“For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven” (Psalm 119:89). “Get your head in the game,” he yelled, and the players knew exactly what the coach meant.  Daydreaming, young Johnny had let the ball go past him into right field. “Get your head out of the sand,” he warned, and the wife knew … More The Eternity, Infinity, and Reality of the Word of God: A Meditation on Psalm 119:89-96

“My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word” (Psalm 119:81). What do you do when your soul is at the point of exhaustion?  Having held out for some time, your strength is now gone, and you cry out in desperation, “How long, O Lord?  When will you comfort me?”  Perhaps you … More The Point of Exhaustion, a Doorway of Hope: A Meditation on Psalm 119:81-88

“Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments” (Psalm 119:73). Affliction is often used by God to correct us; and used in this way, affliction makes the most sense to us: “Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word” (v. … More The Outlook and Prayer of an Afflicted, Mature Christian: A Meditation on Psalm 119:73-80

“Let thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD, even thy salvation, according to thy word” (Psalm 119:41). Easily unnoticed, this stanza begins with the Hebrew letter waw, which implies is a continuation of the prayers of the previous stanza: “Let thy mercies come also unto me” (v. 41).  For this reason, we should see … More The Rewards of Patient Obedience: A Meditation on Psalm 119:41-48

“Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end” (Psalm 119:33). In Hebrew, the letter he (pronounced “hay”) can be added to the front of a verb to speak of causation.  This is foreign to English, but it works something like this.  Take the verb “return”.  Add … More Utter Dependence in Obedience and Worship: A Meditation on Psalm 119:33-40

“Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O LORD, according unto thy word” (Psalm 119:65). What is good for you? For instance, is it good for you to miss a flight?  Most of us would say no; but what if the plane then goes down?  Within a larger picture, small afflictions often appear good. This … More True Goodness Consists in Learning the Rules of God: A Meditation on Psalm 119:65-72

“Thou art my portion, O LORD: I have said that I would keep thy words” (Psalm 119:57). This stanza has two clear sections: private devotion (vv. 57-60) and public association (vv. 61-64).  In the first section, the psalmist declares that God alone is His portion; therefore, he pledges to keep His words, he entreats His … More Private Devotion and Public Association: A Meditation on Psalm 119:57-64

“Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope” (Psalm 119:49). Every journey has an element of waiting–the next town, the long stretch of prairie highway, the back-up.  The journey of the Gospel is no different.  Having heard the good word, and having banked everything on the reality of that … More Comfort as We Wait: A Meditation on Psalm 119:49-56