“I am your servant; O God, grant me discernment, that I may understand your statutes” (Ps. 119:125).
The Psalmist’s plea for discernment resonates deep in my soul this morning. The sun keeps rising over the horizon, but each new day brings its own capacity of new developments and the need for deep change. Yesterday I found myself making all sorts of decisions which I had never imagined just a few weeks ago. Today I thank God that none of us is expected to have all the answers by ourselves.
Perhaps you saw the recent statement from popular writer and journalist Andy Crouch, who said “honestly, I really did not expect to give up this much for Lent.” That about sums it up.
If you find yourself with a little extra time today (perhaps due to quarantine), and are looking for a good read, I recommend Psalm 119. It is the longest prayer in the Bible, sits squarely in the middle of your Bible, and offers numerous pleas for protection. It also offers an extensive celebration of God’s law; that which holds true to form even when everything else seems like complete chaos. In what is known as an ‘acrostic’ poem, Psalm 119 is composed in 22 stanzas, one for each letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Each stanza is 8 verses, with each line within the stanza beginning with the same Hebrew letter.
It sounds complex (as life can be), but the end result is a surprisingly elegant prayer that covers all the bases of human concern before God. The form of the prayer itself presents a magnificent reflection on the promise of ORDER—revealed to us as the heart of God’s law.
The message is that keeping God’s law is what revives the soul. On a day when you and I try to discern what to do next, which guidelines really apply to us and which ones to let slide, which versions of advice are worth listening to and whose voice matters most, consider this familiar refrain: thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path (119:105). If you like that verse, just wait until you read the rest of the chapter!
O God, even now your hands are upon us, shaping and molding your creation. At a time when we are prone to resist the restrictions that are now placed upon us, help us to find delight in the wisdom of your law. We know, Lord, that your judgments are right, so we ask that you help us with our own. Give us understanding this day, that we may learn your commandments. AMEN.
Whatever It Takes,
Darren
Photo by Blake Cheek on Unsplash
