Psalm 119:145-152 NKJV
פ PE
129 Your testimonies are wonderful;
Therefore my soul keeps them.
130 The entrance of Your words gives light;
It gives understanding to the simple.
131 I opened my mouth and panted,
For I longed for Your commandments.
132 Look upon me and be merciful to me,
As Your custom is toward those who love Your name.
133 Direct my steps by Your word,
And let no iniquity have dominion over me.
134 Redeem me from the oppression of man,
That I may keep Your precepts.
135 Make Your face shine upon Your servant,
And teach me Your statutes.
136 Rivers of water run down from my eyes,
Because men do not keep Your law.
The acrostic poetry of Psalm 119 continues in today’s reading, where every verse begins with the Hebrew letter “Qoph,” which we will reflect in bold type below. (Today’s devotion is an extended prayer, based on the reading.)
I cry out (x2) to You, O LORD, and I do it, not half-heartedly, but whole-heartedly, seeking Your help and salvation, while also promising to live in obedience to Your commandments and to walk according to the things You have revealed in Your holy Word. I know that You do not save me so that I can continue to wallow in the filthiness of sin, but so that I may have the freedom to serve You in righteousness.
I rise before the sun comes up, and my eyes are awake before the night watches come to an end, not so that I can get ready for work, or catch up on the latest news or gossip, but in order to pray and to meditate on Your Word before I get on with the rest of the day. Because Your words are spirit and life. I draw my strength from them, and I am determined to live the rest of the day in accord with what You teach in Holy Scripture.
I ask You, LORD, to hear my voice, and not to hear in anger, or to grant my requests because of any goodness or worthiness in me, but to hear and to answer according to Your own goodness, faithfulness, and love toward those who take refuge in You. Meanwhile, I ask You to spare my life according to Your justice when I am persecuted unjustly by the wicked.
Because the wicked draw near, pursuing more and more wickedness, with which they would draw me away from You. And the nearer they draw to wickedness the farther they depart from Your law, O God, which teaches men to love You and their neighbor and to shun all evil. Meanwhile, although the wicked draw near for evil, You, LORD, are already near, teaching men what is right and true and preserving Your people from being overwhelmed by the wickedness that would destroy them.Of old have I known concerning Your testimonies (NKJV), or long have I known from Your testimonies, O LORD (ESV), that You have established them forever. Your Word and Your promises do not change. Your principles of right and wrong do not change. Because You do not change. And because of that, I know that I can depend on You no matter what happens. Amen.