Tune My Heart, Episode 38
- Stacy Bishop
- Apr 11
- 3 min read
Episode 38
Happy Sunday, friend. As you prepare for worship this morning, let’s take a moment of quiet to invite God’s presence into your awareness today.
Today, we continue our look into Psalm 119 by looking at verses 49-56.
ז Zayin
49 Remember your word to your servant,
for you have given me hope.
50 My comfort in my suffering is this:
Your promise preserves my life.
51 The arrogant mock me unmercifully,
but I do not turn from your law.
52 I remember, Lord, your ancient laws,
and I find comfort in them.
53 Indignation grips me because of the wicked,
who have forsaken your law.
54 Your decrees are the theme of my song
wherever I lodge.
55 In the night, Lord, I remember your name,
that I may keep your law.
56 This has been my practice: I obey your precepts.
We see two themes in this section---God’s promises and, of course, His law or His Word. “Remember your word to your servant,” is David praying for God to fulfill His promises. The Enduring Word commentary says, “God wants His people to plead His stated promises back to Him in prayer.” “Spurgeon said that he often carried with him a small book of God’s promises (Clarke’s Precious Promises), and he turned to specific promises to help him at needful times. “But God – let us speak with reverence – when he gives a promise, binds himself with cords of his own making. He binds himself down to such and such a course when he says that such and such a thing shall be. Hence, when you grasp the promise, you get a hold on God.”
However, we cannot know what promises to pray, if we don’t know what promises God has made. This reiterates the importance and value of knowing the Word.
Later in this section, David says “Your decrees (or your laws) are the theme of my song, wherever I lodge.” Another translation says, “Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.” The Enduring Word commentary says, “God’s word makes him sing with joy and confidence. Those who know the power of singing God’s word have great comfort in the house of their pilgrimage.” It reminds us of a story many generations later when we see Paul and Silas singing in spite of their imprisonment. There is freedom in singing the good news of God’s Word. Or even of song lyrics like the more recent song “Raise A Hallelujah” that invoke that our weapon is a melody—because truly it is, when the words of the songs are well chosen.
Again, this reminds us of the value and importance of being in God’s Word and really knowing it for ourselves. I think it also reminds us of the importance in choosing songs that are taken from scripture and that are theologically accurate. Even better—the importance of choosing songs that has the singer singing back God’s promises to Him.
As you sing today, think about the lyrics you’re singing. What truth and what promises are you declaring?
Let’s pray.
God, Your Word is such a gift to us. Reading these texts that are thousands of years old, yet still relevant today, remind me of Your goodness and faithfulness. I believe Your faithfulness is a promise You’ve given us. Thank You for being faithful to me even when I am not. We pray that You would continue to be faithful to us and to guide us to a deeper understanding of who You are. We pray in the name of Jesus—another faithful promise You fulfilled to us. Amen.
A printable/downloadable version of today's devo can be found here:
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