Psalm 119:127-128
The humility of the psalmist manifests itself again in the last four verses of the sixteenth section of Psalm 119. For the third time in this section he calls himself God's servant. This time emphatically he confesses, "I am Thy servant." This truth he underscores when in verses 127, 128 he writes, "Therefore I love Thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold. Therefore I esteem all Thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way."
That is strong language! It is language of a faithful servant. And it is the reason why he prays, "Give me understanding, that I may know Thy testimonies." It also explains why he says that it is time for God to work. Seeing men all around him breaking God's law, which he loves, he is eager to have God put an end to all the evil he sees.
Two questions arise here. Does it hurt you when you see men working on the Sabbath, or pursuing their sports? Or do you find pleasure listening to and watching them desecrate the Sabbath? Another question: Is God's law more precious to you than earthly treasures? When a new job, or an increase in salary, brings you more gold, are you happy that you have greater means to support the preaching of God's word, to finance mission projects, to relieve the poor and to help spread the gospel by the printed page and air waves to a greater degree?
What a gift of God's grace it is when we can sincerely sing:
I am Thine, O give me wisdom
Make me know Thy truth, I pray;
Sinners have despised Thy statutes;
Now, O Lord, Thy power display.
Lord, I love Thy good commandments
And esteem them more than gold;
All Thy precepts are most righteous;
Hating sin to these I hold.
For all of us, no one excluded, this is a prayer we must present to God every day: "Give me understanding, that I may know Thy testimonies," We all have only a small beginning of a new life. That work of God we must want executed upon us, namely, a richer measure of the life Christ earned for us, so that God's commandments are loved by us above the finest gold.
Read: Matthew 5:27-48
Psalter versification: #336:2
(Words and Music of the Psalter)
Meditations on the Heidelberg Catechism
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Song for Meditation: Psalter #179
Why not sing along??
Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:
Jeremiah 6:16-30 ; Jeremiah 7 ; Jeremiah 8:1-7
Colossians 2:8-23
Psalm 78:1-31
Proverbs 24:26
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Quote for Reflection:
"…When he says that the coming of Christ would be intolerable, what is said is to be confined to the ungodly; for we know that nothing is more delightful and sweeter to us than when Christ is nigh us: though now we are pilgrims and at a distance from him, yet his invisible presence is our chief joy and happiness." – J.Calvin - Commentary ( Malachi 3)
Additional Info
- Date: 6-October
Heys, John A.
Rev. John A. Heys was born on March 16, 1910 in Grand Rapids, MI. He was ordained and installed into the ministry at Hope, Walker, MI in 1941. He later served at Hull, Iowa beginning in 1955. In 1959 he accepted the call to serve the South Holland, IL Protestant Reformed Church. He received and accepted the call to Holland, Michigan Protestant Reformed Church in 1967. He retired from the active ministry in 1980. He entered into glory on February 16, 1998.