Psalm 120  The tongue -  James calls it a fire.. so small, yet so dangerous.  It sets "the course of our life" on fire.  It is restless.  It is poisonous. It is powerful.   This psalm is a prayer for deliverance from " lying lips" and a "deceitful tongue".  
The tongue is a "sharp arrow." 
It is a "burning coal". 
It desires war and hates peace.

The psalmist is praying for deliverance from the enemy who speaks lies.  But, as I read this, I think that it is also a prayer for me ( and maybe for you, too).   Lord, deliver me from a tongue that is restless, poisonous, and destructive.
We live among the same kind of people that the psalmist did.  They want to argue and fight.  They want their opinions heard and if we disagree, then we are wrong.  " I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war." ( v7)  Yep!  That is our world today.

I have been drawn to reread several books lately.  One is The Imitation of Christ  and another is one thousand gifts by Ann Voskamp.  The third is The Fullness of Joy by Charles Spurgeon.  Today's reading in The imitation of Christ is about "The avoiding of many words".   The author says this, "Oftentimes I could wish that I had held my peace when I have spoken; and that I had not been in company."  We are so ready to talk.. but often it is selfish or harms our own conscience.  "Therefore we must watch and pray, lest our time pass away idly. "   We need to make our conversations about the things that edify, the things that "further our spiritual growth."  This statement stands out, "Evil habit and neglect of our own growth in grace do give too much liberty to inconsiderate speech."  

So, I also need to add to my prayer, Lord deliver me from a tongue that speaks idly or inconsiderately.

What makes it stand out even more to me this morning is what I read in one thousand gifts...
 If you have not read this book, it is the result of the author's challenge to write a list of 1000 things that she loves.  This led her to a life-changing experience of God's grace.  She talks about the word "eucharisteo" which is translates as thanksgiving... but comes from "charis" which is grace,  and "chara" which is joy.  Grace.. thanksgiving.. joy.  God gifts us.. with everything!  We give Him thanks!  We find joy.  If we miss the grace and forget to be thankful.. we will never find the joy.   

Anyway.. the section I read this morning was about habits.  She quotes Erasmus here,  " A nail is driven out by another nail; habit is overcome by habit."  By taking on this challenge of acknowledging and recognizing the gifts that God has given, by His grace, and by being truly thankful, Ann writes that she is driving out nails of discontent, " I'm hammering nails to pound out nails, ugly nails that Satan has pierced through the world, my heart."  The spikes of discontent.. the "habit of discontentment can only be driven out by hammering in one iron sharper. The sleek pin of gratitude."

So, I add to my prayer.. Lord, deliver me from a tongue that broadcasts my discontent.. and replace it with a habit of thanksgiving for the grace You have bountifully provided.

Back then to Psalm 120 that makes me think about the deceitful tongue and the desire for peace among those who want war, and my thoughts go to James, who not only tells us about the evil of the tongue that cannot be tamed, but also teaches that war.. "quarrels and conflicts" come from evil habits of lust and envy and selfish desires.  "You do not have because you do not ask."  James tells us. ( James 4:2) Or we ask with "wrong motives" ( v3).  But,  God " gives a greater grace". (4:6)  We must not forget that "Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow."  (  James1:17)  James reminds us.   He also reminds us of this, " .. let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger." (1:19) And this, " Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." (4:8).

Father in heaven, You have given me much to think about today.  I do pray that You would take control of my tongue, and not only that, but all of me.  It is out of the heart that evil comes, Jesus taught us, so take my heart.. take all of it and purify it and fill it with the wisdom from above that is "pure.. peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy, and good fruits, unwavering.. without hypocrisy".
You are the Giver of all good gifts and I am thankful, Lord.  Thank You for daily bread. Thank You for forgiveness from sin and for deliverance from evil.  Thank You that it is never to late to be changed... to have a changed tongue and a changed heart.  Thank You that You bring Your Word to life and that Your Spirit awakens us to what is good and perfect, renewing our minds and transforming us so that we can know what Your will is.  Jesus, my Lord and Savior, I pray this in Your Name.  Amen.

Psalm 119:149-176   The final sections of this psalm continue to declare the great worth of God's word:

The Word revives us. ( v149)
The Word draws us near to God. ( v151)
The Word is always Truth. ( v151)
The Word is eternal. ( v152)
The Word brings redemption and salvation. ( v154-155)
The Word is the dividing line between those who are wicked and those who are not. ( v156-160)

The Word brings awe to our hearts. (v161)
The Word brings joy to our hearts. (v162)
The Word brings truth to our hearts. ( v163)
The Word brings praise from our lips. ( v164)
The Word brings peace and stability to our lives. ( v165)

Understanding comes through the Word. (v169)
Deliverance comes through the Word. ( v170)
Righteousness comes through the Word. ( v172)
God's helping Hand is found in His Word. ( v173)

No wonder that the psalmist finds delight in God's Word and we do too!

Father, deepen our love and delight in Your word.  Help us to know and understand Your complete will for us individually through the Word that You have graciously provided for us.  Forgive us for the times we have read the Scriptures and neglected to obey it, to delight in it, or to be in awe of the truth that You have spoken... Draw us nearer, nearer, precious Lord, to Your side. We lift our eyes to seek Your face even now, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. amen.

Psalm 119:98-148

The writer here expresses his longing and desire for the Word of God. It is his food and drink, it is his light, and it is his shield.  The word of God is sweet, it is righteous, and it is wonderful.

The word of God is our source of wisdom.
It is what keeps us from evil.
It is what keeps us from what is false.
It is what keeps us from going astray.
Those who forget God's ways.. are those who become wicked and lost.. prisoners to iniquity and darkness.

Like the psalmist , we must meditate on God's word.. day and night.
It must be everything to us!   If we are to do right and please God, we must esteem His Word and make it our priority in life. God has spoken and we need to listen.  God's word is living and active.. 
if we ignore it, neglect it, and forsake it, we are turning out the light and walking in darkness. 

Oh Father, be gracious to us once more!  Give us hearts to obey Your word!  Revive us!  Establish our footsteps in Your Word and do not allow iniquity to have dominion over us! ( v133).   Father, You have translated us out of the dominion of darkness and into the kingdom of Your Beloved Son.  You have given us light that shines brighter and brighter until the dawning of that Glorious Day to come.
Help us to walk in the Light as He is in the Light!  Help us to know Your Word that is sweeter than honey and purer than gold!  Thank You, Gracious Father and Wonderful Savior, thank You for saving us and making us Your own.  Amen.

Psalm 119: 33-97

The writer continually alternates between his pledge to keep God's word and praying for God to help him learn and understand exactly what those commandments mean.   This is the "way" that God leads us, isn't it?  We have a growing desire to know and obey God's word, but we realize more and more that we need His help for us to truly understand exactly what that means in our day to day lives. 

The psalmist puts it this way:

Prayers...
"Teach me, O Lord, the way of Thy statutes." v33
"Give me understanding tha I may observe Thy Law"  v34
" Make me walk in the path of Thy commandments.." v35
"Incline my heart to Thy testimonies.." v36
"Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity..." v37


Pledges...
"And I shall observe it to the end.." v33
"... and keep it with all my heart.." v34
" For I delight in it.." v35
"For I trust in Thy word.."  v42
"So I will keep Thy law continually, forever and ever.." v44
" and I will walk at liberty." v45

The more the follower of God learns of His Word,  His commandments and precepts .. the more he delights in it, trusts in it, and determines to live his life according to it... for the Word gives:
liberty
salvation
delight
hope
comfort
revival
grace
good discernment
knowledge
good
treasures worth more than "thousands of gold and silver pieces"
contentment
life

How do we keep growing in this way?  Like the writer we need to pray.  We need to continually plead with the Lord to gain understanding.  He is the Teacher and we need to listen and learn from Him. 
Pray that the Lord Himself will teach you His word.  Then when He does, determine to keep it with all your heart.
Delight in the Word. Remember it.  Meditate on it.  Speak of it.  Trust it.  Wait for it.  Long for it.  Value it. 

Father in heaven,  thank You for the beautiful words that You have provided for us in Your Word.  How blessed we are to have the Bible at our fingertips.  How more blessed we are when You give us a love for Your Word and lead us deeper into the treasures that we find in it.  Your word is our delight.. will You make us realize that truth more and more?  We are Yours, Lord.  Fill us with Your Spirit and Your lovingkindness.  Fill us with Yourself. Fill us with the desire to keep Your commandments and live  in righteousness that we will not be ashamed at the coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ.  Thank You for the hope and  joy that we find in You,  greater than anything on this earth.  I give You all my praise. amen.

Psalm 119 : 1-32   " How blessed are those whose way is blameless."  Over and over in these verses the psalmist talks about the Lord's way and our ways.  It is talking about the course of one' s life, the actions along the way, the journey, the manner of how we live.  True happiness is found when we diligently order our lives according to God's Word. 

God's ways are revealed in His Law.
His ways are observed in His witnesses, those who have sought the Lord with all their hearts.
God's ways are completely righteous.
God's ways will bring no shame.
God's ways are learned.
God's ways are pure.

Our ways are considered pure only when they are according to His Word.
We must seek the Lord with all our hearts, treasure His word in our hearts, learn His words, speak His word, rejoice in His word, delight in His word, and not forget His words!

We need the Lord's bountiful help to live and keep His word.
He must open our eyes to behold the wonderful things in His word.
His work in our hearts is necessary so that we do not wander from His word and do not follow the counsel of any other.
His Word must be our source of all our counsel.

We must confess that our ways are not His ways... they are false and full of grief.
But, when we are revived by His word and we cleave to Him,  when we can say, " I have chosen the faithful way";  it is the Lord who enlarges our hearts so that we can not only walk, but "run the way" of His commandments,

Father in heaven,  teach me Your ways and help me to walk in them.. Thank You for giving me the Truth that is Your Word.  Thank You for Jesus Christ the living Word and testimony of the Truth.
May I cling to You and walk in Your ways every day. Counselor, come and fill my heart with Your Word that I might not sin against You.  I ask this wholly in the Name of Jesus, amen.

Psalms 114-118

Reading a little book by John Piper called The Dangerous Duty of Delight,  where he talks about a lesson he learned from reading C.S. Lewis.  Lewis said that he noticed that it is in our nature to spontaneously praise that which gives us enjoyment... when we delight in something or someone we cannot help but sing it or his/her praise.  Piper says, " Pursuing joy in God and praising God are not separate acts. 'Praise not merely expressed but completes the enjoyment'. Worship is not added to joy and joy is not the by -product of worship. Worship is the valuing of God. and when this valuing is intense, it is joy in God. Therefore the essence of worship is delight in God, which displays His all-satisfying value."

 These psalms in the light of those thoughts, ring out with the praises of God in whom the psalmist(s) has found great delight.

Psalm 114 - We delight in the Lord's deliverance of Israel and His power to make the seas flee and the mountains skip!

Psalm 115 - We delight in the only True God, who " does whatever He pleases."  He, who is "mindful of us" and blesses us.  He is the "maker of heaven and earth".  While others serve idols of silver and gold, who have mouths that don't speak, eyes that don't see, ears that don't hear... etc.  We serve a God  who owns the heavens!

Psalm 116- We delight in the Lord "because He hears my voice and my supplications.  Because He has inclined His ear to me."   We call on His Name and He hears us.  He is gracious and righteous.  He is compassionate.  He deals bountifully with us.  He rescues our souls from death.  And even when we come to the end of our lives.. " Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His godly ones."  As Paul said, " to die is gain".  It is gain because we go to the One who calls us His own and brings us to Himself.

Psalm 117- We delight in the Lord's lovingkindness that has been extended to all nations!

Psalm 118- We delight in the Lord who is "good"!  "His lovingkindness is everlasting." He is trustworthy.  He is marvelous.  He is valiant.   We find delight in every day, because He has made it.  We delight in all of His works of salvation, for He Himself has brought it about.

Father in heaven,  Blessed is Your Name in all the earth!  You are the One true God and the Everlasting Father. Thank You for being so good to us. Thank You for qualifying us to be partakers in the inheritance of the saints in light.  You have done this work for us, for we have no way to qualify ourselves for Your kingdom.  Thank You for being loving and kind and patient with us.  Help us to delight in You and glorify Your name forever!  Thank You that we can come to You in the Name of the Beloved Son in who You delight, the Name of Jesus.  Amen.

Psalm 113  "Praise the Lord!"

All who belong to the Lord, will praise Him..  He is a wonderful Master!
For all eternity the Name of the Lord is blessed.  There is never a time when He is not good and worthy of praise.
Day by day by day.. morning to evening, His name is praised. There is not a minute of the day or night when He is not intimately at work in our lives and worthy of our praise.
The Lord is above every nation, every being, every planet, all of creation.. He is "enthroned on high" and yet He looks down at us.. so closely that "He raises the poor from the dust, and lifts the needy from the ash heap,"
He cares about a "barren woman" enough to give her children.

He cares about what gives us joy.
Jesus said He came that we might have life.. abundant life and that our joy would be full.

Father in heaven,  You are gracious and merciful, slow to anger and great in lovingkindness.  All that You have done for us and all that You have planned for us in eternity, we praise You for..  O what grace You have lavished on us who call upon Your Name.  Thank You Gracious Father,  Blessed Savior, and Holy Spirit!  Amen