This blog’s Scripture passage reference: Psalm 119:107-112
Yes, it is football playoff time for a lot of high schools around the country. I was talking to a friend on the phone yesterday. She was telling me about a group of young men that have a really big challenge coming up for them this weekend. They are a group of young men with a lot of grit and determination, a lot of courage and a lot of heart.
It seems like it is cooking up to be a David versus Goliath situation. The other team has home town advantage, probably bigger guys, maybe more guys, possibly more experience. But, one thing this group of young men has is heart.
Heart means a lot and heart can take you places that familiarity, stature, numbers, and even experience can’t take you. In the Bible. David was 0-4 on all of those when he met Goliath on the field. He was a shepherd boy and knew nothing about war, while Goliath was a one man war machine. David was so young that King Saul’s armor swallowed him, while Goliath was a giant of a man, probably between seven to nine feet tall. David was standing alone, as the army of Israel was cowering in their tents, while Goliath had a whole army behind him. Those look like some pretty stacked odds.
According to BibleHub, within Scripture the heart is often seen as the center of a person’s being, influencing thoughts, emotions, and actions. [1] So I might actually tell these young men to follow their hearts. Follow their inner hearts—the strong, pulsing core, not the easily influenced, thin outer layer. I would tell them to allow their intellect to lead them. You can’t out-brute a brute. But you can be smarter and faster. I would tell them to keep their emotions in check, all the way. Don’t let emotion cause confusion. Be a source of strength for their teammates and make use of the weaknesses of their opponents. And lastly, allow their actions to be honorable to the very end. That is the kind of “follow your heart” advice I would give.
In today’s passage, the plight of the psalmist in Psalm 119:107-112, seems to be one where he has to decide to follow his heart. As most scholars attribute this psalm to David, that would be a heart after God’s own heart!
The psalmist in this passage seems to be overwrought. He has been beat up, humbled, afflicted. He is bowed down with the weight of it. He asks the LORD to revive, preserve, restore him according to the promises in His Word. I think it is interesting here that he calls on the “LORD,” (with the all uppercase letters referencing YHWH.) This is Jehovah, “the existing One.” It is the proper name of the One True God. His Name was so sacred to His people that they would not pronounce or write it in full. [2]
Even through the battle, the psalmist is giving to the LORD offerings of praise with his mouth. He is speaking them, singing them! He offers these willingly, without being coerced and with no visible rescue in sight. He so desires the Lord to teach him His judgments.
He is constantly in danger. He has to stay alert to everything around him at all times. Even through this, he declares that he will not forget the Law of the LORD. He is being chased like an animal with evil people setting traps for him. Yet he boldly stands firm on the precepts of the LORD.
The psalmist tells the LORD that he has taken His testimonies as a heritage, a prized possession, a legacy for the rest of his life, forever. He has taken them as joy within his heart.
“The heart, in biblical terms, often represents the center of one’s being, including mind, will, and emotions.” [3]
The psalmist thrust away the ways of the world and turned his heart to do the statutes of the LORD forever, until the end of his days.
What are the challenges in this passage for those of us that have put our faith in and are following Christ? It is difficult when we are being battered, wronged or offended in some way. The way we react to affliction shows the world who we are and whose we are. Can we still praise Him? Can we keep our eyes on Him? Can we remain true to our Christian walk even when being buffeted? Can we stay strong even through to the end of the affliction? The challenge, as I see it, is to not lose focus, and to make sure that focus is on God.
What does this passage tell us that we can apply to our lives? It shows us to remain faithful to God’s Word through it all. Praise Him through the hard times, the pain, the losses. Be consistent and always remember who we are. Get through by leaning on God. and never cease to rejoice in the Lord
Even through hard times, I know that God’s word is always true and He is faithful. When I come to God with my whole heart and give him the praise that he deserves. I know that he will continue to lead and guide me. When those times come that the wicked go against me I know that God is in my corner and as long as I stick to serving him as I should, He will be there for me, continually. God has promised that He is there for me forever. I have the assurance that this is my heritage and my inheritance. My faith is strengthened when I realize that God’s laws are always the same. They never change, and they will protect me until the end, all the way through eternity.
Lord, Jesus, I come to You in prayer and in loving, freely offered praise! I do ask that You revive my spirit daily. Protect my mind so I can continue to learn of Your Law. Protect me from the schemes of the wicked and strengthen me, as my heritage is from You. I rejoice in spending time in Your Word and giving You my heart a little more each day. I pray safety and success for all those that will be participating in play-off games the coming weeks. Most importantly, help them find a way to draw their hearts toward You so that when God sees their hearts He will see that they are a dwelling place that has welcomed You!
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“107 I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O Lord, according unto thy word. 108 Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord, and teach me thy judgments. 109 My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law. 110 The wicked have laid a snare for me: yet I erred not from thy precepts. 111 Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart. 112 I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the end.” Psalm 119:107-112 (KJV)
“Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name’s sake: for thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.” Psalm 143:11 (KJV)
“By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of [our] lips giving thanks to his name.” Hebrews 13:15 (KJV)
“Keep me from the snares [which] they have laid for me, and the gins of the workers of iniquity.” Psalm 141:9 (KJV)
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I feel that since God has given me the gift of this platform, I must always tell you about my Jesus.
What is your relationship to the all-knowing God of the universe? Do you know Jesus? Do you know the peace that can come only from an intimate relationship with Him? You can know Him. Jesus Christ, God’s Son, born into human flesh, sinless, crucified and giving His life freely, buried, arisen on the third day, will come into your life and change the outcome of your eternity. You just have to be willing to believe and accept His truth.
Here is an excellent website that can give you additional information about making your decision for Jesus Christ! PeaceWithGod.net
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Blog Image by Tina Burke
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1 “BibleHub, Topical Encyclopedia, ‘understanding the heart’ [https://biblehub.com/topical/u/understanding_the_heart.htm]
2 “Strong’s Concordance, ‘LORD’ [https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h3068/kjv/wlc/0-1/].
3 “BibleHub, Study Bible, ‘heart’ [https://biblehub.com/study/psalms/119-111.htm]
Restricted Vision, Unburdened Sight 