God’s Laws Lead to Promises Kept

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Today’s reading: Psalm 119: 129-135

At first glance, the last half of today’s reading strikes me as strange. Verse 132 starts with what appears to be an attempt to command God! “Turn to me and be gracious to me …”

And this apparent bossiness continues with each succeeding verse:

“Keep my steps steady according to your promise, and never let iniquity have dominion over me. Redeem me from human oppression, that I may keep your precepts. Make your face shine upon your servant, and teach me your statutes.” (Verses 133-135).

Is the Psalmist really trying to order God to do all of these things for him?  That certainly takes a lot of nerve!

This appears to be exactly the kind of selfishness that I try to avoid in my own prayers. I, for one,  am uncomfortable asking God to do things that will make my life easier, and I certainly would never demand such things. from God.  These lines seem outrageous to me!

Alas, I am thankful for all of the pastors who have warned me that context is often more important than we think for understanding the Bible. The first verse of today’s reading turns this “outrageous” stanza into an eternal inspiration.

“Your decrees are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them.”

When I consider the following verse in the context of that first line, I see that this stanza is to be read as, basically, a conversation with God.   The Psalmist is not ordering God to do the things he asks. Rather, he is confirming for God his trust. He is expressing to God his confidence that, by following His wonderful laws, all of these “demands” will come to pass.

I often do this same thing in my prayers by simply substituting, “I know that you will” when I’m tempted to say “please.”  And I can’t think of an instance in which He has let me down on that. (I will admit that God’s timing is not always  in line with my desires, but that’s why I’m careful to not talk about time in my prayers. God is eternal. So time is meaningless to him anyway.)

Thanks be to God for wonderful laws that always lead to promises kept.