This is week 7 of our extended time in Psalm 119 of this lengthy psalm, verse 49 through 56, covering the seventh letter in this Hebrew acrostic, known as Zayin.
I know that if we look at this passage in most of our Bibles, we’ll see that Hebrew letter over it as a header, but as I read these eight verses, I want to write the word “HOPE” – in all capital letters, like a neon flashing sign – above this portion of Psalm 119. It’s steeped in HOPE. HOPE in God’s promises. HOPE in God’s precepts, statutes, and teaching. HOPE in His comfort. HOPE in His protection. HOPE in His provision. HOPE in His presence. HOPE in the time He has me as a foreigner in this world. And HOPE in the blessing of His salvation.
How many of us as the Father’s under-shepherds claim the hope that is in Jesus, yet do not make obeying, guarding, watching, protecting, keeping, and preserving His precepts our practice, a true habit, a priority???
When it’s the darkest, when there are, in fact, illicit, illegal, and immoral activities happening in our world, do we “remember” or “consider” His name, so that we consider His regulations, His Word? As an under-shepherd, do we stand up for right? Do we remember Truth and speak out on behalf of the Father’s statues in a healthy, godly manner?
Our Good, Great, and Chief Shepherd never forgets us. We are always on His mind. He always considers us! He knows the number of hairs on our heads, the number of tears that we’ve cried, and the exact number of days, hours, minutes, and seconds we will have on this earth until He comes again or until He takes us home.
Very few of us, I would guess, truly have a God-honoring kind of raging, feverish, scorching indignation grasping us because of the evil ones who have deserted or rejected the teaching of the Good Shepherd. Too few of us really are His godly under-shepherds even when it gets hard, or when times are turbulent, or even when we’re the only one left – as far as we know – on our work team or in our school, or sometimes, even in our church, who stands for the Father and His law.
But this psalmist was that kind of under-shepherd. He “remembered” God’s Word, commemorating it, and considering every part of it, standing up for it.
That is devotion, my friend. And that is how we are to view God’s Word and His law today
For the psalmist, that constructive action was writing songs that speak truth and are still edifying and encouraging us to walk in the light of God’s Word three thousand years later.
What is the constructive action the Father has been prompting you to take?
Is there something the Father has asked you to provide for the flock under your care, but you’re resisting? Is there a portion of His precepts, His teaching that He has called you to protect, but you have yet to act? Has the Holy Spirit prompted you to demonstrate presence in a way that stretches you, maybe even makes you uncomfortable and you are hesitating?
Consider the sacrifice the Good Shepherd made for you, out of obedience to His Father.
May we all be challenged today to move beyond service to those around us, to submission to the Father, that is often demonstrated through sacrifice, giving up what we desire or prefer for the good of another, for what the Father is asking us to do.
Thank you for joining me. May you shepherd well this week!