This is week 6 of our time in Psalm 119 and we are covering the sixth letter in this Hebrew acrostic, known as Waw (Vaav).
When I read Psalm 119: 41-48 in preparation for today’s podcast, the song writer’s desire was to honor the Father in how he responded to others in every situation. It was so clear when he was mocked, in public and in private, with those with much influence and with those of little influence. In every situation, his desire was to give godly answers, without embarrassment or shame.
The psalmist apparently had been lied about, slandered, and his life threatened and, still, his request was that he respond in the manner that honored the Father because he loved Him and trusted in God’s Word.
We know that in those moments, we must be prepared for battle with the enemy. We must be suited up with God’s armor, a part of which is the belt of truth, so we know the truth and can speak truth in every situation. That was the psalmist’s desire and it must be our desire as well.
We also know there are those moments when we send what some call “telegraph prayers” to the Father, seeking His immediate help and assistance. They’re almost like an SOS message or 9-1-1 call. They’re swift, and they’re urgent!
In the midst of challenging situations, when confronted with speech that leaves us at a loss for words or when faced with mental turmoil that tempts us to respond in a manner inconsistent with representing our Good Shepherd, or when confronted with slander, lies, or inquiries about our faith that trigger fear and uncertainty in articulating a response—these are the moments when we must engage in a specific kind of prayer, akin to a "telegraph prayer." In this prayer, we earnestly seek immediate insight and wisdom from the Father. We ask for a quick recall of His teachings and meditations, so that, grounded in the Scriptures, we can articulate His words in His way. This intentional form of prayer serves as a lifeline, guiding us through challenging moments with grace and clarity.
I can think of moments when, in milli-seconds, I sent a request to the Father to hear my prayer, provide His wisdom, and fill my mouth with His words to literally let the Holy Spirit speak through me. You have probably done the same thing.
So, as we look at this passage, these seven verses, we are reminded that both God speaks to us and, often, at the same time, the enemy is speaking, which is why we must know the truth we hear that God’s people speak to the Father, as demonstrated as the telegraph prayers mentioned earlier, we are reminded how we live matters and it speaks for the Lord – almost on behalf of Him as we are surrounded by the sheep of His pasture, and that we speak to others.
My dear under-shepherd, we need God’s Word in our lives, His precepts, so that we might study them, meditate on them, know them, and live them.
How we must stay so closely connected to the Father that we can and do, in fact, call upon Him in the SOS and 9-1-1 moments of our lives, as well as when we begin a day, when we end our day, and when we take pauses throughout our day.
We must be in constant communication with Him so that we can fall more and more in love with Him, More and more in love with His commandments, His way, and His will, relishing every fragment of His counsel.
It is only then that as the sheep of His pasture, we can truly shepherd well the sheep entrusted to our care.
Thank you for joining me. I pray you will in fact live deeply into your calling this week.