49 Remember your promise to me; it is my only hope.
50 Your promise revives me; it comforts me in all my troubles.
51 The proud hold me in utter contempt, but I do not turn away from your instructions.
52 I meditate on your age-old regulations; O Lord, they comfort me.
53 I become furious with the wicked, because they reject your instructions.
54 Your decrees have been the theme of my songs wherever I have lived.
55 I reflect at night on who you are, O Lord; therefore, I obey your instructions.
56 This is how I spend my life: obeying your commandments.
57 Lord, you are mine! I promise to obey your words!
58 With all my heart I want your blessings. Be merciful as you promised.
59 I pondered the direction of my life, and I turned to follow your laws.
60 I will hurry, without delay, to obey your commands.
61 Evil people try to drag me into sin, but I am firmly anchored to your instructions.
62 I rise at midnight to thank you for your just regulations.
63 I am a friend to anyone who fears you—anyone who obeys your commandments.
64 O Lord, your unfailing love fills the earth; teach me your decrees.My favorite author, Dr. A. W. Tozer once proclaimed "Christianity has gotten to the point that if it were a poison it would not kill anyone and if it were a medicine it would not cure anyone." I have long agreed.
Well, there are signs that is changing. A group of evangelical, Catholic and Orthodox leaders released a statement on the sanctity of human life, traditional marriage, and religious liberty. Called the Manhattan Declaration, this statement rebukes current cultural trends and delivers a clear call to the culture to recognize the harm it is doing itself in crucial areas.
Some of us may be wondering how we should approach such an initiative. our Psalmist today actually addresses the sense of outrage people of faith should have with a society that has turned it's back on God: "I become furious with the wicked, because they reject your instructions. Your decrees have been the theme of my songs wherever I have lived". We have to surmise...from this statement...that God prefers we hold fast to His teachings to the point they become thematic in our lives. In other words...anybody should be able to look at our lives and see the natural application of God's law unfold. Would that standard describe any of us today?
Why bother?
Our Psalmist tells us.
1. Remember your promise to me...it is my only hope!
2. I meditate on your age-old regulations...O Lord, they comfort me.
3. With all my heart I want your blessings...Be merciful as you promised.
4. I pondered the direction of my life, and I turned to follow your laws.
5. I am a friend to anyone who fears you—anyone who obeys your commandments.
God's promise is our only hope! His laws bring comfort! The Psalmist actually pondered the direction of his life and...repented! The blessings and mercy of God are clearly contingent on our willingness to obey. And really...could we declare ourselves "friends" to anybody who fears God and not work diligently to reform our culture? Certainly not.
Today is one of those salient moments in human history when we actually have an opportunity to "let our yes be yes and our no be no".
Live boldly out there today...
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