Thoughts for the Day

Look on my misery and rescue me,
for I do not forget your law.
Plead my cause and redeem me;
give me life according to your promise.
Salvation is far from the wicked,
for they do not seek your statutes.
Great is your mercy, O Lord;
give me life according to your justice.
Many are my persecutors and my adversaries,
yet I do not swerve from your decrees.
I look at the faithless with disgust,
because they do not keep your commands.
Consider how I love your precepts;
preserve my life according to your steadfast love.
The sum of your word is truth;
and every one of your righteous ordinances endures for ever.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

The writer of Psalm 119 the longest psalm in the Psalter, that books and hymns have been written about, is coming towards the end of his work in today's passage. He reminds God that he does not "forget your Law", and later that he "love(s) your precepts"; he asks for justice; as well as rescue from what is threatening him. The unknown author writing probably after the return from exile in Babylon, does not say he keeps all of God's laws, though he mentions that he does not "swerve from your decrees".

The psalmist had many laws to obey, not just the Ten commandments (Exodus 20.1-17) as a glance at the Book of Leviticus will show. But we Christians have two laws, given to us by Jesus - to love God, and to love our neighbour as ourself (Matthew 22.34-40).

Often we end our prayers by saying "through Jesus Christ our Lord", as we plead with Him to rescue us from the mess we or others make of our lives and of the world. Can we be as honest as our psalmist in trying to observe God's laws? Indeed, what answer can we make to this quote once made by President Jimmy Carter: “If you were charged today with being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?”

Heavenly Father,
may we see ourselves as You see us;
may we be honest in our appraisal,
noticing the times we do not worship You;
the times we fail to help others;
and our failure to seek justice for others.
May there be enough evidence of our faith
to convict us of being a Christian.
Amen.