Thoughts for the Day

I rejoice at your word
like one who finds great spoil.

I hate and abhor falsehood,
but I love your law.

Seven times a day I praise you
for your righteous ordinances.

Great peace have those who love your law;
nothing can make them stumble.

I hope for your salvation, O Lord,
and I fulfil your commandments.

My soul keeps your decrees;
I love them exceedingly.

I keep your precepts and decrees,
for all my ways are before you.

(New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Psalm 119 has 176 verses - it's the longest Psalm in the Bible, and as one brought up to sing the psalms every Sunday in Matins or Evensong, I had never sung the whole of this Psalm until about 45 years ago. At the time I had a very large church choir, made up mostly of teenage girls, and we needed some new robes as they kept outgrowing the old ones. So I had a bright idea that we would sing Psalm 119 over and over for 12 hours. The girls had suitable rests and somehow we made it and raised enough money for new robes. But you can imagine by the end of the day how we knew Psalm 119 like the back of our hands!

One of the things that quickly comes to mind when you read this Psalm is the number of words used for the written word of God, the Scriptures. This little passage from verses 162 to 168 reminds us how much we should learn to love the Word of the Lord our God in the scriptures; and how much we should worship Him, and keep His commandments. Look at the wonderful use of language. God's written words are described as 'Commandment(s)', 'word', 'law', 'ordinances', 'precepts' and 'decrees'.

Friday 5th June, follow up thoughts

Lord God,
may we learn to love Your words to us,
as found in our Bible.
May we 'read, mark, and inwardly digest them',
so that we may learn more about You,
and grow ever closer to You.
Amen.