GIVE ME DISCERNMENT

Passage: Psalms 119:113-136

Key verse: 119:125

NIV

ס Samekh

113 I hate double-minded people,(A)
    but I love your law.(B)
114 You are my refuge and my shield;(C)
    I have put my hope(D) in your word.
115 Away from me,(E) you evildoers,
    that I may keep the commands of my God!
116 Sustain me,(F) my God, according to your promise,(G) and I will live;
    do not let my hopes be dashed.(H)
117 Uphold me,(I) and I will be delivered;(J)
    I will always have regard for your decrees.(K)
118 You reject all who stray(L) from your decrees,
    for their delusions come to nothing.
119 All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross;(M)
    therefore I love your statutes.(N)
120 My flesh trembles(O) in fear of you;(P)
    I stand in awe(Q) of your laws.

ע Ayin

121 I have done what is righteous and just;(R)
    do not leave me to my oppressors.
122 Ensure your servant’s well-being;(S)
    do not let the arrogant oppress me.(T)
123 My eyes fail,(U) looking for your salvation,(V)
    looking for your righteous promise.(W)
124 Deal with your servant according to your love(X)
    and teach me your decrees.(Y)
125 I am your servant;(Z) give me discernment
    that I may understand your statutes.(AA)
126 It is time for you to act, Lord;
    your law is being broken.(AB)
127 Because I love your commands(AC)
    more than gold,(AD) more than pure gold,(AE)
128 and because I consider all your precepts right,(AF)
    I hate every wrong path.(AG)

פ Pe

129 Your statutes are wonderful;(AH)
    therefore I obey them.(AI)
130 The unfolding of your words gives light;(AJ)
    it gives understanding to the simple.(AK)
131 I open my mouth and pant,(AL)
    longing for your commands.(AM)
132 Turn to me(AN) and have mercy(AO) on me,
    as you always do to those who love your name.(AP)
133 Direct my footsteps according to your word;(AQ)
    let no sin rule(AR) over me.
134 Redeem me from human oppression,(AS)
    that I may obey your precepts.(AT)
135 Make your face shine(AU) on your servant
    and teach me your decrees.(AV)
136 Streams of tears(AW) flow from my eyes,
    for your law is not obeyed.(AX)

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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ESV

Samekh

113 I hate (A)the double-minded,
    but I love (B)your law.
114 You are my (C)hiding place and my (D)shield;
    I (E)hope in your word.
115 (F)Depart from me, you evildoers,
    that I may (G)keep the commandments of my God.
116 Uphold me (H)according to your promise, that I may live,
    and let me not be (I)put to shame in my (J)hope!
117 (K)Hold me up, that I may be safe
    and have regard for your statutes continually!
118 You (L)spurn all who (M)go astray from your statutes,
    for their cunning is in vain.
119 All the wicked of the earth you discard like (N)dross,
    therefore (O)I love your testimonies.
120 My flesh (P)trembles for fear of you,
    and I am afraid of your judgments.

Ayin

121 I have done what is just and right;
    do not leave me to my oppressors.
122 Give your servant (Q)a pledge of good;
    let not (R)the insolent oppress me.
123 My (S)eyes long for your salvation
    and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise.
124 Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love,
    and (T)teach me your statutes.
125 I am your (U)servant; (V)give me understanding,
    that I may know your testimonies!
126 It is time for the Lord to act,
    for your law has been broken.
127 Therefore I (W)love your commandments
    above gold, above fine gold.
128 Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right;
    I hate every (X)false way.

Pe

129 Your testimonies are (Y)wonderful;
    therefore my soul (Z)keeps them.
130 The unfolding of your words gives light;
    it imparts (AA)understanding to the simple.
131 I (AB)open my mouth and (AC)pant,
    because I (AD)long for your commandments.
132 (AE)Turn to me and be gracious to me,
    as is your way with those who love your name.
133 (AF)Keep steady my steps according to your promise,
    and let no iniquity (AG)get dominion over me.
134 (AH)Redeem me from man's oppression,
    that I may keep your precepts.
135 (AI)Make your face shine upon your servant,
    and (AJ)teach me your statutes.
136 My eyes (AK)shed streams of tears,
    because people (AL)do not keep your law.

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

First, I love your law (113-120). When the Psalmist had to live among evildoers he took refuge in the word of God. It was not as a means of escapism. He took refuge to put his hope in the Lord and his deliverance. God became his source of life. He learned that the wicked may seem intimidating in light of the ways of this world, but in the end they are like dross, and they will come to nothing. There he learned God's awesome and eternal nature. Then he could fear God and love his word. Second, I am your servant; give me discernment (121-128). The power of God's word is that it has the ability to reveal God to us. When we are met with opposition in this world we see no relief or justice. But when we meet God in his word he gives us discernment. We meet the Lord who has been bearing men's sins on himself with love. Through his word we meet God who has bound himself to us in all of our sufferings. There we see his word unfolded before us. We have light to see his mercy. The hope of eternal redemption brings us to tears, as does the weight of sin that he bears. Obedience to God's word gives is a new and glorious lens with which to discern God's presence in this world.

Prayer: Lord, help me to love your word, that I may know your glorious presence.

One Word: Love God's word, discern his presence