OPEN MY EYES TO SEE WONDERFUL THINGS

Passage: Psalms 119:17-32

Key verse: 18

NIV

ג Gimel

17 Be good to your servant(A) while I live,
    that I may obey your word.(B)
18 Open my eyes that I may see
    wonderful things in your law.
19 I am a stranger on earth;(C)
    do not hide your commands from me.
20 My soul is consumed(D) with longing
    for your laws(E) at all times.
21 You rebuke the arrogant,(F) who are accursed,(G)
    those who stray(H) from your commands.
22 Remove from me their scorn(I) and contempt,
    for I keep your statutes.(J)
23 Though rulers sit together and slander me,
    your servant will meditate on your decrees.
24 Your statutes are my delight;
    they are my counselors.

ד Daleth

25 I am laid low in the dust;(K)
    preserve my life(L) according to your word.(M)
26 I gave an account of my ways and you answered me;
    teach me your decrees.(N)
27 Cause me to understand the way of your precepts,
    that I may meditate on your wonderful deeds.(O)
28 My soul is weary with sorrow;(P)
    strengthen me(Q) according to your word.(R)
29 Keep me from deceitful ways;(S)
    be gracious to me(T) and teach me your law.
30 I have chosen(U) the way of faithfulness;(V)
    I have set my heart(W) on your laws.
31 I hold fast(X) to your statutes, Lord;
    do not let me be put to shame.
32 I run in the path of your commands,
    for you have broadened my understanding.

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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.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Gimel

17 (A)Deal bountifully with your servant,
    (B)that I may live and keep your word.
18 Open my eyes, that I may behold
    wondrous things out of your law.
19 I am (C)a sojourner on the earth;
    (D)hide not your commandments from me!
20 My soul is consumed with (E)longing
    for your rules[a] at all times.
21 You rebuke (F)the insolent, (G)accursed ones,
    who (H)wander from your commandments.
22 Take away from me (I)scorn and contempt,
    (J)for I have kept your testimonies.
23 Even though (K)princes sit plotting against me,
    your servant will (L)meditate on your statutes.
24 Your testimonies are my (M)delight;
    they are my (N)counselors.

Daleth

25 (O)My soul clings to the dust;
    (P)give me life (Q)according to your word!
26 When (R)I told of my ways, you answered me;
    (S)teach me your statutes!
27 (T)Make me understand the way of your precepts,
    and I will (U)meditate on your wondrous works.
28 (V)My soul melts away for sorrow;
    strengthen me according to your word!
29 Put false ways far from me
    and graciously (W)teach me your law!
30 I have chosen the way of faithfulness;
    I (X)set your rules before me.
31 I cling to your testimonies, O Lord;
    (Y)let me not be put to shame!
32 I will run in the way of your commandments
    when you (Z)enlarge my heart![b]

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Footnotes
  1. Psalm 119:20 Or your just decrees; also verses 30, 39, 43, 52, 75, 102, 108, 137, 156, 175
  2. Psalm 119:32 Or for you set my heart free
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Your statutes are my delight (17-24)

When we ask him, God opens our spiritual eyes to see the wisdom and truth of his word--if we ask with a sincere desire to obey him. He opens our eyes to see ourselves. We are really strangers on earth. Sometimes God's people look foolish and are objects of the scorn and contempt of worldly people. But when we thirst for God's word and delight in it, slander and scorn cannot harm us. God himself--through his word--is our counselor.

2. You have set my heart free (25-32)

Sometimes our human circumstances make us sorrowful and tired. We are tempted to follow a worldly way of life like that of those around us. At such times, we must meditate on God's word (27) and pray (26, 28), then choose the way of truth (3

). When we do this, we find that God strengthens us and sets our hearts free, and this is the only real freedom.

Prayer: Father, thank you for setting my heart free; continue to open my eyes to see the wonderful things in your word.

One Word: Spiritual sight sets us free