GOD IS GOOD

Passage: Psalms 119:65-80

Key verse: 68

NIV

ט Teth

65 Do good(A) to your servant
    according to your word,(B) Lord.
66 Teach me knowledge(C) and good judgment,
    for I trust your commands.
67 Before I was afflicted(D) I went astray,(E)
    but now I obey your word.(F)
68 You are good,(G) and what you do is good;
    teach me your decrees.(H)
69 Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies,(I)
    I keep your precepts with all my heart.
70 Their hearts are callous(J) and unfeeling,
    but I delight in your law.
71 It was good for me to be afflicted(K)
    so that I might learn your decrees.
72 The law from your mouth is more precious to me
    than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.(L)

י Yodh

73 Your hands made me(M) and formed me;
    give me understanding to learn your commands.
74 May those who fear you rejoice(N) when they see me,
    for I have put my hope in your word.(O)
75 I know, Lord, that your laws are righteous,(P)
    and that in faithfulness(Q) you have afflicted me.
76 May your unfailing love(R) be my comfort,
    according to your promise(S) to your servant.
77 Let your compassion(T) come to me that I may live,
    for your law is my delight.(U)
78 May the arrogant(V) be put to shame for wronging me without cause;(W)
    but I will meditate on your precepts.
79 May those who fear you turn to me,
    those who understand your statutes.(X)
80 May I wholeheartedly follow(Y) your decrees,(Z)
    that I may not be put to shame.(AA)

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ESV

Teth

65 You have dealt well with your servant,
    O Lord, (A)according to your word.
66 Teach me (B)good judgment and knowledge,
    for I believe in your commandments.
67 (C)Before I was afflicted I went astray,
    but now I keep your word.
68 (D)You are good and do good;
    (E)teach me your statutes.
69 (F)The insolent (G)smear me with lies,
    but with my whole heart I (H)keep your precepts;
70 their heart is unfeeling (I)like fat,
    but I (J)delight in your law.
71 It is (K)good for me that I was afflicted,
    that I might learn your statutes.
72 (L)The law of your mouth is better to me
    than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

Yodh

73 (M)Your hands have made and fashioned me;
    (N)give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.
74 Those who fear you shall see me and (O)rejoice,
    because I have (P)hoped in your word.
75 I know, O Lord, that your rules are (Q)righteous,
    and that in (R)faithfulness you have afflicted me.
76 Let your steadfast love comfort me
    according to your promise to your servant.
77 Let your (S)mercy come to me, that I may live;
    for your law is my (T)delight.
78 Let (U)the insolent be put to (V)shame,
    because they have (W)wronged me with falsehood;
    as for me, I will (X)meditate on your precepts.
79 Let those who fear you (Y)turn to me,
    that they may know your testimonies.
80 May my heart be (Z)blameless in your statutes,
    (AA)that I may not be put to shame!

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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.
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1. God's training (65-72)

The psalmist learned to love and trust God in times of suffering. He could say, 'It was good for me to be afflicted.' Before he was afflicted he went astray; but through suffering he learned to obey God's word. He learned that God is good. He found that by taking hold of God's word in a time of suffering, the callouses were removed from his heart. He grew in love for God and for God's word. He found that God's word is more precious than gold.

2. God's comfort (73-8

)

The psalmist accepted the sovereignty of God his Creator. He put his hope in God's word of promise and discovered that God is faithful and righteous. He found that God's unfailing love was his comfort and God's compassion brought him life. He learned these things by meditating on God's word in times of suffering. He did not waste time hating those who mistreated or misused him.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your unfailing love. You are good and what you do is good. Thank you for your life-giving word. Teach me more of its meaning.

One Word: Accept God's training with joy