GIVE ME DISCERNMENT

Passage: Psalms 119:113-128

Key verse: 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)

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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.

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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

1. I stand in awe of your laws (113-12

)

God hates double-mindedness. James 1:8 says that a double-minded man is unstable in all his ways. Selfish people are naturally double-minded. But if I repent of my selfishness, love God's law, seek refuge in him alone, and put my hope in his promises, then my double-mindedness is cured. God rejects those who stray from his decrees and become deceitful and double-minded. We must have a holy fear of God and stand in awe of his word so that we may study the Bible with the right attitude.

2. Give me discernment (121-128)

God's servants look foolish because they are out of step with the world. Arrogant people oppress God's people in subtle and not-so-subtle ways. What can we do? The psalmist renews his hope in God's salvation and prays for discernment so that he can better understand the word of God. He renews his confidence in God's word.

Prayer: Lord, take away all my double-mindedness and give me discernment so that I may know your will and do it.

One Word: Fear of God gives discernment