THE LORD PRESERVES LIFE

Passage: Psalms 119:145-160

Key verse: 159

NIV

ק Qoph

145 I call with all my heart;(A) answer me, Lord,
    and I will obey your decrees.(B)
146 I call out to you; save me(C)
    and I will keep your statutes.
147 I rise before dawn(D) and cry for help;
    I have put my hope in your word.
148 My eyes stay open through the watches of the night,(E)
    that I may meditate on your promises.
149 Hear my voice(F) in accordance with your love;(G)
    preserve my life,(H) Lord, according to your laws.
150 Those who devise wicked schemes(I) are near,
    but they are far from your law.
151 Yet you are near,(J) Lord,
    and all your commands are true.(K)
152 Long ago I learned from your statutes(L)
    that you established them to last forever.(M)

ר Resh

153 Look on my suffering(N) and deliver me,(O)
    for I have not forgotten(P) your law.
154 Defend my cause(Q) and redeem me;(R)
    preserve my life(S) according to your promise.(T)
155 Salvation is far from the wicked,
    for they do not seek out(U) your decrees.
156 Your compassion, Lord, is great;(V)
    preserve my life(W) according to your laws.(X)
157 Many are the foes who persecute me,(Y)
    but I have not turned(Z) from your statutes.
158 I look on the faithless with loathing,(AA)
    for they do not obey your word.(AB)
159 See how I love your precepts;
    preserve my life,(AC) Lord, in accordance with your love.
160 All your words are true;
    all your righteous laws are eternal.(AD)

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ESV

Qoph

145 With my (A)whole heart I cry; answer me, O Lord!
    I will (B)keep your statutes.
146 I call to you; save me,
    that I may observe your testimonies.
147 I rise before (C)dawn and cry for help;
    I (D)hope in your words.
148 My eyes are awake before (E)the watches of the night,
    that I may meditate on your promise.
149 Hear my voice according to your steadfast love;
    O Lord, (F)according to your justice (G)give me life.
150 They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose;
    they are far from your law.
151 But (H)you are near, O Lord,
    and all your commandments are (I)true.
152 Long have I known from your testimonies
    that you have (J)founded them forever.

Resh

153 Look on my (K)affliction and deliver me,
    for (L)I do not forget your law.
154 (M)Plead my cause and redeem me;
    (N)give me life according to your promise!
155 (O)Salvation is far from the wicked,
    (P)for they do not seek your statutes.
156 (Q)Great is your mercy, O Lord;
    (R)give me life according to your rules.
157 (S)Many are my persecutors and my adversaries,
    but I do not (T)swerve from your testimonies.
158 I look at (U)the faithless with (V)disgust,
    because they do not keep your commands.
159 Consider how I (W)love your precepts!
    (X)Give me life according to your steadfast love.
160 (Y)The sum of your word is (Z)truth,
    and every one of your (AA)righteous rules endures forever.

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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. I put my hope in your word (145-152)

God's promises and commands are true; they are eternal. Even in the long watches of the night, when God seems far away, he is near and ready to help us. But we must call on him. God is the preserver of life (149, 154, 156, 159). He preserves life according to his word. He loves those who love and trust and obey his word. When we meditate on his promises and put our hope in them, he is near to us and he answers our prayers. The psalmist set an example: he meditated on God's word all night and rose before the dawn to pray.

2. Preserve my life according to your love (153-16

)

Salvation is far from those who despise the word of God, from those who devise wicked plans instead of following God's word. All God's words are true and all his laws are eternal. Faithless people do not obey God's word. They cannot be saved. But the lives of those who call on the Lord for help will be preserved according to his promise.

Prayer: Lord, you are my hope and my salvation. Help me to obey your eternal word.

One Word: In love the Lord preserves life