on November 3, 2011
Psalm 119:137-144 – Righteous are you, O LORD, and your laws are right. The statutes you have laid down are righteous; they are fully trustworthy. My zeal wears me out, for my enemies ignore your words. Your promises have been thoroughly tested, and your servant loves them. Though I am lowly and despised, I do not forget your precepts. Your righteousness is everlasting and your law is true. Trouble and distress have come upon me, but your commands are my delight. Your statutes are forever right; give me understanding that I may live.
Does righteousness matter? Does it matter whether or not people act in a just, upright manner and do what is virtuous and good? Is it important to do what is morally right and fair? What difference does it make if we do the right thing, in the right way, at the right time, for the right reason – or not? Righteousness doesn’t matter if you want to live in an immoral, corrupt, sinful, cheating, lying, deceiving, thieving, wicked, murderous, profligate society!
Does it matter who sets the standard of righteousness in our culture? What kind of character is qualified to determine what is right and wrong for society? The Psalmist knows the One and ONLY person who is completely qualified for such a lofty responsibility – it is the LORD GOD! He alone is completely righteous, and all His laws are right! The statutes that He governs His own conduct by, and that He lays down for everyone else, are completely righteous and trustworthy! Not only so, but His promises have been thoroughly tested as well, proving that God keeps His Word! There is plain evidence that God has ALWAYS BEEN righteous, ALWAYS IS righteous, and ALWAYS WILL BE righteous! His law is true, His commands are delightful, and His statutes are eternally right! Can you think of one more qualified to set the standard of righteousness in our world?
In case you haven’t noticed so far in this lengthy Psalm, our writer is thoroughly enthralled with God’s laws, statutes and precepts. He believes that they are matchless, perfect, altogether wonderful and they are his complete delight! Problem is, that’s not true for everyone else! There are many who ignore God’s words and oppose the standard of righteousness that the Psalmist has come to love supremely. You may have also noticed that, even though God’s commands are his joy, our writer still seeks UNDERSTANDING in living out these precepts. Several times throughout this chapter we see him making this request of God. That would be a good prayer for all of us as well, since God’s ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts! His standards and precepts are so far above ours that we are in desperate need of understanding of how to do the right thing, in the right way, at the right time, for the right reason! This need for understanding seems to increase all the more the longer we live!
Thursday:
- Meet together with at least 1 or 2 other believers to enter the Throne Room of Grace.
- Join our 6:00pm Thursday night prayer team.
Friday:
- Thank God for His holy and righteous nature. Praise Him for making known His righteous standards, laws and precepts.
- Pray for the Good News families of the week: Jacquie Compagnoni, Greg Conibear, Juan & Jennifer Davila (Ariana, Angelina, Gabriella).
Saturday:
- Praise God for His righteous and trustworthy statutes – unmatched by any human code of conduct.
Sunday:
- Ask God to give you a greater understanding in how to live out of God’s commands and laws.
Monday:
- Pray for God’s kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven, and that His truth will be established in the hearts of men and women, boys and girls!
- Attend “In Touch” Prayer meeting at GNCC at 10:30am or join in prayer at that time.
Tuesday:
- Praise God that His statutes are eternally established – nothing will ever remove them!
Wednesday:
- Pray for those who ignore God’s standard of righteousness, that they will be converted.
Prayer Challenge: Pray that God will grant every believer: a passionate devotion to His Word, a humble recognition that we have much room for growth and improvement, His corrective discipline (that may be painful but produces good fruit), and a steadfast courage with strength to endure the arrogance, hostility, ridicule and slander of those who disregard the beauty and authority of God’s Word.