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Psalm 119 – Day 29

ר Resh

Psalm 119:153-160

Look on my suffering and deliver me, for I have not forgotten Your law. Defend my cause and redeem me; preserve my life according to Your promise. Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek out Your decrees. Your compassion, Lord, is great; preserve my life according to Your laws. Many are the foes who persecute me, but I have not turned from Your statutes. I look on the faithless with loathing, for they do not obey Your word. See how I love your precepts; preserve my life, Lord, in accordance with Your love. All Your words are true; all Your righteous laws are eternal.

The Thought

As we approach the end of this psalm, we have all probably noted a lot of repetition in what David has said. Most of us do that in our prayers without recognising it, because we feel the need to remind God of what we have already asked for.

We try to justify ourselves as the psalmist does in the first line above. I have not forgotten Your law. We tell The Lord how good we are in contrast to the opposition. As that happens, we move into a position of pride, and that is not good.

David’s son Solomon wrote many proverbs about pride and the proud. For example:- When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom (Proverbs 11:2). Haughty eyes and a proud heart – the unploughed field of the wicked produce sin (Proverbs 21:4).

Action

Read through today’s verses again and identify those where the psalmist is becoming proud and claiming his right to a response from The Lord. Dare to look at your own life and confess anything prideful that you find there.

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