Psalm 119:17-24
Be a ‘stranger’ on earth
Do you ever feel like you don’t quite fit in with those around you at work or in your neighbourhood? Do your values and lifestyle seem to be a little different? Do you sometimes face ‘scorn’ and ‘contempt’ (v.22)?
The psalmist says, ‘I am a stranger on earth’ (v.19). All the great men and women in the Old Testament were ‘strangers on earth’ (Hebrews 11:13). The apostle Peter writes, ‘Live your lives as strangers here’ (1 Peter 1:17). Like the psalmist, as servants of God, we are called to be different from those around us.
Unlike those around him, the psalmist writes, ‘My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times’ (Psalm 119:20). As he reads the Scriptures, he prays, ‘Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law’ (v.18). This is a great prayer to pray when you study the Bible. We only understand what is revealed by the Spirit.
Some of those around him are ‘bad neighbors’ who ‘maliciously gossip’ (v.23a, MSG). But God’s words are to him like ‘good neighbors’ (v.24, MSG). He writes, ‘I’m absorbed in pondering your wise counsel. Yes, your sayings on life are what give me delight; I listen to them as to good neighbours!’ (vv.23b–24, MSG).
Lord, give me courage to live as a stranger on earth. Help me to be consumed with longing for your word, to meditate on what you say. Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your word.
Sent from my SM-A715F using
JamiiForums mobile app