Friday,  June 6
Reading for today:  Psalm 119


Chronologically this Psalm is presented as if it were written around the end of David's reign and the beginning of Solomon's.  However, my Bible suggests that is was written much later, after the nation had gone into exile.   The reason I mention it is because I don't want to think that it's a Psalm written by David or Solomon.  In fact, the idea that it was written during or after great hardship seems to be reflected throughout the text.   The author has clearly been afflicted, (verse 71)  and is crying out to God.   Several things jump off the page for me:
1.  The author is or was afflicted, and rejected by "evil men".    2.  His suffering has caused him to express his trust in God, (this psalm) which has become a help to countless millions, and stands today as the thematic center of the Bible.  (obedience brings favor).   Jesus repeats the theme in the New Testament  "you are my friends if you obey my commands."   3.  Deep thought went into the writing of this.  It follows the letters of the Hebrew alphabet, and each letter is given 8 stanzas.

The primary focus of the Psalm is to state the author's belief that obedience to God's Law will result in God's blessing, and all the rewards and intangibles that come with it.   It will also result in God punishing those who stand opposed to the faithful.

There are several sub themes, clues really, that are tucked away in the text.  For instance, verse 73 talks of how God himself formed and made us.  Verse 36 says that "selfish gain" is one way that we are tempted away from meditating on God's word.  Verse 96 and verse 176 remind me that no one on earth is perfect, even as we as Free Methodists stand for "Christian Perfection"  we should not assume "sinless perfection"
Verse 104 says that as we study, we begin to "hate" what is wrong.   Therefore, regular study causes me to "want" what is actually best, and it becomes easier to avoid evil....since I no longer "want" to do it.