His Encouragement — Psalm 119 Series

Welcome to His Encouragement Thursday!

This week I am going to begin a series on Psalm 119.

For those who may not know, Psalm 119 is broken down into 22 stanzas and each stanza begins with one letter from the Hebrew Alphabet. Each stanza is broken up into 8 verses for a total of 176 verses. It is the longest Psalm in the Psaltry. And, Psalm 119 is an example of an acrostic, which is a poem where the first letter of each verse spells out a word, message, or follows the alphabet. In this case, Psalm 119 follows the Hebrew Alphabet.

My goal with this series is not lofty. I am not an expert on Psalm 119. I just love its symmetry and message, and I want to share that with you over the next 22 weeks. Perhaps I will be able to share some insight, some interesting tidbits and facts, or just some thoughts on how the verses strike me. My true goal is that this series is an extra encouragement to you, and helps you end your week strong in God’s love and purpose for you. I hope you enjoy and are blessed!

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Psalm 119: 17-24

Gimmel (the letter G)

Deal bountifully with Your servant, that I may live and keep Your Word.

Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Your Law.

I am a sojourner on the earth; hide not Your commandments from me!

My soul is consumed with longing for Your rules at all times.

You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones, who wander from Your commandments.

Take away from me scorn and contempt, for I have kept Your testimonies.

Even though princes sit plotting against me, Your servant will meditate on Your statutes.

Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors.

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Psalm 119 is all about hearing and doing the Scriptures.

I have been struggling with anxiety the last couple of days. The games that are being played by elected officials, many of whom I didn’t vote for, are frustrating me. It is incredibly clear, at least in the state I live in, that people in positions of power care very little for their constituents and peoples’ rights.

This isn’t actually what is causing my anxiety. People in positions of power rarely are as wholesome and good as they attempt to portray. Power corrupts more than it ever leads to any good, especially in today’s seriously scary world.

What is really causing my anxiety are the people close to me who are buying into these politicians as if they are speaking Gospel truth. When real truth and evidence is shown in regards to the corruption and vileness of their beloved political leaders, they look at me as if I’ve lost my mind. Then they dig into me about believing in God. The pattern is always the same. I give an actual fact with documented evidence, then they turn on me for being a “stupid Christian.”

Reading this section of Psalm 119 was good for me this week. It reminded me that I am a stranger in a strange land. Earth is not my home. My home is with Jesus Christ in Heaven. One day, I will get there and I will be with Jesus permanently and I won’t be around the many things that cause anxiety. I will be around holiness and purity and intelligence. I will be around love and honor and courage. I will be around the Light of the world.

Until that time, I have to keep my focus on God by being in His Word daily. I have to study His laws and statutes and parables. I have to pray and praise. As the Bible tells us, I have to do these things continually without ceasing!

I’m not going to lie. There is a lot going on that has me feeling a bit blue. It’s been hard to read my Bible, read my review novels, and focus on my job. I have felt like giving up. BUT, God does not give us a spirit of “give up and fail.” Rather, I have to remember Hebrews 12:1 and run the race God has set before me with endurance.

Dear reader, if you are struggling this week as I am, remember that you are a stranger in a strange land. You are a sojourner! You’re struggling because your heart longs for God. It longs to be near that which is holy, pure, true, and good. God knows this about you, and He is ready to spend time with you. All you have to do is pray, praise, and study.

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NOW, IT’S YOUR TURN!

WHAT BIBLICAL VERSE IS ENCOURAGING YOU TODAY?

Check out more Thursday Encouragement from my fellow blogger friends:

Trisha @ Joy of Reading

Jacquelyn @ A Heavenly Home

Jessica @ A Baker’s Perspective

Becca @ The Becca Files

Gina @ Stories by Gina

Rebecca @ Rev. Rebecca Writes

Andi @ Radiant Light

Leslie @ Words of Hope

Claudia @ Claudia Moser