Summary: The psalmist, suffering, still praises God and wants to follow His will.
Response: A verse speaks of those arrogantly ignoring God's will and law, like their hearts are callused. Lord, I don't want to be like that, even though I am sometimes. Keep me grounded in You, sensitive to Your touch.
Summary: The psalmist compares God to having an inheritance, providing security and stability. God's law grounds him and steadies him, even when facing those who do not believe.
Response: Sometimes it is kind of a bummer that I don't have a nice chunk of change or a large estate waiting for me. Still, that means I can enjoy God's provision and look forward to blessings He has in store for me.
Summary: Among those who are nonbelievers, the psalmist stands out as one who knows God's law and follows it. It is his main source of hope knowing God will come and save him.
Response: I can only hope my lifestyle continues to show others how I try to love and serve God. I feel like I don't always do a good job, defaulting to complacency and reactions.
Summary: The psalmist asks God to give him a testimony, his saving story. That way, he can focus his conversations with those who don't believe and study the Word with that much more fervor.
Response: My guess is there is supposed to be some trouble already started? Otherwise it feels like "please give me a problem and then solve it," which is a bit odd if not a bit reckless. Though I guess it could also be to reveal saving that is done or just on its way. I know I am provided for by God, even when little things add up, which is sort of the small version of my testimony.
Summary: The psalmist asks for God's guidance in learning His teachings. He knows that following wealth here on Earth is ultimately worthless, but following the way of God is what will save him.
Response: Lord, help me to find contentment in what I have, and a longing to grow deeper with You.
Summary: On his own, the psalmist stumbles around; he needs the help of God's law just to get back up. As he stumbles again and is again raised, he commits to learning and practicing it. Knowing the statutes well, he is able but just to walk but to run.
Response: Lord, help me with small choices today, that I may trust you with bigger ones quicker tomorrow.
Summary: The psalmist compares himself to a foreigner so far as his knowledge of the law is concerned: he needs help so he won't get himself in trouble. He knows those around him only plot to get him hurt, but God's statutes are like wise advisors, helping him stay on the right path.
Response: This is pretty good stuff. When I play a game like Civ V, the other nations rarely do anything that benefits me; most times, my generosity is taken advantage of and I am left with the choice to either give something valuable to a potential future enemy or make an enemy myself by refusing such a bad offer.
But God is here for our benefit. He couldn't love us any more or less, and He offers us the choice to love Him back. He's the One vulnerable here and we are the ones with the most to gain.
So help me, Lord, to seek Your will and ways, so I can be a better me.
Summary: The psalmist states that the only way to keep a young person pure is for them to follow God's teachings. They regard the study not a chore but a delight with great reward in store.
Response: I only hope I take this seriously enough to enjoy it myself, and to put in enough effort to see a payoff.
[This is the longest psalm, split up so that each section begins with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet. As such, I'm doing just one section each day.]
Summary: The psalmist knows that, if he would only follow all God's commands, he would be happy. But he can't.
Response: I know I can't either. Not all on my own. Lord, help me to seek Your will in all I do.
Summary: The psalmist calls on everyone to testify to God's enduring love. Because he calls on God, He helps him in times of trouble. The psalmist finishes the same way, telling all about God's enduring love in the temple.
Response: There's like a million songs that have come from this psalm, but I like the difference between "I crushed my enemies with God's help" and "God saved me;" I want to push myself to think more on God's mercy than my selfish gain.
Summary: The psalmist tells all nations to praise God.
Response: It's really short, but it makes its point: God isn't just for Israel, but for everyone. All should praise Him because He loves all of us.
Summary: The psalmist recognizes not only God's mercy but his own need for it. The psalmist was dead and dying in his own sin and ignorance until God forgave him. Therefore he gives God praise.
Response: I know I belong in most of these categories--rash and untrained for starters--but God still cares. He doesn't wait for you or me to put our lives back together on our own first; he loves all of us now, always has, always will.
Summary: The psalmist gives God glory above even his people. A sovereign King, God is unlike idols, who are as dead as their followers will be. We are to trust that God will not only defend us but have us prosper.
Response: God is alive and I look forward to seeing how He acts in new ways in my life and my church.
