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Pocket Sized Thoughts – Psalm 119 – Part 4

Psalm 119:1-16 “Blessed are they who keep His testimonies” (v.2)

The first word of this great psalm is “Blessed”. There is no sense of curses, threats, punishments but a word which describes wholeness in every department of our lives. To whom does this apply? It is to the undefiled, the perfectly sincere and those whose hearts are undivided. Thus the emphasis from the outset is upon living and conduct, not just academic knowledge. We are to diligently hold onto God’s commandments (v.4) not to debate them into irrelevance. To honour all His commandments is the way to a clear conscience without shame. If there is any shame, or sin, the Word has an ability to cleanse the entire life and purify from all residual effects of unrighteousness. But the Word also has a power to safeguard from sin and direct the person toward holiness of life. This advice is directed toward young people, learners, who are still vulnerable and susceptible. The whole heart must be engaged in seeking; putting the best thing in the best place (as stored treasure) for the best purpose (v.11). This reminds us of the tablets of stone which were stored in the innermost place of the tabernacle. If this is the prime motive in our life, we can do no better. As we learn, His word becomes to us the best treasure and brings unbridled joy.

PRAYER :- “Lord, thank you that there are such riches in Your word; help me to always hold firmly upon them.”


Pocket Sized Thoughts – Psalm 119 – Part 3

Introduction (III) :-

Memory and meditation are mentioned many times in this psalm. It is said that David Livingstone when aged 9 years, won a prize for reciting, from memory, the entire psalm, with only five minor mistakes! Memorization really helps to fix God’s word in our minds, that we can come back to many times and so, further meditate upon it. The ‘LORD’ (Jehovah) is mentioned 22 times ; “walking” (in obedience), 9 times ; “speaking” (truth), 13 times. The Lord’s strength helps us walk in truth so that we may boldly declare His word. Finally, do not be daunted by the length of the psalm. Read it in sections and as you do, let it penetrate and feed your soul; from there, a respect, delight and love for this psalm (and for the whole Word of God) will emerge and grow. May the statement made by the father of Matthew Henry, the well-known Bible commentator of the 18th century, become true for us:- “All grace grows as love to the Word of God grows.” I would encourage you to read the verses referred to, before moving onto the thoughts of the blog.

PRAYER :- “Lord, help me to value Your word above all things and that it should feed and greatly influence my life.”


Pocket Sized Thoughts – Psalm 119 – Part 2

Introduction (II) :-

In the KJV, there are a number of metaphors for the Word of God and a brief explanation of these may be helpful :- a) The Law – God’s truth to aim for; b) the Way – our obedience and conduct in living, to be in unity with (a); c) Testimonies – remembrances, reminders and a witness, declaring to the world; d) Commandments – God’s authority, not to be compromised; e) Precepts – that which God entrusts to man; f) the Word – the mind, or ‘logos’ of God, bringing things to light; g) Judgments – reflecting the wisdom, or established government of God; h) Statutes – things which are engraved, fixed, or marked out. Likewise, there are a number of metaphors for sin to reveal how the conscience can offend a holy God. Transgression refers to deliberate rebellion, crossing a God-set boundary; sin is missing the mark, falling far short of God’s holy standard; while iniquity means an internal moral defect – a tendency to evil, while knowing that is wrong and a conscious inability to do what is right. This is highlighted in Romans 7:19 – “the good that I want to do, I do not; but the evil which I don’t want to do, I end up doing.” God’s word focusses in on these things but also helps us find an answer to the morass of sin and find a new way to live.

PRAYER :- “Lord, thank you that Your word searches me to live by Your standards alone.”


Pocket Sized Thoughts – Psalm 119 – Part 1

Introduction (I) :-

This psalm stands alone in all its majesty, soaring to previously unscaled heights, where all but two verses of the 176 exalt the Word of God (or some metaphor of it). The chief theme is the word of God and its excellence above all things. The 176 verses are divided into 22 blocks of 8 verses, each block corresponding to one of the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet, with each verse of that block beginning with that same Hebrew letter. The author is unknown, though Ezra is favoured by some. He was a key man in the return from the exile in Babylon and was concerned less with the physical construction of the temple and walls of Jerusalem, but more that the people should be spiritually built up again by having a law (the Word) by which to live and to be identified with. To this end Ezra “prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord and to do it; to teach in Israel statutes and judgments” (Ezra 7:10). Thus, the Word of God became a foundation for God’s people. As the psalm progresses, it reveals a conflict between the world and the Word of God. But, it also reveals how the Word brings the heart to peace and victory. As with Christ Jesus, who is the embodiment of the Word, there is no greater assurance, nor better foundation to be laid in all of life, than the Word of God.

PRAYER :- “Lord, teach me the depths and truths of Your word.”


Pocket Sized Thoughts – Esther – Part 10

Esther 10:1-3 “Mordecai … sought the welfare of his people” (v.3)

The final chapter sees Mordecai promoted by the king above everyone else. God always honours those who put Him first. Mordecai did not use this new position for self-glory; he used it to seek the welfare of His people and speaking peace to all. Many have come into important positions only to abuse their authority. What a wonderful thing it is when men, whom, when God raises their status, continue to have a servant heart, serving God and the interests of His people, rather than their own. Note how many times the apostle Paul describes himself as a bond-slave. God uses men like Mordecai and women like Esther to steer His church through the most dark and dangerous of times into places of light, joy and peace. The whole story of the book of Esther is one of deliverance from the oppressor and how the invisible hand of God is working toward that glorious end. This is cause indeed to worship, trust and praise Him who does all things well.

“Careless seems the great Avenger, history’s pages record; One death grapple in the darkness between old systems and the word; Truth forever on the scaffold, wrong forever upon the throne – Yet that scaffold sways the future and behind the dim unknown, God stands within the shadow, keeping watch above His own.”

PRAYER :- “Lord, thank you that in Your work, we are never alone, but You are always with us.”


Pocket Sized Thoughts – Esther – Part 9

Esther 8:1-9:32 “The month was turned for them from sorrow to joy” (9:22)

Though Haman had been killed, the threat and danger of destruction of the Hebrew people still remained. The original decrees could not be reversed, so with further intervention by Esther, the king sent a royal decree by the hand of Mordecai for the Jews to arm and defend themselves against all attack. The enemy and sin writes irreversible decrees against us; we can do nothing to change them. A new ‘decree’ is written by Christ, which erases every former thing written against us (Colossians 2:14). As was the case with the Jews, the result was light and joy (v.16,17) arising from a time of great darkness and despair. Chapter nine gives the full account of the deliverance of the Jews throughout the entire empire, not just the palace and capital city. This ‘good news’ was to spread throughout the world. Sin brings sorrow and mourning (9:22) but Christ, by His salvation, turns it all to joy. In celebration, the feast of Purim was instituted, which has been kept all down the centuries and was marked by light, peace and truth. These are wonderful qualities of the kingdom of God, which He wants to make known throughout the world.

PRAYER :- “Lord, thank you that by Your great salvation, You take the sorrow and burden of sin away.”


Pocket Sized Thoughts – Esther – Part 8

Esther 7:1-10 “I and my people are to be destroyed” (v.4)

There had been much preparation of ground in the king’s heart before Esther revealed her true request and the burden that lay heavily upon her heart. This demonstrated the wisdom of the young queen. So often, even in our prayers, we expect instant answers without doing the all-important groundwork first. Esther had prepared things well so that when the king asked her what her heart’s deep desire was, she was ready to reveal it and the king to receive it. She explains the plot against her people and after further enquiry from the king, she reveals that the architect of it all was Haman. The king retreats for a little time to consider the matter. While the king is doing this, Haman, fearing for his life, throws himself upon Esther’s bed to plead for his life. At that moment, the king enters in again, sees what Haman is doing, suspects the worst and orders his hanging upon the very gallows he thought to hang Mordecai upon. The trap he had set for another is the one he falls into himself (see Psalms 9:16 ; 35:8 & 141:10 ; Proverbs 26:27). In this, we see that the enemy always over reaches himself. Presumption, pride and blind hatred are always his undoing and brings him to ultimate shame. The justice of God never fails and will always prevail.

PRAYER :- “Lord, thank you that You never leave us, nor forsake us, even in the most dire of circumstances.”


Pocket Sized Thoughts – Esther – Part 7

Esther 6:1-14 “That night, the king could not sleep” (v.1)

This chapter records the beginning of a total turn-around. In the providence of God, the king could not sleep and orders the chronicles to be read to him. On hearing this, he discovers what Mordecai had done previously in revealing the plot against the king. The king decides to honour Mordecai and at that moment Haman walks in, hears the king’s proposal and thinks it applies to himself. To Haman’s shock and horror, Mordecai is honoured and in a reversal of roles, Haman is, in effect, bowing to Mordecai. Realising his demise, Haman is then invited to the banquet that Esther had prepared. As he is about to leave, his wife says, “You shall not prevail …. but shall surely fall ….” (v.13). This is the destiny of all God’s enemies and everyone who opposes His people and His purposes. It is certain, signed and sealed. This should not make us boast, but to be humble, knowing that God’s righteous justice will always be executed. The tide of fear and uncertainty was turning.

PRAYER :- “Lord, thank you that no plan of the Evil one can, in the light of eternity, ever ultimately succeed.”


Pocket Sized Thoughts – Esther – Part 6

Esther 5:1-14 “The king held out to Esther the golden sceptre” (v.2)

Upon a set day, but not the day he was anticipating, Haman is invited to the palace to have a banquet with the king. This was in response to Esther’s bravery in boldly approaching the throne. She had not been called into the king’s presence for many days but the sceptre of mercy and acceptance was extended out to her. It is a wonderful picture of coming boldly in prayer before Jesus, the King of kings (see Hebrews 4:16). Esther had a law against her; if she came unannounced and the sceptre was not held out to her, she would die. We have no law, but rather a promise that invites us. Esther had no friend and came alone; we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous (1 John 2:1). Amazingly, and in mercy, we can come to Him with our requests. Haman was ecstatic at being invited and in his pride, boasted of all his achievements and out of spite made a gallows to hang Mordecai upon. But pride comes before a fall (Proverbs 16:18) and had he known he had only one more day to live, he would have had a very different attitude. Things were about to take a very strange and totally unexpected twist. It is amazing what happens when God’s people begin to pray.

PRAYER :- “Lord, thank you that we can come boldly to Your throne of grace and ask anything according to Your will.”


Pocket Sized Thoughts – Esther – Part 5

Esther 4:1-17 “Who knows whether you are come into the kingdom for such a time as this?” (v.14)

Upon hearing the news of Haman’s intentions, Mordecai cried out both loudly and bitterly. It was a prayer of crying out to God. Using the open channels of communication, Mordecai was able to inform Esther of Haman’s evil plan. The natural thing to do was to intercede before the king for the deliverance of her people. But the way seemed closed and there was no possibility of such an intercession being made. But, the way to God’s throne was open. Against this background, Mordecai uttered his famous words, “Who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (v.14). The words are inspiring for every true child of God. We have been saved not just to go to heaven, but for a purpose to serve God in our own generation. Esther courageously and self-sacrificially (“If I die, I die”) rose to the challenge, but not without fasting and prayer to prepare for the fact that her life was no longer in her own hands. God has called us and are we willing to lay down our rights to our own lives so that He may gloriously use us for the salvation of others? May we courageously respond not counting our lives precious to ourselves to boldly declare the gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:24).

PRAYER :- “Lord, help me not to count my life as precious to myself, but to use it for Your glory in helping others.”