Daily Devotions
Psalms
Psalm 119:76a "Let, I pray, Your merciful kindness be for my comfort..."
Day 292 – Psalm 119:73-80
“Let, I pray, Your merciful kindness be for my comfort…” Psalm 119:76a
PRAYING AMIDST AFFLICTION
The psalmist chose to pray amidst his affliction. That was a very wise choice to make.
“Let Your tender mercies come to me, that I may live;
For Your law is my delight.
Let the proud be ashamed,
For they treated me wrongfully with falsehood;
But I will meditate on Your precepts.
Let those who fear You turn to me,
Those who know Your testimonies.
Let my heart be blameless regarding Your statutes,
That I may not be ashamed.”
Psalm 119:77-80
1. Four petitions were presented to the Lord in humble prayer:-
a) Plea for tender mercies to be given so that he would survive (“live”).
b) Plea that the proud be made to feel ashamed of themselves because of their wicked ways.
c) Plea that those who fear the Lord would turn to the psalmist.
d) Plea that the heart be blameless and unashamed.
2. While praying to God
a) Delighting in God’s laws.
b) Meditating on God’s precepts.
c) Preparing to serve God by speaking to those who turn to the psalmist.
d) Seeking to be blameless with reference to holding fast to the Word of God.
3. A Strong Relation between Praying and Holding Fast to God’s Word
a) Prayer does not stand alone.
b) The psalmist knew that even as he was tested by affliction, he must stay focused in his trust in God.
c) He determined that he would hold fast to the Word of God no matter how difficult his affliction.
It takes much wisdom and strength to practise the faith that the psalmist displayed amidst affliction.