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June 7 - Psalm 119:1-56 · A Chapter a Day Bible Reading

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  Hello friends, it's shown here. It is Friday.
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  Congratulations on making it to the end of another week.
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  So glad to have your company as today.
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  It is a momentous occasion. Today we are going to tackle the
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  longest Sam well in the book of Psalms, but it's also the
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  longest chapter in the whole Bible.
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  This chapter, this sum has got 176 verses.
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  It's got what I hear you say. Yep, it's an absolute whopper.
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  And this is not just this great big diatribe that that the the
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  author of Psalms begins, but it's actually a poem like all
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  the other Psalms and it's an acrostic.
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  There are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet and each of
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  these 22 letters has got a stanza and each stanza is 8
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  lines long and that makes 176 lines.
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  That's right. It is all down to the simple
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  maths. And today out of the 22 stanzas,
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  we are going to read the first seven.
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  This would take us such a long time to get through the whole
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  thing, so we're actually going to break it up into three
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  different sections and read it over the next three weeks.
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  But this is Assam. That was written well.
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  Scholars aren't exactly 100% sure, but they reckon it was
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  either David, Ezra, Daniel, or Jeremiah, one of these great
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  pillars of our faith. As they grapple with a really
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  difficult time, they bring their challenges before God.
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  And one of the great big themes that will go through all of
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  these stanzas throughout this whole poem is that God's word is
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  all sufficient. So what a cracker.
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  So we are going to begin. And normally I don't read the
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  headings because the headings aren't part of the original
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  text, but I thought it might be helpful if I read the characters
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  of the Hebrew alphabet as we go through so you can keep up with
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  how many stanzas we will be reading.
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  So today we are going to read verse one through to 56 of some
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  119 Alif joyful are people of integrity who follow the
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  instructions of the Lord, joyful at those who obey His laws and
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  search for Him with all their hearts.
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  They did not compromise with evil and they walk only in his
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  paths. You have charged us to keep your
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  commandments carefully. All that my actions would
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  consistently reflect your decrees.
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  Then I will not be ashamed when I compare my life with your
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  commands. As I learn your righteous
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  regulations, I will thank you. By living as I should, I will
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  obey your decrees. Please don't give up on me,
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  Beth. How can a young person stay pure
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  by obeying your word? I've tried hard to find you.
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  Don't let me wander from your commands.
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  I've hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin
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  against you. I praise you, O Lord, teach me
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  your decrees. I have recited aloud all the
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  regulations you have given us. I have rejoiced in your laws as
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  much as enriches. I will study your commandments
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  and reflect on your ways. I will delight in your decrees
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  and not forget Your word. Gimel, be good to your servant,
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  that I may live and obey Your word.
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  Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in Your
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  instructions. I am only a foreigner in the
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  land. Don't hide your commands from
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  me. I'm always overwhelmed with the
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  desire for your regulations. You're rebuke the arrogant.
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  Those who wander from your commands are cursed.
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  Don't let them scorn and insult me, for I have obeyed your laws.
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  Even princes sit and speak against me, but I will meditate
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  on your decrees. Your laws please me.
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  They give me wise advice, Daleth.
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  I lie in the dust. Revive me by your word.
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  I told you my plans and you answered.
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  Now teach me your decrees, help me understand the meaning of
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  your commands, and I will meditate on your wonderful
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  deeds. I weep with sorrow.
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  Encourage me by your word. Keep me from lying to myself.
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  Give me the privilege of knowing your instructions.
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  I've chosen to be faithful. I have determined to live by
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  your regulations. I cling to your laws, Lord,
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  don't let me be put to shame. I will pursue your commands for
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  you. Expand my understanding, He
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  teach me or decrease my Lord. I will keep them to the end,
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  give me understanding and I will obey your instructions.
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  I will put them into practise with all my heart.
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  Make me walk along the path of your commands, for that is where
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  my happiness is found. Give me an eagerness for your
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  laws rather than a love of money.
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  Turn my eyes from worthless things and give me life through
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  your word. Reassure me of Your promise made
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  to those who fear you. Help me abandon my shameful
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  ways, for Your regulations are good.
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  I long to obey your commandments.
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  Renew my life with your goodness.
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  Wow, Lord, give me your unfailing love, the salvation
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  that you've promised me. Then I can answer those who
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  taunt me, for I trust in Your word.
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  Do not snatch Your word of truth from me, for Your regulations
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  are my only hope. I will keep on obeying your
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  instructions forever and ever have a walk in freedom, for I
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  have devoted myself to your commandments.
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  I will speak to kings about your laws and I will not be ashamed
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  how I delight in your commands, how I love them.
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  I honour and love your commands. I meditate on your decrees,
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  Zion. Remember your promise to me.
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  It is my only hope. Your promise revives me.
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  It comforts me in all my troubles.
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  The proud hold me in utter contempt.
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  But I do not turn away from your instructions.
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  I meditate on your aid. Old regulations, old Lord, they
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  comfort me. I've become furious with the
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  wicked because they reject your instructions.
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  Your decrees have been the theme of my songs wherever I have
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  lived. Have reflect at night on who you
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  are, oh Lord. Therefore I obey your
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  instructions. This is how I spend my life,
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  obeying your commandments. Ah Lord, thank you for this
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  armrest and their heart for you. Lord.
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  So often when we hear commands, our shoulders drop and we sigh
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  as we think more rules. But hear your word shows us
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  differently, that the advice, the commands that you have for
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  us in our lives are life giving and can actually fill us with
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  joy as we reflect on you and your love for us.
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  And that you step into the fray of our lives and you give us
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  guidance. I love.
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  Thank you for your commands. Thank you for the structure that
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  you placed in our lives so that we can live each day knowing how
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  to honour you with our daily activity.
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  Holy Spirit, come and shape our hearts that we would find joy in
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  following your ways. We pray all of this in the
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  saving name of Jesus, Amen.