Down an Unfamiliar Road

RESOLUTE RESOLVE –

The young pilgrim writing this psalm continues describing how each day he was tested and tried to see if he was truly committed to following God’s will, Teachings, instructions, guidelines, principles for living, commandments, declarations, words, regulations and promises. He learned early that a lot of well-meaning friends, as well as rude opponents, seemed to always know what was best for him whenever he was confronted with life’s tough decisions. But as far as he was concerned, their ideas and opinions had never been tested or proven, but he knew beyond any doubt that God’s will and ways for the believer’s life have been established as faultless again and again by generations dedicated to following God’s Word. So for him, it was a no-brainer: Go with God!

“O how I love Your Teachings; I think about them all day long. As a result, they’ve made me wiser than those who ridicule me; that’s why Your commandments will guide me forever. In fact, I have gained more insight than my teachers, because I keep going over Your instructions. Yes, by adhering to Your guidelines, I’ve been given more discernment than those much older than me. This has kept me from getting off-track, so I can stay in line with what Your advice. As such, I’ve been kept from going astray of Your directions, because of the way you have advised me. O how sweet are Your promises to my spiritual palate; yes, it is sweeter than pure honey on my taste buds! I’ve gained so much insight from studying Your guidelines, that it has turned me against false teaching and heresy.”

“For Your advice is like a lantern to my feet that illuminates the path I walk on. I took an oath, and I will stick to it; yes, I’ve dedicated myself to live by Your directions for right living. O LORD Eternal, it has cost me dearly; that’s why I need Your help to stay true to Your advice. So right now, O LORD Eternal, receive the praise I offer freely to You; and teach me how to remain faithful to Your directions. I face serious threats each and every day, yet I refuse to throw away with Your Teachings. I know there are traps set for me by those who want to see me fail, but I’m committed more than ever to stay in line with Your guidelines. That’s why I’m never turning back, because the joy in my heart comes from being obedient to Your instructions. Yes, I’ve decided from this day forward to live by Your principles for living no matter what happens.” Psalm 119:97-112

Reflection: A father passed by his son’s bedroom door and heard him inside laughing and saying sarcastically, “Yeah, sure! You’re so dumb! You think you’re really going to get away with this!” Intrigued, the father knocked and stuck his head inside the room and saw his son sitting in bed reading a book. “What’s going on?” the father asked. “Oh,” said the boy, “I’m reading this mystery novel about a guy who thinks he’s committed the perfect crime.” “But why are you poking fun at him?” the father inquired. “Because he thinks he’s going to get away with it,” the lad responded. “How do you know he’s not?” the father quizzed. The little boy smiled, then with a chuckle said, “Because I’ve read the end of the book!” Likewise, the psalmist responded to each encounter with those who wanted to see him fail for their benefit with the same faith and confidence. By faith he already knew the outcome: God will give His chosen the victory because of their faithfulness. Both the psalmist and this little boy illustrate the effect Wisdom has on a believing heart and mind, especially when trying to negotiate life’s maze and all its hidden turns and perils. Like the psalmist, we must decide once and for all whether or not to follow our own instincts, the myriad of opinions from those who think they know best, or the insights we gain from God’s Word. Just like making a slight adjustment in direction at a starting point can result in feet, yards, and even miles off line at the end point, likewise, small decisions early in life can have the same effect on your spiritual walk with God and where He wants you to be.

BEING COMPLETELY CONVINCED –

Our young champion in this psalm is in the fight of his spiritual life. Even though he knew it wouldn’t be easy, he was not prepared for the mountains he had to climb and the valleys he had to navigate through. Yet he kept his eye on the compass of God’s word. There were times when his instincts and imagination told him to change course, but as soon as he realized it would take him off the path God laid out for him, he quickly dismissed such ideas. Even those who tried to mislead him and convince him there were other ways to go, he gave notice that their suggestions would not help him reach his goal; that he was sold out to God’s plan for his life and none other.

“I am so anxious for You to get me out of this predicament, because my complete hope in what You said. But it’s becoming harder and harder to wait for Your promise to come true, that’s why I keep asking, “When will You bring me some peace of mind?” Although I feel tired and completely burned out, I will not give up on Your principles for living. I keep wondering how many days I have left to wait. Yes, I want to know when will You pass judgment on those who are giving me such a hard time?

These know-it-all’s have tried to trick me into changing my stance, by their false interpretation of Your Teachings. Even though Your commandments teach us about Your faithfulness, they keep trying to trip me up with lies; please do something soon. They have come close to making me quit my journey, but I refused to abandon Your guidelines for living. That’s why I depend on Your undying love to keep me going, that way I can be faithful to the instructions I’ve received from You.”

“I believe, O LORD Eternal, Your word is like the heavens, fixed to last forever; and Your faithfulness will continue to generation after generation; just as the earth You made will never stop turning.

Yes, they are both under Your direct control and obey Your directives like servants. Had Your Teachings not brought me encouragement, I would have given in to my misery a long time ago. That’s why I never stop living by Your guidelines, for through them You inspire me to keep on going. I belong to You; please see that I am victorious because I stood by those guidelines no matter what. These evil-minded people want to see me fail completely, but I refuse to take my eyes off of Your instructions.

I realize now that the life I’m living has its limits, but the commandments You have given us are limitless.” Psalm 119:81-96

Reflection: On Sunday, August 31, 1986 the 549 passenger sea-going liner, the Admiral Nakhimov, collided with a large cargo ship off the coast of Russia in the Black Sea. The collision claimed 425 lives when she sank in less than eight minutes, hurling helpless passengers into the murderous icy waters. News of the disaster caused even further consternation, after it was learned during the investigation what actually caused the accident. It did not involve any technological problem like a radar malfunction, or even thick fog. Instead, the real cause turned out to be human stubbornness. Each captain knew of the other ship’s presence and the course they were on. Both possessed enough time and space to steer clear of each other, but according to news reports neither captain wanted to be the first one to give way to the other. Each felt too proud to be the first to yield the right of way. By the time they came to their senses, it proved to be too late. The psalmist wanted no such disaster. Even though his opponents insulted his wisdom and integrity, he refused to risk losing everything just to claim superiority. God gave him the tools and materials necessary to navigate a safe course through their mine fields. This should help other believers to understand that when facing an enemy, don’t try to stare them down and declare, “I shall not be moved!” God’s Word clearly teaches that there is a time to stand, a time to sit, a time to speak, a time to be silent, a time to resist, and a time to back away. The choices are in our hands, but it’s God’s wisdom and Word that teaches us how to respond. Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount gives perfect examples of how to do things God’s way.

BELIEF IS BELIEVING –

The maturing young pilgrim in this psalm continues to discover what things in life count for something, and those which count for nothing. Like everyone else trying to achieve some important goal, he was open to applause and support from those around him. But at the same time, realized he must be ready for those who only find fault and saw weaknesses in his performance. Eventually he had to decide just who he was trying to please by living the way he did. It didn’t take him long before he settled on making God proud of his efforts, because it was God who gave him the opportunity to begin with. Long before it became a popular notion, this young man learned: “You can’t please everybody.” But he also found out that God was pleased if He knew, he was trying to be obedient to His word even if he failed at times.

“O LORD Eternal, You’ve been so good to me, just as You advised me You would do. Help me keep looking forward and make good decisions, because I trust in every one of Your commandments. I learned a hard lesson when I backslid; but now I know how much obedience to Your advice counts. You were more than gracious to me, so now I want to learn even more about Your principles for living. Some arrogant people lied about what was really going on in my life, but I remained wholeheartedly committed to Your guidelines. Their minds are as thick as lard; but I enjoy filling my heart with Your Teachings. My embarrassment turned out to be good for me; it taught me to stick with Your principles for living. Because what Your Teachings are worth more to me than any amount of gold or silver.”

“After all, You made me what I am; so give me more understanding so I can better follow Your commandments. Other believers are always happy to see me, because they see I’m following Your advice. I’ve learned, O LORD Eternal, that Your declarations always prove to be right, and even when I’m embarrassed, You stand by me. So let Your unending love for me be Your sign of approval, in keeping with the promise you made to me. Yes, let Your compassion for me be all I need to survive, for I enjoy making You happy by following Your Teachings. Let my detractors see how foolish they were to criticize me for no reason; as far as I’m concerned, I will continue meditating on your guidelines. So let my fellow believers who worship You and believe in what You’ve commissioned me to do, along with those who really understand Your instructions. My desire is to be so totally committed to Your principles for living, so I will not be embarrassed by the way I live.” Psalm 119:65-80

Reflection: What a joy it is to see sport superstars such as baseball player Albert Pujols; basketball player Jeremy Lin; football player Tim Tebow; hockey player Shane Doan, NASCAR driver Blake Koch, PGA professional golfer Derek Ernst and others, share their faith in God openly during interviews following their games. Whenever a sportscaster asks them how they feel about winning, more often than not they begin with, “I want to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!” After suffering a severe torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) to end his season in 2011, Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson surprised everyone by coming back so soon in 2012 and having one of his best years. When asked by a TV reporter how he was able to accomplish it, he told him that it was his faith in God and God’s Word that motivated him to give his best so God could make the best out of it. No doubt the psalmist felt the same way about everything he achieved. He quickly acknowledged that all of his abilities and talents came from God. Therefore he committed himself to use them to honor God, not himself. He, along with the sport stars mentioned, causes us to ask this question: “How does anyone achieve more and become a greater success, than to do it all for the glory of God?” Championship rings, gold medals, and shelves full of trophies from admiring fans here on earth will be sold, traded, or thrown away after we’re gone, but the crown of righteousness waiting for us at our heavenly Father’s throne will last for all eternity. Now is the time to decide which ones are worth striving for, even being ridiculed for, but most of all, being remembered for.

IT’S WORTH IT –

The young traveler writing this psalm now shares with us another struggle he had in making sure he kept to the path that would lead to his reward as a good and faithful servant of God. The natural obstacles to his progression were hard enough to deal with, let alone those roadblocks and stumbling blocks put in his way by those who didn’t want to see him succeed. These people were determined to keep him from going all the way to victory, because they themselves were not prepared to pay the price necessary to get there. So, if they kept him from making it, then somehow that would justify their lack of dedication, thereby proving that his commitment to following God’s ways would have all been in vain.

“O LORD Eternal, please remember Your promise to me, it gave me so much hope; Yes, it was Your promise that kept me going, and kept me from collapsing under pressure, My doubters made such fun of me, yet I didn’t forsake Your Teachings. Rather, I recalled all the good declarations You’ve made, O LORD Eternal, and that gives me such comfort. That’s why I get so upset when I see evil-minded people abandoning Your Teachings; Your principles for living are like music to my ears whenever I pause to rest along my journey. And when I go to bed at night, O LORD Eternal, I keep thinking about Your wonderful Teachings. All of this is made possible because I live by Your guidelines.”

“And, O LORD Eternal, I am determined to follow Your advice no matter what. So with all my heart I plead with You, that by grace Your blessed assurances will be mine. I took a look at where I was headed, and redirected my steps to get in line with Your instructions. I don’t put it off for one minute; I quickly made sure I am responding to Your commandments. Even when a bunch of know-it-all’s started criticizing me, I stuck to Your Teachings. I’ve even gotten up at midnight just to give You thanks because I love Your declarations. Now I only stick with those friends who revere You, and those who live by Your guidelines. I see evidence of Your undying love wherever I go, so teach me more about Your principles for living.” Psalm 119:49-64

Reflection: In his book “Up From Slavery,” Booker T. Washington describes his encounter with an ex-slave from Virginia one day. During their conversation the man told him how he made a contract with his former master, two or three years prior to the Emancipation Proclamation. During that time his master allowed him to find work wherever and with whomever he pleased in order to pay it back. So finding better wages in Ohio he moved there. At that time he still owed his master some three hundred dollars. Notwithstanding that when the Emancipation Proclamation was signed it freed him from his debt, this black man traveled back to the old master’s plantation, walking most of the way, to finally pay off the loan with interest. When Booker T. Washington asked the man his reasons for doing so, the man told him that although he was under no obligation to pay, he had given his word to his master, and he was the type of man who never broke his word. He felt that his freedom will mean very little unless he fulfills the promises he makes. The psalmist felt the same way about his LORD Eternal. He knew that God kept His word no matter what, so he promised to remain true to his own vows come what may. Both the psalmist and this great gentleman provide us a beautiful example of honoring one’s word. Although we may ask for some leniency in keeping our promises to others, when it comes to God we must do our very best to remain faithful and true. After all, look at the price God paid for our freedom, and what good is that freedom if we use it to excuse ourselves from paying any attention to His purpose for liberating us. We must always keep in mind that the finish line we must cross in order to reap our eternal reward is where God placed it, not where we want it to be.

STRUGGLING TO DO GOD’S WILL –

The young self-described pilgrim in this psalm continues sharing his story, and focuses on the temptations that arose during his journey. He learned very quickly that when you get your eyes off the road, you can end up in a ditch. That not only makes you look bad, but then you must endure the embarrassment of others watching while you try to get yourself out of the mud and back on the road again. But he also found out that God is so loving and caring that He will use such circumstances to make us stronger, wiser, and more determined than ever to reach the finish line. Therefore, the humiliation we often feel when being accused of messing up and doing foolish things does not owe itself to the mistakes themselves, but to our not letting God help us deal with them correctly.

“O LORD Eternal, help me understand what Your principles for living are meant teach, so that I can stay on course until the end of my journey. Open my mind so I can learn to appreciate the value of Your teachings, and be able to follow them with complete confidence. This will help guide me on the path to comprehending Your commandments, because that’s all I want to do. Give me a desire to follow Your instructions, that’s more important to me than being a success. Don’t let me be charmed by worldly lifestyles; by doing Your will I can find true living. As Your servant, my hope rests on Your promises, which You have given to those who respect You. You know I’m always afraid of failing, even though Your declarations have been clear. And You’ve seen how much I want to follow Your guidelines, and how I need Your favor to continue motivating me.”

“So in this hour, O LORD Eternal, reach out to me with Your undying love, and keep me safe as You promised to do. I want something to tell those who are mocking me, and I want to tell them I found it in Your Word. Furthermore, once I tell them the truth, don’t let me down; my only hope is in the validity of Your declarations. That’s why I spend all my time studying what Your advice has taught me.  This helps put my mind at ease, because I’ve given time to learn Your guidelines. That way I won’t be timid in standing up for Your commandments, which I love with all my heart. That’s why each day I hold up Your commandments that I love, because I want Your principles for living to be an everyday part of my life.” Psalm 119:33-48

Reflection: There is a story about a professor who decided one day to demonstrate to his class the power of an electro-magnet. So he placed 2 lbs., of nails on a table with the wires of an electro-magnet hidden underneath. When he turned the magnet on, the nails pulled together in a pile. So after the students arrived, he began forming the nails into various shapes, while the students watched in amazement. But when he turned off the current, the nails fell apart causing the students to gasp in disbelief. He then explained to them how the power from the magnet gave him the power to do things with the nails that were otherwise impossible. In a way, this can also illustrate the psalmist’s concept of responding to the power of the Holy Spirit working through God’s Word. As long as we stay in contact and let it influence us, we submit to God’s power, allowing Him to form us into any vessel He chooses, thus fulfilling His will and purpose for our lives. Not only that, but whenever some other force tries to separate us from God’s powerful pull, He automatically tugs on us so we feel His desire to keep us close to Him. The psalmist decided to always surrender in God’s favor, that way he need not worry about losing his way. God makes the same power available to every believer. So ask yourself, which way do I go when I sense a tug-of-war going on in my soul because of conflicting interests? Be like the psalmist; decide that God’s way is the only way to go.

Ever wonder why some people’s friends at work or school don’t take them seriously as born again Christians? That’s because they don’t see them at worship, with their hands held high, their eyes closed, clapping their hands, and their voices lifted up in songs of praise to God. They don’t see them with an open Bible in their laps, writing down notes from the preacher’s sermon, shaking their heads in agreement and saying amen with real vigor. They don’t see them praying the sinner’s prayer with people who came forward, or taking communion with other believers. No! All they see is them taking things from the office that are not theirs, or trying to cheat on their exams. All they see is them getting mad and upset, using words not expected from a Christian. No, they don’t take them seriously because of the off-color jokes they tell, the gossip they pass on, and their attitude toward others, that’s what they see, especially when it reveals biases based on race, color or dialect. Sorry, but what their friends or classmates hear is the music they constantly listen to, and see the magazines they read. So, should anyone still wonder why these friends don’t take them seriously as real Christians? – Dr. Robert R Seyda

When Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, their moral compass was broken; the needle of their minds and consciences no long pointed toward God so they could choose the right direction. That’s why God decided to legislate laws so that signs could be posted along the highway of life to help travelers avoid the dangers that would lead to a tragic end of life and living. But God knew ahead of time this was only temporary, that man’s moral compass needed to be replaced with a new one. So He sent His Son Jesus whose moral compass was perfect, so that all who followed him would find the right path and stay on the right road so they could enjoy a good and abundant life. That’s why Jesus said that once He was lifted up He would draw all mankind to Him. In other words, He would become the magnet for our moral compass so that the needle of our mind and conscience would automatically point to Him when we need direction. On top of that, it’s free! A new compass as a gift from God. Today we hear the swelling roar of voices and see the increasing clamor to enact new laws, pile new regulations on top the stack of old regulations; to demand greater punishment for breaking of these new laws even though the punishment for the already existing laws is not carried out. What we need in this country is to have our individual and societal moral compasses repaired. It is impossible to legislate morality and righteousness. The Ten Commandments given by God to Moses did not stop idolatry, profanity, murder, adultery, lying, stealing, or perjury. I believe with all my heart that if every parochial school, every charter school, every home school and every Christian based college and university would require a class on morals that would include the Ten Commandments and Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, it would infuse into our society the needed influence so that fewer and fewer laws would be required to guide our citizens in living in harmony and doing what’s right. Just my view.

DON’T BE SCARED TO ASK FOR HELP –

The young man in this psalm continues his story about the emotional, psychological, and spiritual struggles he went through trying to get a better understanding of why God called him and gave him his purpose in life. Philosophy concerns ideas about where we came from, why are we here, and where are we going. Others had their concepts, but he wanted to know what God had to say about it. That’s why he concentrated on searching God’s Word to find the answers. Human opinions are a dime a dozen, but often prove to be unreliable. But there is One whose opinion is worth its weight in gold, that’s the One the psalmist decided to follow and obey.

“I want You to help me succeed and enjoy life by following Your advice; So give me greater understanding so I can comprehend the deeper truths found in Your teachings. My journey here on earth is like that of a pilgrim, so don’t conceal the wisdom of Your commandments from me. There’s nothing I want or desire more than to fully comprehend Your declarations. I’ve seen what You do to the unfortunate people who ignore Your commandments. That’s why I don’t want to be identified with them, because I’m serious about following Your instructions. And when those know-it-alls get together and disapproved of my dedication to You, I simply buried my face in Your principles for living. Your instructions not only proved to be a delight for me, but they served as my constant advisers.”

“I admit, right now I’m sort of down in the dumps, but You said that Your advice would perk me up. After all, You and I agreed on what I should do, now let me see even clearer Your will for my life. I want to see firsthand how Your guidelines make life work, so I can better grasp the miracles You perform. Things seem to get harder and harder every day, so I need advice from You to cheer me up. I don’t want to pretend I’m happy; that’s why I ask You to give me the grace to understand Your teachings. I’ve made the right choice when I begin this journey; I will abide by all Your declarations for my life. So I plan to follow Your instructions, O LORD Eternal, don’t let it end up embarrassing me. I know there’s still more to learn about Your commandments, so I’m open to gaining more wisdom from You.” Psalm 119:17-32

Reflection: In his first inaugural address on Tuesday, January 20, 1981, President Ronald Reagan told of a young soldier named Private Martin Treptow, who left Al Popma’s barbershop in the small rural town of Cherokee, Iowa in 1917, to go fight in France with the famous 42^nd Rainbow Division, where a young Chief of Staff named Colonel Douglas McArthur also served. On Monday, July 29, 1918, Treptow was sent to carry a message between battalions, but died in a heavy barrage of artillery fire. When they found his body, they discovered a diary inside his fatigue jacket, and on the flyleaf under the heading, “My Pledge,” Private Treptow had added these inspiring words just eight months before his death: “America shall win the war. Therefore, I will work, I will serve, I will sacrifice, I will endure, I will fight cheerfully and do my utmost, as if the whole issue of the struggle depended on me alone.” Not only did the crowd on inauguration day see tears in President Reagan’s eyes, but I’m sure if this Psalmist had been present we would have seen tears in his eyes as well. Such dedication brings warmth to any person’s heart, and makes them proud to be part of a society where such loyalty to one’s country is expressed. What wonderful examples both the psalmist and Pvt. Treptow give us as men of courage and resoluteness! God expects the same from us to be just as loyal to His kingdom, His word and His guidelines in times of spiritual warfare? Let your life’s story include such a heroic example to inspire others to remain true until the end? It’s your decision, just like that of the psalmist and this dedicated solider.

EMBARRASSED TO ASK FOR DIRECTIONS –

This longest psalm in the Psalter is the story of a young man’s spiritual journey, and how he fought to maintain his faith while under severe persecution. Each section contains a small vignette describing his struggles, and he explains how he coped with his opponents by turning to God’s Word for instruction and comfort. It is very similar to David’s 19^th Psalm, which scholars believe was used by a musician who expanded it. For the Psalmist, ignorance of God’s Word was considered being in darkness, because God’s Word was the light needed to shine on his path so he could find the right way in order to fulfill God’s will and purpose for his life. And one thing this young pilgrim knew for sure, God’s light never went out. Even when he closed his eyes to it, God’s Word kept shining.

“Count your blessings if you are one of those who live right, one who is committed to trust the Teachings provided by the LORD Eternal. Count your blessings if you are one of those who follow His instructions, and does what He has to say with all their hearts. They don’t pursue their own ideas, but seek to do His will. After all, He took the time to write out all the guidelines we need to stick to. I wish I could be more committed to obeying the principles for living You gave us to follow; then I wouldn’t be so convicted whenever I look at Your commandments to see what I should have done. So I dedicate myself to observe and learn more about the declarations You made about right living. I will make Your principles for living my number one priority; that way I know You will always be with me.

And if I’m asked how a young person can clean up their life, I know it’s by following your advice. That’s why I seek to know You better with all my heart; I don’t want to get lost by not using the commandments You gave. So I’ve memorized Your advice; that way I will not fall short of Your expectations. You are so wonderful, O LORD Eternal, so help me to get to know Your principles for living. I love to repeat over and over the declarations You’ve made for me. I get a thrill when Your instructions become clearer and clearer to me; it’s like finding a pot of gold. Each day now I study Your guidelines as a way of showing respect for Your will. I can’t wait to discover new regulations for me to follow; and I promise never to neglect Your advice.” Psalm 119:1-16

Reflection: Many years ago in London, England, poor children often roamed the city streets begging for money to take home. One day a city policeman found a young girl apparently lost and asked where she lived. She didn’t know her address, so the police officer began naming the surrounding sights and objects – the river, the bridge, the railway station, etc. She kept shaking her head until he mentioned a well-known landmark: “Charing Cross.” The little girl’s eyes lit up and she exclaimed, “Oh yes sir, if I can just see the cross I know how to get home from there!” The psalmist saw God’s Word in a similar light. If he ever got lost, he’d study God’s teachings to help him find his way back to where he needed to be. The same goes for us; if we try to find our way through this world with its many obstacles and pitfalls without some guidance, we too will become hopelessly lost. Like the stars in the sky, even though things on earth may change, God’s Word does not change or alter course. We can always trust it to be our guiding light, especially when we find ourselves stumbling around in the darkness. And just like that little girl, if we can get our eyes back on the cross, we know we can find our way home again.

LOVE WITH NO EXPIRATION DATE –

These are the last two psalms sung following the Passover Meal after raising the third cup of wine. The shorter one (117) was often used as a prayerful hymn to introduce observances and festivals in the temple; while the longer one (118) was sung at the dedication of the new Temple after the exiles returned from captivity. Both these jewels speak in terms of the future; expressing joy and hope in a God whose undying love cannot be quenched, nor can it be exhausted. What better way to end a meal that celebrates being set free from bondage, than by recounting the number of times that freedom was challenged but remained steadfast because the God who performed the miracle of salvation could not be persuaded to cancel His promises.

“Let everyone around the world stand up and praise the LORD Eternal for how great He is! His undying love simply overwhelms us, and the faithfulness of the LORD Eternal will never, ever end. O Hallelujah! Yes, praise the LORD Eternal for He is kind, and His undying love will never, ever end. Let all believers declare, ‘His undying love will never, ever end.’ Let all His ministers declare, ‘His undying love will never, ever end.’ Let all who reverence the LORD Eternal exclaim, ‘His undying love will never, ever end.’ When I felt so penned in, I called out to the LORD above, and the LORD above responded by giving me room to breathe. Since the LORD Eternal stands ready to help, I will not be afraid no matter what others may say or do. And with the LORD Eternal on my side, it gives me the strength to look any enemy straight in the eye. I would rather put my full trust in the LORD Eternal than depend on anything mankind may promise me. I say again, it is better to put one’s full trust in the LORD Eternal than to accept assurances from those who claim authority.” Psalm 117:1-2 & Psalm 118:1-9

Reflection: Jewish historians tell us that when Solomon’s Temple was being built, chiseling of stones was forbidden on temple grounds; so all the stones had to be cut to specifications at the quarry site. The stonemasons then sent these stones to be placed into the building of the Temple. One day a stone arrived and the builders couldn’t figure out where it was supposed to go. It looked out of place and not cut correctly, so they threw it away down the hillside. Sometime later the builders began wondering when to expect the most important stone, the cornerstone. With all the other stones in place they need this last one right away. So they sent word back to the quarry, asking where the cornerstone was. The workers at the quarry replied that the cornerstone had already been sent a long time ago so it would be there when needed. That’s when the builders realized that the stone they threw away as not being of any use turned out to be the most important of them all. In like fashion, believers need to guard against throwing the cornerstone of their faith away. Its place cannot be filled by another, and without it our temples cannot be completed for God’s Spirit to occupy. In such cases, it will remain incomplete and undedicated. But just like these builders of Solomon’s Temple, if we ever throw that cornerstone away we can always find it right were we left it, because God in His undying love will not hide it or take it away out of spite. He is more interested in us getting our temples built than He is in revenge or doing something out of spite. No wonder the writers of these Psalms declared over and over again, His undying love will never, ever end. This same thought from this Psalm also inspired hymn writer George Matthewson to pen these words in 1882: “O Love that wilt not let me go, I rest my weary soul in thee; I give thee back the life I owe, that in thine ocean depths its flow may richer, fuller be.” Where else can you find any other love like this?