Monday Devotional: July 10, 2023

Bible Reading: Psalm 119:105-112 (NRSVUE)

¹⁰⁵ Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. ¹⁰⁶ I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to observe your righteous ordinances. ¹⁰⁷ I am severely afflicted; give me life, O Lord, according to your word. ¹⁰⁸ Accept my offerings of praise, O Lord, and teach me your ordinances. ¹⁰⁹ I hold my life in my hand continually, but I do not forget your law. ¹¹⁰ The wicked have laid a snare for me, but I do not stray from your precepts. ¹¹¹ Your decrees are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart. ¹¹² I incline my heart to perform your statutes forever, to the end.

Today’s verses talk about commitment — fierce, unshakeable, and yes, even loving commitment — in the face of the harshest adversity. The psalmist fiercely declares his strong commitment. Moreover, the psalmist speaks out of pure and utter joy in his promise.

Near the end of today’s passage, he sings, “Your decrees are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart. I incline my heart to perform your statutes forever.” The psalmist makes a profound commitment: to obey God’s commandments forever. He promises to follow God’s law every day and every aspect of his life. How many of us have the courage to make a commitment like that? Can we promise to obey God every single day?

The psalmist’s life isn’t all that easy. He states, “I am severely afflicted,” and the “wicked have laid a snare for me.” But the psalmist sticks with his commitment. That’s pretty amazing, especially when we have trouble making that kind of commitment in the face of minor annoyance — when work’s been especially stressful, when bills are due, and when someone has the gall to cut us off in traffic.

But here’s the significant part. The psalmist tells us why he makes that kind of commitment, even in the face of danger and suffering. The surprise? It has nothing to do with rewards, fear, duty, or obligation. The psalmist promises to obey God completely and every day — because he finds joy in it. God is the source of all joy, all comfort — even in the face of suffering and despair. Read these words again: “Your decrees are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart.”

Prayer

Dear Lord God, help us to remember that you make your laws because you love us. When we follow them, we find joy, comfort, and peace. Amen.

By John Adcox, The Upper Room Disciplines 2017, page 233.