Psalms 130:1

Psalms 130:1 says, A Song of degrees.  Once more this is called a song of degrees, then verse one says, Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD.  When we are in the depths of despair or trouble, like the psalmist, we as followers of Christ must cry out to God.  Verse two adds,  Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.  The psalmist asked for God to hear his voice and to be attentive to his supplications, or prayers.  We can be certain that God hears the prayers of Christians, and that He not only is attentive to our prayers, but that He recognizes our voice as well.  Verse three asks, If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? I believe that this means that if God judged everyone by their iniquities, no one could stand before Him, and if anyone doesn't accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, then they will not be able to stand before God in judgment.  Verse four adds, But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.  As the psalmist said, there is forgiveness with God and as I just stated that is only available by accepting the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross.  Those who lived before He came put their faith in His coming, and those since put their faith in the fact that He has come and in His second coming to claim those who are His.  Verse five states, I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.  The psalmist was waiting for the coming of Jesus Christ, and we are waiting for His return, because we put our faith in His word.  Verse six adds, My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.  The psalmist said his soul waited for the Lord more than others waited for the sun to rise in the morning.  Just as certain as the sun rising in the morning is the second coming of Christ, and we should put our faith in that fact.  Verse seven declares, Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.  Isreal, God's chosen people, were called on to put their hope in the mercy of God.  The psalmist stated that the was plenty of mercy for redemption in God.  Though some may claim that only a specified number of people will be redeemed by God, His salvation is abundant enough to redeem all people who put their faith in Jesus Christ.  God's love, mercy, and redemption are not limited.  Verse eight adds, And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.  As God would redeem Israel, those who were His chosen people then, if they put their faith in Him, He has redeemed all who put their faith in Him today.  Not everyone born into the nation of Israel was redeemed simply by being born into the nation, but only those who put their faith in God and the coming Messiah were.  Today, we cannot be redeemed by being born in a certain place or into a certain family, but can only be redeemed individually by putting our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. 

Psalms 129:1

Psalms 129:1 says, A Song of degrees.  This is identified as another song of degrees, then verse one says, Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say: Matthew Henry says this psalm relates to public concerns for Israel and was probably written when the people of Israel were captive in Babylon or shortly after their return.  The church, like Israel, has often been distressed by the world, throughout the ages.  Verse two adds, Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth: yet they have not prevailed against me.  Just as the psalmist said about Israel, we as the church, the followers of Christ, have been distressed by the world through the ages, but the world has never and will never prevail.  Verse three continues, The plowers plowed upon my back: they made long their furrows.  Though as Matthew Henry says, we might say the rod was on their back, the meaning is the same.  The people of Israel, God's chosen people, were treated cruelly by other nations throughout the ages, so we should not be surprised if we are as Christians today.  Verse four declares, The LORD is righteous: he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked.  The psalmist said that God is righteous and had cut asunder the cords of the wicked.  God will always be righteous and will always cut asunder the cords of the wicked.  Verse five adds, Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion.  We need tto pray as they did then that God will confound the wicked who fight against us today.  Verse six states, Let them be as the grass upon the housetops, which withereth afore it groweth up:  The psalmist asked that the enemies of Israel wither away like the grass on the rooftop.  Verse seven adds, Wherewith the mower filleth not his hand; nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom.  I don't believe that we should pray that our enemies starve, but we should pray that they not be successful against us, while still praying for their salvation.  Verse eight continues, Neither do they which go by say, The blessing of the LORD be upon you: we bless you in the name of the LORD.  The rest of the world will never go by blessing the people of the church, but we should never be remiss in praising God for His blessings.

Psalms 128:1

Psalms 128:1 says, A Song of degrees.  This is also called a song of degrees, then verse one says, Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways.  The psalmist says that if a person wants to be blessed, they must respect God and walk in His ways.  This is the only way to be truly blessed.  It has nothing to do with material things, but with spiritual things.  Verse two adds, For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.  We are told that we should eat from our labor, and not that we will have big houses and fine cars.  We should not feel that we need these things to be blessed.  Verse three states, Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.  The psalmist also said that a man's wife and children would be a blessing to him.  If we truly believe this, then I believe being with our families would be a much happier place today.  Verse four adds, Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD.  Having the necessities of life and a happy family are said to be signs of a blessed life.  Verse five proclaims, The LORD shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.  The psalmist said that God would bless those that are faithful to Him, and He still will today.  Verse six adds, Yea, thou shalt see thy children’s children, and peace upon Israel.  The people of Israel were promised that they would see their grandchildren and peace in Israel.  We may never see peace in this lifetime, but we will have everlasting peace spiritually with God, and we will see all of our descendants who have put their faith in God again one day. 

Psalms 127:1

Psalms 127:1 says, A Song of degrees for Solomon.  This is called a song of degrees of Solomon, and verse one says, Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.  Solomon said that unless people built in accordance with God's plan, they built in vain, and unless the watchmen watched under God's guidance, they watched in vain.  Things that are built without God's leadership will always be built in vain, no matter how much we may value them and try to guard them.  Verse two adds, It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.  Solomon said that it was vain, or worthless, for anyone, especially those who put their faith in God, to stay up late, eat in sorrow, or not be able to sleep, because God gives His people sleep.  As a follower of Christ, you should never be unable to enjoy a meal or get a good night's sleep because you are worried.   Verse three states, Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.  Solomon said that children are a gift of God.  God is the Giver of life, and it is not up to us to decide which of the fruit of the womb lives or dies.  Verse four adds, As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.  Solomon said that children were as important to a parent as arrows were to a mighty man.  Children should help support the family, especially when they become older and more capable of helping out.  I believe that it is God's plan for families to support and protect one another.   Verse five continues, Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.  Solomon said that parents who had many children should be happy and not ashamed.  Today, society seems to look down on parents who have more then one or two children, but as Christians we should leave this in God's hands.  We certainly should never decide that after a certain point that we will no longer allow a child to be born.

Psalms 126:1

Psalms 126:1 says, A Song of degrees.  This is another song of degrees, then verse one says, When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.  The psalmist says that when the people of Israel were restored to their land from captivity, it was almost unbelievable to them.  Matthew Henry says that though it doesn't say, this was probably when they returned from captivity in Babylon.  When we are restored to a right relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ, it occurs immediately upon accepting Him as our Savior and Lord, and we should be amazed.  Verse two adds, Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.  Upon their return, the people of Israel were filled with laughter, or joy, and were singing praises to God.  The people around them knew that Gad had restored the people of Israel.  As Christians, when we are restored to God, we should be full of joy and sing praises to God so that those around us will know that He has redeemed us.  Vere three continues, The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.  Just as God had done a great thing for the people of Israel then making them glad, He has done an even greater thing for Christians today, and we should be exceedingly glad.  Their restoration was temporary and ours is everlasting spiritually.  Verse four states, Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south.  Though some of the people of Israel had returned, not all had, and those who had returned were burdened for those who hadn't and prayed for their deliverance.  As followers of Christ, we should be burdened for the lost of the world, even as we celebrate our own salvation.  Verse five adds, They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.  Those that were still in captivity would one day cry tears of joy when they were restored.  This was stated in faith that it would be accomplished.  We can state in certainty that those who put their faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord will be saved, and this should cause us to cry tears of joy.  Verse six continues, He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.  The psalmist said that those who had gone away into captivity weeping would return rejoicing and bringing there sheaves with them.  We are held captive by sin until we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, and once we do we should return unto God with rejoicing.  Just as the people then brought their sheaves, their necessities for everyday life by God's provision, so will we as Christians have God provide for all our needs spiritually. 

Psalms 125:1

Psalms 125:1 says, A Song of degrees.  This psalm is also called a song of degrees, then verse one says, They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.  The people then were told that if they trusted in the LORD that they would be as immovable as Mt. Zion, which couldnot be moved.  Though we could make the claim today that Mt. Zion could be moved, God never will be, no matter what people who do not believe in Him may claim.  Verse two adds, As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about his people from henceforth even for ever.  The psalmist said that just as certainly as the mountains surrounded Jerusalem, they were surrounded by God's power and protection forevermore as long as they put their faith in Him.  As followers of Christ, this is just as true for us today.  As long as we remain faithful to God, we are spiritually protected forevermore.  If we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we are saved forever, but we may lose God's protective hand in this lifetime if we do not remain faithful to His word.  Verse three continues, For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity.  God gives us His promise that the oppression of His people by the wicked will not last forever, no matter how bad it may become.  All we need to do is remain faithful to God.  Verse four states, Do good, O LORD, unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts.  The psalmist then asks for God to do good to those who do good and are upright in their heart.  Of course, unless a person puts their faith in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord, they can do all the good in the world and it will not matter spiritually, because they will not be spiritually upright.  Verse five adds, As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: but peace shall be upon Israel.  If we turn away from God and follow our crooked ways, God will one day punish us but if we put our faith in Jesus Christ and obey God's commandments, we will live in peace spiritually forever. 

Psalms 124:1

Psalms 124:1 says, A Song of degrees of David.  This is identified as a song of degrees by David, then verse one says, If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say;  David said that the people of Isreal had to acknowledge that God was on their side, or maybe more accurately that they were on His side.  God didn't endorse what they did, but they did what God endorsed, and so it is with Christians today.  Verse two adds, If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us:  Verse three continues, Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us:  David said that if God had not been with them when their enemies came against them that Isreal would have been swallowed up.  This same God protects us today when we are surrounded by enemies, and He will always keep us from being defeated spiritually.   Verse four states, Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul:  Verse five adds, Then the proud waters had gone over our soul.  David said that the people of Isreal were in a position where they would have drowned if God had not been their protector.  If we feel that we are drawing in the problems of life, we as followers of Christ only need to look to God in faith for answers.  Verse six declares, Blessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth.  David said that people of Israel should bless God, because He had kept them from being prey for their enemies.  We have even more reason to bless, or praise God, because Jesus Christ, the Messiah, has already come.  Verse seven adds, Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped.  As Christians, our soul has escaped out of the snare of sin, as David said then, like a bird out of the snare of the fowler.  We are set free from sin not to just barely survive, but to soar as a bird will when set free.  Verse eight adds, Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.  Just like David, our only hope is in God, the Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer of life. 

Psalms 123:1

Psalms 123:1 says, A Song of degrees. This is another psalm identified as a song of degrees, then verse one says, Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens. David said he lifted up his eyes to the One that dwellest in the heavens.  We usually pray with our heads bowed in a sign of humility, but spiritually even then we should be lifting up our eyes to God.  Our focus needs to always be on God.  Verse two adds, Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us.  David said that we should look to God the way that a servant should look to his or her master or mistress, with respect knowing that the master or mistress is the one who provides for them.  We do not look to God demanding that He provide for us, but instead knowing that He will out of His mercy.  Verse three states, Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt.  Just as David asked for God to have mercy on the people of Israel because the world had contempt for them, we must ask for Him to have mercy us because the people of the world often have contempt for Christians.  No matter how badly we are treated by the people of the world, we are always secure in the mercy of God as followers of Christ.  Verse four adds, Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud.  When we think that we have it bad in the world today as Christians, we need to understand that we are not the first to believe that we are.  Even in his day, the psalmist said that those who put their faith in God were the contempt of the proud, those who put their faith in their own abilities instead of God's grace.

Psalms 122:1

Psalms 122:1 says, A Song of degrees of David.  This is identified as a song of degrees by David, then verse one says, I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.  We, like David, should be glad when they say to us that it is time to go into the house of the Lord.  Though we would see this as the church building, as Christians our own home should be the Lord's house.  Verse two adds. Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.  Jerusalem was seen as God's holy city, and David said that God's people would stand within its gates.  Though we don't have a holy city as followers of Christ, we must still stand in the boundaries of God's word.  Verse three states, Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together:  David said that Jerusalem was a compact city.  Matthew Henry says the houses were built in an orderly manner and supported one another.  We as Christians, though scattered throughout the world, should likewise worship God in an orderly manner and support one another, even though we do not have a physical city in which to do so.  Verse four adds, Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the LORD.  Jerusalem was the place where the tribes of Israel, all of God's chosen people, went as a testimony to their faith in God and to worship Him.  The church building today should be where we as Christians do the same thing.  Verse five continues, For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David.  Jerusalem was the seat of power for Israel, and the place where God's judgment was carried out.  All of our places of government should be the same, but we know that they are not.  Verse five says, Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.  The people of Jerusalem were God's chosen people, and David asked that people pray for their peace and that those who loved God should prosper.  We as followers of Christ should pray for peace for our fellow believers and that they might prosper spiritually.  Verse seven adds, Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.  Just as David prayed for peace and prosperity within the walls of Jerusalem, we should pray for peace and prosperity within the church today.  There is no room for fighting and bickering in the church, the people of God.  Verse eight declares, For my brethren and companions’ sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee.  For the sake of his brothers and companions,  David asked for peace.  We should be concerned for our fellow Christians and pray for their peace.  David was not just looking for his own peace and prosperity, and neither should we be as followers of Christ. Verse nine adds, Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek thy good.  Because we as Christians make up the house of God, we should seek what is good for all of our fellow Christians under the leadership of the Holy Spirit. 

Psalms 121:1

Psalms 121:1 says, A Song of degrees.  This is also classified as a song of degrees, then verse one says, I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.  When we are having problems, or even when we aren't, we need to lift up our eyes to God, where our strength comes from.  Though David said he looked up to the hills, I believe his intention was to say that he looked up to God, Who Moses had met on the mountain.  Verse two adds, My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.  There can be no doubt Who David was referring to here.  David said his strength came from the Creator, the only true God, and so does ours as Christians today.  Verse three states, He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.  If we have put our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord,  He will not allow us to be moved spiritually.   Verse four adds, Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.. Just as God did not not sleep then, He does not sleep today.  The God of Israel is still the same God we worship today.  Verse five declares, The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.  The LORD was David's keeper, and He is ours also if we put our faith in Him.  Verse six adds, The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.  There is never a time, day or night, that God does not protect Christians.  Verse seven continues, The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.  We often act as though we need to be afraid of the people who do not believe in or openly deny God, but we have God's promise that He will protect our soul if we are followers of Christ.  Verse eight concludes, The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.  God should preserve or guide all that we do from the time that we actually accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. 

Psalms 120:1

Psalms 120:1 says, A Song of degrees.  This is called a song of degrees, then verse one says, In my distress I cried unto the LORD, and he heard me.  Matthew Henry says the song of degrees is not really explained, but there are fifteen classified as such, by different authors.  This one is attributed to David, and he says that in his distress he called out to the LORD and He heard him.  If we as followers are ever in distress and call out to God, He will always hear us.  Verse two says, Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue.  David asked God to deliver him from those who were lying about him.  We may not have people lying about us today, but if we are Christians and they are lying about us, I believe we should look to God for help and not get into a shouting contest with them.  Verse three asks, What shall be given unto thee? or what shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue? David calls on those lying about him to consider what the outcome of this action might be.  We might point out to those who may be lying about us that they need to consider what this may result in, especially if they are lying about God at the same time.  Verse four adds, Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper.  David said they might face the sharp arrows of the mighty, but I believe more importantly they will face the wrath of God one day, no matter what happens in this life.  Verse five states, Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar!  Matthew Henry says this is not a reference to David actually living in these places, but to those who were opposing him being people like the people in those areas.  We may live in a nation that calls itself a Christian nation, but we are often surrounded by people who are not only not Christians, but who even deny the existence of God.That does not excuse us from following God.  Verse six adds, My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace.  Like David, we may live in an area where the people around us hate peace.  We only need to look at what is going on in cities today to see that this is true.  Verse seven continues, I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war.  We should be for peace as followers of Christ, but we should also not be surprised if those around us are for war against God's word.

Psalms 119:169

Psalms 119:169 aays, TAU.  After the separating letter, verse one-sixty-nine says, Let my cry come near before thee, O LORD: give me understanding according to thy word.  We, like David, need understanding according to God's word.  It is not enough to be highly educated if we do not believe God's word.  We must understand Who God is and who we are in respect to Him.  Verse one-seventy adds, Let my supplication come before thee: deliver me according to thy word.  David asked that his supplications, or prayers, come before God and that God deliver him according to God's word.  The only way to be saved is to ask God to deliver us according to His word.  This means we must put our faith in the Living Word, Jesus Christ.  Verse one-seventy-one states, My lips shall utter praise, when thou hast taught me thy statutes.  Like David, if we know God's statutes and believe them, then we need to speak our praise of Him to the world.  Verse one-seventy-two adds, My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.  We speak God's word not because of our righteousness, but because of His righteousness.  What we may believe is not the key, but what God has said is.  Verse one-sevenry-three declares, Let thine hand help me; for I have chosen thy precepts.  David asked for God's help, because he had chosen God's precepts.  If we have chosen God's precepts, which must begin by putting our faith in Jesus Christ, God is always ready to help us if we call on Him in faith.  Verse one-seventy-four adds, I have longed for thy salvation, O LORD; and thy law is my delight.  We should long for God's final salvation, even as we delight in His law now.  This does not mean that we just sit back and look to die, but that even as we live life to its fullest, we look forward to the day that we will be in our heavenly home forever.  Verse one-seventy-five continues, Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; and let thy judgments help me.  Our soul will live, but whether we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord will determine where our soul will live, and God's judgments will help us along the way.  Verse one-seventy-six concludes, I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.  David concluded this segment and this psalm by stating that he had gone astray and asking God to seek Him like a lost sheep.   God will always seek the lost sheep, people who have not accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, and if we stray from His commandments as Christians, He will seek us to call us back to obedience. 

Psalms 119:161

Psalms 119:161 says,  SCHIN.  We again have the separator, then verse one-sixty-one says, Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word. If we feel that we as Christians are being persecuted without cause, we are not the first to feel this way.  David said he was, yet he stood in awe of God's word.  We don't need to focus on how the world treats us, but need to stand in awe of God's word.  Verse one-sixty-two adds, I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.  Like David, we should rejoice in God's word more than we do the riches of this world.  Yet, we too often seem to want the riches of this world more than we want to serve God.  Verse one-sixty-three continues, I hate and abhor lying: but thy law do I love.  David said that he hated and abhorred lying, but that he loved God's law.  We must love and live by the word of God, and abhor anything that is not His truth.  Verse one-sixty-four states, Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments.  David said that he praised God seven times a day because of God's righteous judgments.  How often do we as Christians truly praise God each day?  We know even more about God's righteous judgments than David did, because Jesus Christ has already come to sacrifice Himself for the sins of all mankind.  Verse one-sixty-five adds, Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.  David tells us that as Christians, those who love God's law, should be at peace in the world and that nothing should offend us because of our faith in God.  Verse one-sixty-six declares, LORD, I have hoped for thy salvation, and done thy commandments.  David said he hoped for God's salvation and had kept His commandments.  As followers of Christ, we live with the assurance of God's salvation and should therefore keep His commandments.  Verse one-sixty-seven adds, My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly.  We like David should keep God's testimonies, or laws, because we love them exceedingly.  We cannot find salvation by trying to keep God's laws, but once we have salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, we should love God's laws exceedingly.  We should not view them as a burden to bear, but as a joy to keep.  Verse one-sixty-eight continues, I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: for all my ways are before thee.  David said he had kept God's precepts and testimonies, and that all his ways were before God.  We know that at times David failed, and so will we.  We also know that all our ways are before God, so we must do our best to follow God's laws, under the leadership of the Holy Spirit. 

Psalms 119:153

Psalms 119:153 says,  After the separating letter, RESH, verse one-fifty-three says, Consider mine affliction, and deliver me: for I do not forget thy law.  David was somehow afflicted and asked God to consider his affliction because he never did forget God's law.  If we as followers of Christ are afflicted with some problem today, we should ask God's help, but we should never forget His law no matter what happens.  Verse one-fifry-four adds, Plead my cause, and deliver me: quicken me according to thy word.  David asked God to plead his case for him before his enemies.  We may at times feel so overcome that we no longer know how to even plead our own case, but God always will if we as Christians look to Him.  He always gives us life according to His word, which means that we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse one-fifty-five declares, Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes.  David said that salvation was far from the wicked because they didn't seek God's statutes.  I believe that salvation is really always as close as accepting Jesus Christ as one's personal Savior and Lord.  Of course, once we do accept Him, we will want to keep God's statutes.  Verse one-fifty-six adds, Great are thy tender mercies, O LORD: quicken me according to thy judgments.  God's tender mercies will always be great, and we can only be made spiritually alive by His judgments.  Verse one-f8fty-seven states, Many are my persecutors and mine enemies; yet do I not decline from thy testimonies.  Like David, no matter how many people persecute us and are our enemies because of our faith in God, we must not decline to follow God's laws.  Verse one-fifty-eight adds, I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word.  David said he was grieved by those who did not keep God's word.  We should be grieved as Christians for those who do not follow God's word today.   We should not feel superior waiting impatiently for them to get what they deserve, because we all deserve God's punishment, and faith in Jesus Christ is all that makes us different from them.  Verse one-fifty-nine says, Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O LORD, according to thy lovingkindness.  We will be quickened, or made spiritually alive, only if we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord,  but once we do, we should love God's law.  Verse one-sixty adds, Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.  David said that God's word was true from the beginning and that His righteous judgments would endure forever.  God's law never has and never will change, and His righteousness will indeed endure forever. 

Psalms 119:145

Psalms 119:145 says, KOPH.  We have the identifying letter, then verse one-forty-five says, I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O LORD: I will keep thy statutes.  We need to wholeheartedly call out to God to hear us and promise to keep His statutes as David did.  Verse one-forty-six adds, I cried unto thee; save me, and I shall keep thy testimonies.  After asking God to hear him, David the asked God to save him and then said he would keep God's statutes.  We must first accept God's salvation, and then keep His laws.  Attempting to find salvation by keeping God's law without accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord will never work.  Verse one-forty-seven continues, I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word.  David said he prayed to God throughout the night and put his faith in God's word.  If we awake in the night, the best thing we can do is pray.  Verse one-forty-eight continues, Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word.  David repeats basically what he had just said, but adds that even during the night he meditated on God's word.  I believe this tells us that when we are awake that we need to be meditating on God's word as Christians.  Verse one-forty-nine states, Hear my voice according unto thy lovingkindness: O LORD, quicken me according to thy judgment.  Just as David did then, we must ask God to hear us because of His lovingkindnesses, and not because of our goodness.  Then, if we hear God's call to salvation and accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, God will quicken us, or make us alive, spiritually.   Verse one-firty adds, They draw nigh that follow after mischief: they are far from thy law.  David said that people who were far from the law and followed after mischief were all around him.  We may be surrounded by people who do not believe in God, but this should not alter our belief in Him.  Verse one-fifty-one declares, Thou art near, O LORD; and all thy commandments are truth.  God is always close and His commandments are always true.  We do not serve an absentee God whose word is sometimes true and sometimes not.  God is always with us and His word is always true.  Verse one-fifty-rwo adds, Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever. As David said,  God's law is old and He has founded them forever.  We will not come up with a new law of God. 

Psalms 119:137

Psalms 119:137 says, TZADDI.  After the alphabetical separator, verse one-thirty-seven says, Righteous art thou, O LORD, and upright are thy judgments.  David pronounced God to be righteous and upright in His judgments, and He still is and always will be.  Verse one-thirty-eight adds, Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful.  Not only is God righteous, but so are His testimonies, or laws, righteous and faithful.  God and His law will never change, but He will always be faithful to do what He says He will do.  Verse one-thirty-nine declares, My zeal hath consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten thy words.  David said his zeal for God's word grew because his enemies, those who fought against him, had forgotten God's words.  As followers of Christ today, we must have a zeal for God's word, because the lost people of the world have forgotten it or never knew it.  Verse one-forty adds, Thy word is very sure: therefore thy servant loveth it.  As Christians, we like David must recognize the surety of God's word, and we must likewise love God's word.  What God's word says will always be true, and we should never dread what it says, but should instead love His word.  Verse one-forty-one states, I am small and despised: yet do not I forget thy precepts.  David may have been seen as a powerful man by the world, but he said he was small and despised compared to God.  When we compare ourself to God, we will always be small, and until we accept forgiveness for our sins by putting our faith in Jesus Christ, our actions will be despised by God.  Verse one-forty-two adds, Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.  As David said,  God's righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and His law will always be the truth.  The righteousness and truth of God do not change over time, nor with the situation.  Even if everyone were to agree that God's word has changed, it will still be true.  Verse one-forty-three states, Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: yet thy commandments are my delights.  We may sometimes think that as followers of Christ everything in life should be good, but just as it was with David, we may be surrounded by trouble and anguish, but we must still delight in God's commandments.  Verse one-forty-four adds, The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live.  If we are to have everlasting life, we must understand God's laws, beginning with the fact that the only way to truly understand them is to first put our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Then, the Holy Spirit will guide us to a better understanding of God's word.

Psalms 119:129

Psalms 119:129 says, PE.  Again, there is the dividing letter, then verse one-twenty-nine says, Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them.  David said God's testimonies were wonderful and that he would keep them with his soul, his very utmost being.  God's testimonies have not changed and are still wonderful, and we as followers of Christ must also keep them with our soul.  Verse one-thirty adds, The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.  David said when someone allowed God's light into his or her life it gave understanding, even to the simple.  God's light can only give us understanding if we let it in, and we are all simple minded before God.  Verse one-thirty-one continues, I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments.  David said he panted after the word of God.  We likewise should be so desirous of the word of God that we are left breathless without it to guide us in life.  Verse one-thirty-two states, Look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, as thou usest to do unto those that love thy name.  David asked God to look on him in mercy as he had done with people who put their faith in Him in the past.  God's mercy is always available to those who look to Him in faith.  Just as God has been merciful to those in the past, He will be merciful to anyone who calls on Him today.  Verse one-thirty-three adds, Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.  Just as David asked God to order, or guide, all his steps so that sin might not have dominion over him, so must we.  We cannot just follow God part of the time, but must follow Him every step of the way.  Verse one-thirty-four continues, Deliver me from the oppression of man: so will I keep thy precepts.  David knew that God alone had the power to deliver him from the oppression of people,  and this will always be true. We must always look to God for deliverance, no matter how powerful we may be in the world.  Verse one-thirty-five says, Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; and teach me thy statutes.  As David asked of God then, we today must ask God to shine His light on us and to teach us His statutes.  This can only happen if we put our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse one-thirty-six adds, Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.  David said he cried like a river when people did not keep God's law.  As Christians, if we allow sin back into our life we should be just as broken-hearted as David said he was.  We should never take even the smallest sin lightly.  We should also be broken hearted that people refuse to accept God's law, which begins by accepting Jesus Christ as one's Savior and Lord. 

Verse 119:121

Verse 119:121 says, AIN. After the dividing letter, verse one-twenty- one says, I have done judgment and justice: leave me not to mine oppressors.  David said he had acted with good judgment and justice and asked God to not leave him to those who oppressed him.  We as followers of Christ must act with good judgment towards others, which is based on following God's law and guidance, and we must act with justice in all that we do.  If we are oppressed because of this, we need to leave it up to God to deal with those who oppress us.  Verse one-twebty-two adds, Be surety for thy servant for good: let not the proud oppress me.  David asked God to be his assurance that he would do good, because he could not base his goodness on his own ability, and neither can we.  Verse one-twenty-three declares, Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, and for the word of thy righteousness.  David said he had long looked for God's salvation, but he had not seen it yet.  He was looking for God to fulfill His word of righteousness.  We really cannot see God's salvation through faith in Jesus Christ physically, and at times it may seem that the world is defeating us, but we must never lose faith in God.  Verse one-twenty-four adds, Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes.  As Christians, we can know that God will always deal with us out of His mercy and will teach us His statutes, as David asked God to do with him then.  All we have to do is to always look to God in faith.  Verse one-twenty-five continues, I am thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies.  David may have been an earthly king, but he was God's servant and asked for God to give him understanding.  As followers of Christ, no matter our status in the world, we are servants of God, and we need to ask Him to give us an understanding of His testimonies, or laws.  Verse one-twenty-six states, It is time for thee, LORD, to work: for they have made void thy law.  David said it was time for God to act, because the people of the world who opposed David and God had made God's law void.  There are many people today who have made God's law void, but we simply need to rely on God to deal with them in His time and way.  Verse one-twenty-seven adds, Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold.  David said he loved God's commandments more than fine gold.  We likewise must value God's law above anything in this world, no matter how valuable it may seem.  Verse one-twenty-eight continues,  Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way. David said he considered all of God's precepts to be right and that he hated every false way.  God's precepts will always be right whether we consider them to be so or not, but as Christians, we must always believe them to be so and hate anything that goes against God's precepts, or laws.

Psalms 119:113

Psalms 119:113  says, SAMECH.  After the dividing letter, verse one-thirteen says, I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love.  David said he hated vain thoughts, but the loved God's law.  We probably spend more time on vain thoughts, thoughts about things that are really of no importance, than we do thinking about God's law.  Verse one-fourteen adds, Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.  Like David, God should our hiding place and shield, or source of security.  All our hope as Christians should be placed in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse one-fifteen declares, Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God.  As David did then, we should tell those who do evil to depart from us because we are going to keep God's commandments.  We must also acknowledge that something may sound good and even appeal to us, but if it is not in accordance with God's word it is still evil. Verse one-sixteen adds, Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope.  David asked God to uphold him according to God's word, so that he might live without shame in his hope of God's deliverance and protection.  As followers of Christ,  God will always uphold us, so we should never doubt Him or be ashamed of our faith.  Verse one-seventeen continues, Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually.  As David asked of God, when we are held up by our faith in God, we will always be safe and therefore should always have respect for God's statutes.  Faith in God should not be a part time thing, but should be just as strong if we are materially blessed or if we are barely getting by.  Veree one-eighteen states, Thou hast trodden down all them that err from thy statutes: for their deceit is falsehood.  This will not happen until the return of Jesus Christ, but all those who have refused to accept God's salvation plan to follow the falsehoods of the world will be trampled down.  In this lifetime, evil doers may often prosper, but their time of prosperity is limited.  Verse one-nineteen adds, Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross: therefore I love thy testimonies.  One day, as David said, all the wicked will be put away like dross, or rubbish, so like David we should love God's testimonies, or laws.  Verse one-twenty concludes, My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments.  As Christians, I don't believe that we should tremble in fear of God or be afraid of His judgments, unless we have stopped following His laws.  I believe that as followers of Christ, we are forever saved, but we are not given a license to sin with no consequences for our actions.

Psalms 119:105

Psalms 119:105  says, NUN.  After the dividing letter, verse one-hundred-five says, Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.  I believe that David was actually saying that God's word lit his way in the darkness of the world, and not just during actual darkness.  God's word will do the same for us today, if we follow it.  Verse one-hundred-six adds, I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments.  It is not enough to just swear that we are going to keep God's word if we don't follow through in keeping it, as David said he did. Verse one-hundred-seven states, I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O LORD, according unto thy word.  David said that he was very much afflicted and asked God to heal him. If wecare suffering physically, we should ask God to heal us, and He may, but more importantly, if we are suffering spiritually and ask God to heal us, He always will.  Verse one-hundred-eight adds, Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me thy judgments.  David said he would freely offer his words of thanks to God for God's healing him and asked God to teach him His word.  We should always offer God our thanks simply because if we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we are God's people forever.  We must also rely on God to teach us His word.  Verse one-hundred-nine declares, My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law.  David said that even though he was often fighting for his life that he would not forget God's law.  God did not remove all the threats to David, who was called a man after God's own heart, so why do we claim that God will give us what we want today simply to keep us happy?  Like David, even if our life is threatened because of our faith, we must always keep God's commandments.  Verse one-ten adds The wicked have laid a snare for me: yet I erred not from thy precepts.  The wicked, those who do not believe in God or His word, will continually set snares for God's people.  Some snares will be so subtle that if we do not really know what God's word says we may easily fall into them.  This is why we must rely on the leadership of the Holy Spirit at all times.  Verse one-eleven continues, Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart. David said God's word  was his heritage and brought rejoicing to his heart.  As Christians, our heritage is built on Jesus Christ, the Living Word, and this should bring rejoicing to our heart.  Verse one-twelve concludes, I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the end.  Like David, as followers of Christ, our heart, or mind, should be set on following God's statutes. 

Psalms 119:97

Psalms 119:97 says, Again we have the identifier, MEM, then verse ninety-seven says, O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.  David said he loved God's law and meditated on it all day.  We as followers of Christ should feel the same way, but often we seem to look at God's law as a burden and meditate on everything but it.  Verse ninety-eight adds, Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.  God's commandments should make us wiser than our enemies and His commandments should be with us forever.  Verse ninety-nine continues, I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.  I don't believe that David was bragging about his own brilliance, but was speaking about the superiority of God's teachings over man's teachings.  There are some brilliant people today whose teachings are wrong because they do not acknowledge or they even deny God's existence.  Verse one-hundred states, I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.  David said his understanding was based on God's precepts and was greater than the knowledge of those who based their knowledge on the teachings of the ancients, who would at best be limited in their knowledge, even if it were based on God's law.  We need to look to God's law itself for our best understanding of what it means to be a Christian, and not just to other Christians, past or present.  Verse one-hundred -one adds, I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.  Though David said he had refrained from following every evil way, we know this was not true, since at times he did go against God's law or commandments.  We have all sinned at times, both before and after we accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, but hopefully not too often afterwards.  Verse one-hundred-two continues, I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me.  As just discussed, we know this was not always true.  David could not stand before God by his own innocence, and neither can we.  Verse one-hundred-three says, How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!  David declared God's words to be sweeter than honey.  I believe too often we act as though God's word leaves a bitter taste in our mouth, robbing us of joy instead of bringing it into our life.  Verse one-hundred-four adds, Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.  We like David should get our understanding from God's precepts, or laws, and we should hate everything that goes against His laws.  We should never attempt to mix God's truth with the truth of the world.

Psalms 119:89

Psalms 119:89 says, LAMED  Again there is the separating letter, the verse eighty-nine says, For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.  As David said then, God's word is forever settled in heaven, and we can add on earth as well. Even if people don't believe God's word, it is settled, or true forever.  Verse ninety adds, Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth. Gods faithfulness to those who trust Him by putting their faith in Jesus Christ will always remain.  Verse ninety-one continues, They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all are thy servants.  David said that God's laws and faithfulness continued to his day, and they do to ours as well.  Of course, even though they apply to everyone, they only have meaning for those who are God's servants, those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse ninety-two declares, Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.  David said that had he not delighted in God's law he would have perished, and so will anyone spiritually who does not delight in, or accept and live by, God's law.  Verse ninety-three adds, I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me.  We, like David, must never forget God's precepts, or laws, because by them we are quickened, or made alive spiritually.  Verse ninety-four states, I am thine, save me; for I have sought thy precepts.  David declared himself to be God's because he had sought God's precepts.  We as Christians today are God's because we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, and once we do we are to follow God's precepts, or laws.  Verse ninety-five adds, The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I will consider thy testimonies.  Even if the wicked wait to destroy us today, we must always follow God's testimonies, or His laws.  Verse ninety-six continues, I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad.  David said he had seen an end to everything the world considered perfect, but that God's word was true in all cases.  God's word will never end nor be proven wrong.

Psalms 119:81

Psalms 119:81 aays, CAPH.  Again, the dividing letter, then verse eighty-one says, My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word.  David said that even as his soul fainted due to all the oppression he was under, his hope was still in God's word and salvation.  We may sometimes feel that life is hard, but if we do, as Christians we must put our hope in God's word and His salvation of those who put their faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse eighty-two adds, Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me? David said that when he looked around, he didn't always see proof of God's word, and asked how long it would be before God comforted Him.  We as followers of Christ may sometimes ask the same thing, but we really shouldn't.  We should simply put our faith in God's salvation plan.  Verse eighty-three continues, For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget thy statutes.  Matthew Henry says that this refers to a bottle being weathered and cracked when being in a smoke filled room.  David was feeling old and beaten and battered physically, but he said he still did not forget God's statutes.  No matter how beaten down we may be by life, we also must never forget God's statutes.  Verse eighty-four asks, How many are the days of thy servant? when wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me?  David asked how much longer he would live and how long it would be before God executed His judgment on those that persecuted him.  Today, there seems to be a lot of emphasis on the second coming of Christ with an almost joyous feeling of the wicked being punished, but I don't believe that should ever be our reason.  We should be in despair at all the people who will go away into everlasting punishment.  Verse eighty-five adds, The proud have digged pits for me, which are not after thy law. David said those full of self-pride had dug pits, or created traps to harm him, because they did not believe in God's law.  There are many people today who would create pitfalls for Christians, but we need not be in despair.  Verse eighty-six states, All thy commandments are faithful: they persecute me wrongfully; help thou me.  As in David's day, all of God's commandments are still faithful, and sometimes we are wrongly persecuted if we keep them, but God is always there to help us.  Verse eighty-seven adds, They had almost consumed me upon earth; but I forsook not thy precepts. David said that the wicked had almost destroyed him, but he still put his faith in God's precepts.  No matter how bad things get in life, as Christians we must never forsake the precepts of God.  Verse eighty-eight continues, Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth. David asked God to quicken him, or make him alive, so that he might keep God's testimony.  As followers of Christ, we have been made spiritually alive, and our purpose is to follow Christ, keep God's testimony, and witness to the lost people of the world about God's salvation plan. 

Psalms 119:73

Psalms 119:73 says, JOD.  After the identifying letter, verse seventy-three says, Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.  David acknowledged God as his Creator and asked that God give him knowledge so that he could understand God's commandments.  We must acknowledge that God is the Creator of us and all things, and ask Him for the ability to understand His commandments and all His laws.  Verse seventy-four adds, They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word. Like David said of others who believed in God then, our fellow believers today should be glad when they see us because they know that we have put our hope in God's word.  Verse seventy-five declares, I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.  David said that he knew that God's judgments were right, and that even in his affliction he knew that God was faithful.  If afflictions do come in life today, we cannot allow them to cause us to question God's faithfulness.  Verse seventy-six adds, Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant.  God's merciful kindness, which lead to His sending Jesus Christ to redeem all who will accept Him as their personal Savior and Lord, should always bring us comfort as Christians.  Verse seventy-seven states, Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight.  David asked for God's tender mercies to come to him, and said that he would delight in God's law.  As Christians, we have everlasting life because of the tender mercies of God, and we should delight in His laws always.  Verse seventy-eight adds, Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy precepts.  David asked that those who were full of self pride and who dealt perversely with him to be brought to shame, and that he would continue to meditate on God's word.  One day, all those who are so full of self pride that they do not believe in God will be brought to shame.  We do not need to be concerned about them today, but need to simply continue to follow God's word.  Verse seventy-nine states, Let those that fear thee turn unto me, and those that have known thy testimonies.  David asked that his fellow believers turn to him so that they could be united by their faith and said that they knew his testimonies to God.  We as followers of Christ today need to be united in faith and share our testimony with others.   Verse eighty adds, Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed.  If we are not to be ashamed of our faith, it must be based on God's statutes and firmly embedded in our heart, or mind.

Psalms 119:65

Psalms 119:65 says, TETH.  After the divider, verse one says, Thou hast dealt well with thy servant,  David said God had dealt well with Him, according to God's word.  If we are truly following God, we should always believe that no matter what is happening in life that God is treating us well, in accordance with His word.  Verse sixty-six adds, Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments. As David asked God then, we need to ask God to teach us good judgment and knowledge, based on our believing in His commandments.  We are not to rely on our own judgment and knowledge, but are to look to God's instead.  Verse sixty-seven states, Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.  David said before he was afflicted because of his following his way instead of God's, but now he was keeping God's word.  We will be spiritually afflicted as long as we go our way instead of following God's way.  Verse sixty-eight adds, Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.  We like David need to acknowledge that God is good all the time and ask Him to teach us His ways.  Verse sixty-nine declares, The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.  If we believe that the world is aligned against us today, we will not be the first to feel that way, because David felt the same way.  David also said he would keep the precepts of God with all his heart, and so must we even if the whole world seems to be against us.  Verse seventy adds, Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law.  The hearts of those who are against us as followers of Christ may be filled with their own beliefs, but we are still to delight in God's law.  God's law should never feel like a burden to us, but should always be a delight.  Verse seventy-one says, It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.  David said being afflicted had been good for him, because it had caused him to learn God's statutes, or laws.  We too often complain to God when things go the least bit wrong in life,instead of seeing this as a time to learn more about God.  Verse seventy-two adds, The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.  If we would truly be rich, we must be like David and value God's word about the riches of this world. 

Psalms 119:57

Psalms 119:57 says, CHETH.  We have the identifier, then verse fifty-seven says, Thou art my portion, O LORD: I have said that I would keep thy words.  David said that God was his portion.  I believe all this means all that he needed.  God should be all that we need today, and we should be satisfied with whatever He provides for us.  David also said that he would keep God's word, and so must we as Christians.  Verse fifty-eight adds, I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word. David said he wholeheartedly asked for God's favor and that God be merciful to him according to His word.  If we seek God's favor today, we must do so by wholeheartedly putting our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Then, God will be merciful to us according to His word.  Verse fifty-nine states, I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.  I believe this means that David considered the way he was living and made a deliberate choice to follow God and keep His laws.  We must consider our ways and realize that we need to turn away from our own ideas and deliberately turn to God and follow His laws by first putting our faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse sixty adds, I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.  Like David, we must keep God's commandments quickly, and not wait until everything seems to be going wrong to do so.  Verse sixty-one says, The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law.  Even if the wicked, those who do not believe in God, take everything from us, we cannot forget God's law.  David said that the wicked had robbed him, not that God had prevented it from happening.  Verse sixty-two adds, At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments.  David said he would give thanks to God at midnight because of God's righteous judgments.  I will not say that we should wake up at midnight to praise God, but I will say that if we are awake at midnight that we should praise God.  Verse sixty-three declares, I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.  David may have been king, but he considered himself to simply be a companion to his fellow believers.  No matter how rich or poor we are in life, we are all just fellow companions, brothers and sisters in faith as followers of Christ.  Verse sixty-four adds, The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes.  The earth is still full of God's mercy and we still need Him to teach us His ways.

Psalms 119:49

Psalms 119:49 says, ZAIN. After the letter identifier, verse forty-nine says, Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.  David asked God to remember His word, or promise, to David which he had built his hope on.  We have God's word of salvation through Jesus Christ, and if we have built our hope on it, He will never forget us.  Verse fifty adds, This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.  God's promise of salvation should be our comfort in times of affliction, because through our salvation by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, we are quickened, or made alive spiritually forever.  Verse fifty-one states, The proud have had me greatly in derision: yet have I not declined from thy law.  David said that those who were full of self pride held him in derision, as many people do Christians today.  David also said even though this happened, he had not declined from God's law, and neither should we.  Verse fifty-two adds, I remembered thy judgments of old, O LORD; and have comforted myself.  David said he remembered God's judgments from old and that they comforted him.  God's judgment should not be something we fear but something that brings comfort to us if we have accepted redemption by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.  Verse fifty-three declares, Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law.  David said he was horrified because the wicked had forsaken God's law.  Instead of being judgmental, we should be horrified by the fact that those who refuse to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord are forever doomed.  I believe this should inspire us to continue to witness in earnest to them.  Verse fifty-four adds, Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.  Like David, God's law should be our song as we travel through this life.  Verse fifty-five says, I have remembered thy name, O LORD, in the night, and have kept thy law.  Just like David, we need to remember God's name day and night.  There shouldn't be a time as Christians that we forget Who God is and what His laws say.  There is no room for our opinion to determine what God's law says or which parts we will keep.  Verse fifty-six, This I had, because I kept thy precepts.  We have everlasting life because of our faith in Jesus Christ, and because of this we should always strive to keep God's precepts, or laws. 

Psalms 119:41

Psalms 119:41 says,VAU. After the identifier, verse one says,  Let thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD, even thy salvation, according to thy word.  David asked God to let His mercies come to Him, especially God's salvation of David, in accordance with God's word.  God's mercy to us, which begins with salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, will be accomplished according to His word.  Verse forty-two adds, So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word.  We can only answer those who reproach us because of our faith by continuing to live by faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord no matter what.  Verse forty-three continues, And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments.  Like David, we need to ask that we never stop speaking the truth of God's word, because it is the only thing we have hope in.  Verse forty-four states, So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever.  David said he would keep God's law forever and ever, and this is what our goal as Christians should be as well.  Since we are saved forever, we should be obedient to God's word forever.  Verse forty-five adds, And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.  As followers of Christ, we can walk at liberty from the power of sin, as David said he walked then, and we should always seek to follow God's precepts.  We are not freed from the power of sin to do whatever we want, but are freed to follow God's precepts, or laws.  Verse forty-six continues, I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.  We need to be willing to speak of God's testimonies, or laws, before any leader, and do so without being ashamed.  Of course, we need to be willing to do the same thing before the lowliest person.  A person's status in the world should never keep us from sharing the truth of God with them.  Verse forty-seven declares, And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.  David said he would delight himself in God's commandments because he loved them.  We should feel the same way as Christians.  We should delight in God's commandments, and not view them negatively as some seem to do, and we should delight in them because we love them.  Verse forty-eight adds, My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.  We like David need to be guided by God's commandments in all that we do, because we love them.