Psalm 119:38
Confirm to your servant your promise, that you may be feared. Psalm 119:38
“Confirm to your servant…” The Psalmist is making a unique claim here. He is saying, “I know about your promise, but I want it confirmed in my life. I know it in theory now confirm it in practice.” Oh, how we all need to hear and see both.
“…your promise…” Again, like the college student who has heard the lecture and read the book. This verse is bringing to forefront that the Psalmist still wants to tangibly have it seen or confirmed in his life.
“…that you may be feared.” And once the understanding of hearing, reading, and seeing collide; real fear and awe are the result. Real worship is shown in the Psalmist life when God’s promise is confirmed in him.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. Proverb 9:10 ESV
This is where wisdom begins and is one reason to take the time to better understand Psalm 119 much like God called the Israelites to do in Deuteronomy. God wants His Word to be on our hearts, teaching them diligently, talking about them, binding them on our hand and having them in front of our eyes. He even wants them on the doorposts of our house and on our gates. What better way to know His promises than to have them before us often.
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:4-9
When we rightly fear God; when the fear of God is our ultimate fear, we tend to respond better to those around us. Unfortunately, me often struggle with fearing others more than we fear God. When we fear what others think of us all types of disorder take place in our lives. God is always faithful to His promises, so we are called to rely on His promises to satisfy us. When we keep God’s promises in the proper position, we begin to see life ordered properly and we can love others more.
If you struggle with knowing what God’s promises are, please consider scheduling time with someone on the Burke Care team who can aid you. Knowing what God has promised and what He has not promised could make a significant different in your life today.
God, thank You that You are faithful to Your promises. Reveal more of Your promises to me today. Teach me more of Your attributes and You character. Put me on a path to maturing in Christ. Reveal to me more of who Jesus is, what He said, and what He did. Make me rest in the hope of His return. Amen!
Application Questions:
When are times that I look to other promises found in culture and not to what God said He will do?
When do I most forget about the promises of God and tend to drift off into my agenda?
Proverbs 16:9 says “the heart of man plans his way, but the Lord established his steps.” Where do I allow myself to act in the mode of “self-will run rampant” in my attempts to serve my own agenda?
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