Psalm 119:77
Let your mercy come to me, that I may live; for your law is my delight. Psalm 119:77
Mercy can be described as compassion or forgiveness extended to those who deserve harm or punishment. In other words, “receiving good in spite of the bad we deserve.”
Grace is the compassion and forgiveness received by those who have done nothing to deserve it. In other words, “we receive good for what we do not deserve.”
“Let your mercy come to me…” The psalmist is reminded that he deserves punishment yet receives compassion. He deserves harshness yet receives forgiveness. He is asking for more mercy from God.
“…that I may live;” He is saying that God’s mercies are the source of his life and his existence. He is remembering that it is from the mercies of God that he has life.
“…for your law is my delight.” And the psalmist concludes that the way to live in God mercies is to delight of His law. He delights in God’s law and finds mercy from God so that he can live.
What an example of surrender to the Scriptures. This verse points us away from the clutter and clatter of culture and to the source of true life. We are reminded where true life, hope, forgiveness, compassion, and worth come from.
We saw the psalmist mention God’s steadfast love in the prior verse (Psalm 119:76) and now he mentions God’s mercies. These two verses are like Lamentation 3. We live today because of God’s mercies and His mercies are new every morning.
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. – Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV
Starting each morning, we need to be preaching the gospel to ourselves and giving permission to God to reign over our day (not that he needs it). I can start fresh everyday knowing that I am a new creation and the old is gone.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. – 2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV
If you find yourself struggling to let go of the past and feel too burdened to move forward, consider talking to someone from Burke Care. We can help reframe your circumstances under a biblical framework that makes sense. Consider reaching out today.
Father God, You are the perfect, sovereign Creator who makes all things new. Help me to see my circumstances as you see them. Realign my heart away from temporary things so that I set my eyes on things that are eternal and that never fade away. Amen.
Application Questions:
What am I holding onto in my past that is not helpful?
What things do I need to let go of so that I can get more of what God has for me?
Why do my eyes focus too much on the past (or the future) instead of focusing on where God has me today?
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