May10. 2025-Meditation, Psalm 119:145–160, The Lord Is Near

 Today’s passage, verses 145 to 152, begins with the Hebrew letter Qoph (ק). Verse 145 says:

“I call with all my heart; answer me, Lord, and I will obey your decrees.”

Before the psalmist declares his intent to obey God’s decrees, he first cries out with all his heart. Then, in verse 146, it continues:

“I call out to you; save me and I will keep your statutes.”

And in verse 147:

“I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word.”

In these three verses, we see a deep longing and desire for God’s Word. This longing is not passive—it is active. It involves meditation on the Word of God and a desire to live by it. The psalmist cries out with a heart that seeks to obey, and he prepares himself early in the morning to meditate on God’s Word.

We often say that we “long for God’s Word.” But what does that mean? To long for something means to desire it continually, to seek it with passion and anticipation. God’s people long to encounter God’s Word, to see it, to meet with it. That is why they lose sleep, wake up early, and reach for the Scriptures as soon as they open their eyes. This is the kind of life that truly longs for God’s Word—this is the genuine Christian life.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if each of us could begin every day by meditating on God’s Word? This could be through reading Scripture or having a quiet time (QT), but more importantly, it means carving into our hearts the desire to live in obedience to God’s Word throughout the day. May we be people who live such lives.

The latter portion, verses 153 to 160, begins with the Hebrew letter Resh (ר). Verse 153 says:

“Look on my suffering and deliver me, for I have not forgotten your law.”

What does it mean to say, “I have not forgotten your law” in the midst of suffering? Does remembering God's Word mean suffering will go away?

Not necessarily. But when we remember God's Word, we come to understand the meaning behind the suffering. The most important thing is not whether suffering comes or not—but how we interpret it and how we hold on to the Word of God in the midst of it. That is what truly matters.

The idea of not being discouraged in suffering, or even rejoicing in it, may feel out of reach. But God's Word gives us the power to rejoice even in hardship. In persecution, He enables us not only to endure but to overcome. This is not the kind of joy that comes from favorable circumstances. Rather, it is a joy that God gives in situations where joy seems impossible. Doesn’t that make it even more powerful?

I pray that we may experience this reality in our lives. And to experience it, we must not let go of the Word—we must hold tightly to it and begin each day with it.

God’s Word is not just a moral code or set of rules. It is light and a lamp. It keeps us from getting lost in the dark, from falling into temptation and sin. It guides us on the right path. In suffering, it helps us endure without compromising our faith. In persecution, it gives us strength to stand. And this endurance is not a gritting of teeth—it is an endurance that comes with joy.

How can we rejoice in suffering? Because through the Word, we know that God is with us.

May we live experiencing the blessing that comes from loving and drawing near to God’s Word. May we meditate on the Word daily and obey it faithfully.