Beautiful tension

Psalm 119:145-168

¹⁴⁵ I pray with all my heart; answer me, Lord!
I will obey your decrees.
¹⁴⁶ I cry out to you; rescue me,
that I may obey your laws.
¹⁴⁷ I rise early, before the sun is up;
I cry out for help and put my hope in your words.
¹⁴⁸ I stay awake through the night,
thinking about your promise.
¹⁴⁹ In your faithful love, O Lord, hear my cry;
let me be revived by following your regulations.
¹⁵⁰ Lawless people are coming to attack me;
they live far from your instructions.
¹⁵¹ But you are near, O Lord,
and all your commands are true.
¹⁵² I have known from my earliest days
that your laws will last forever.

¹⁵³ Look upon my suffering and rescue me,
for I have not forgotten your instructions.
¹⁵⁴ Argue my case; take my side!
Protect my life as you promised.
¹⁵⁵ The wicked are far from rescue,
for they do not bother with your decrees.
¹⁵⁶ Lord, how great is your mercy;
let me be revived by following your regulations.
¹⁵⁷ Many persecute and trouble me,
yet I have not swerved from your laws.
¹⁵⁸ Seeing these traitors makes me sick at heart,
because they care nothing for your word.
¹⁵⁹ See how I love your commandments, Lord.
Give back my life because of your unfailing love.
¹⁶⁰ The very essence of your words is truth;
all your just regulations will stand forever.

¹⁶¹ Powerful people harass me without cause,
but my heart trembles only at your word.
¹⁶² I rejoice in your word
like one who discovers a great treasure.
¹⁶³ I hate and abhor all falsehood,
but I love your instructions.
¹⁶⁴ I will praise you seven times a day
because all your regulations are just.
¹⁶⁵ Those who love your instructions have great peace
and do not stumble.
¹⁶⁶ I long for your rescue, Lord,
so I have obeyed your commands.
¹⁶⁷ I have obeyed your laws,
for I love them very much.
¹⁶⁸ Yes, I obey your commandments and laws
because you know everything I do.

There is a divine and beautiful tension in Psalm 119, and this section of it shows the tension between on one hand being fearful of all the evil around the psalmist, and on the other hand trusting in God.

Just like this psalmist, we don’t need to sugar-coat our prayers and our worship. God wants us to both cry out to him with our worries, and declare our trust in him for those worries.

The psalmist also declares their obedience to God and His law, His precepts and His word. God delights when we are obedient.

Lord, help me in times of distress and trouble. Help me when I am lost. I trust that you are with me. I trust in your goodness. May I obey your commands in all things!

Written by Ps. Justin Ware