Scripture:  
I have done what is just and right; 
      do not leave me to my oppressors. 
Give your servant a pledge of good; 
      let not the insolent oppress me. 
My eyes long for your salvation 
      and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise. 
Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love, 
      and teach me your statutes. 
I am your servant; give me understanding, 
      that I may know your testimonies! 
It is time for the LORD to act, 
      for your law has been broken. 
Therefore I love your commandments 
      above gold, above fine gold. 
Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right; 
      I hate every false way.  -Psalm 119:121-128, ESV

Observation:
-The Psalmist longs for God's salvation, the fulfillment of His righteous promise.
-God is our teacher.  He gives us understanding.  His ways are right and true.
-We are God's servants.
- God's commnadments are better than gold

Application:
When I read this passage this morning I started humming a song I learned in my youth. The words are:

The law of the Lord is perfect,
Converting the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is sure,
Making wise the simple.


More to be desired are they than gold.
Yea, than much fine gold:
Sweeter also than honey
And the honeycomb.


The statues of the Lord are right,
Rejoicing the heart:
The commandment of the Lord is pure,
Enlightening the eyes.


More to be desired are they than gold.
Yea, than much fine gold:
Sweeter also than honey
And the honeycomb.


The fear of the Lord is clean,
Enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true
And righteous altogether.


More to be desired are they than gold.
Yea, than much fine gold:
Sweeter also than honey
And the honeycomb.
Source: http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/ns/281#ixzz2ro1i8Rhd


The words are actually derived from Psalm 19.  How fitting to today's Scripture reading.  Sometimes I feel like there is nothing more I want to write than what God has already said in His word, or in this case, than can be found in a simple childhood song. 
Today I simply want to remind you that  God's word is to be more desired than gold, even much fine gold.  Everything I believe and hope for; my very salvation; is all layed out within the pages of my Bible.  What I believe about this book is of great importance.  How I approach this book is of great importance.

How do you feel about it?

Grace, Peace, and Mercy,
Deb

Scripture:
I hate the double-minded, 
      but I love your law. 
You are my hiding place and my shield; 
      I hope in your word. 
Depart from me, you evildoers, 
      that I may keep the commandments of my God. 
Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live, 
      and let me not be put to shame in my hope! 
Hold me up, that I may be safe 
      and have regard for your statutes continually! 
You spurn all who go astray from your statutes, 
      for their cunning is in vain. 
All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross, 
      therefore I love your testimonies. 
My flesh trembles for fear of you, 
      and I am afraid of your judgments.  -Psalm 119:113-120, ESV



Observation:
-The Psalmist loves God's law: hopes in God's word; keeps God's commandments; continually regards God's statutes; loves God's testimonies.
-God is a hiding place and shield; our hope, the one who upholds us according to His promises; spurns those who go astray-the wicked; is to be feared.

Application:
I took this photo this morning in our backyard.  Yesterday it was just starting to freeze and the day before it was warm and sunny.  The water may have changed form, but it is still water.  The same God who loves us and protects us; the same God who shows us such imcredible mercy and lavishes us with His grace, is the same God who should inspire fear.  These things are all a part of His nature.  We have a tendency in the church today to try and downplay what it means to fear God.  We dilute it with words like respect.  Friends, God says we should fear Him.  It goes hand in hand with everything else we know about God.

This all puts me in mind of a scene from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis.  

"Ooh!" said Susan, "I'd thougth he was a man. Is he--quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion."

"That you will, dearie, and no mistake," said Mrs. Beaver, "if there's anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they're either braver than most or else silly."

"Then he isn't safe?" said Lucy.

"Safe?" said Mr. Beaver. "Don't you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you."


I think Lewis succeeded very well in capturing the whole essence of God through his picture of the lion, Aslan.  When he roared everyone stopped in their tracks, his enemies cringed in fear, even those enemies who seemed very powerful in their own right.  And yet, he was someone that Lucy could run to and snuggle up with even though this was no tame lion. 

The Psalmist recognizes all of these traits in the LORD.  God is our shield and hope, our protector and defender and the only one that we should fear.  He makes no room for sin in His court.  He abhors it, detests it and never ignores it.  That is the whole reason He sent His very own Son into the world.  To pay the price for our sin.  To remore the stain of sin completely from our lives.  Only by believing on Jesus can we stand in the presence of the LORD.  It is truly a fearful thing to fall into the hands of God for He has the power, He has the right, to condemn us.  But Christ's perfect love casts out that fear for we are no longer condemned.  Christ's work on the cross does not, and should not, cast out our fear of God however.  He is not a "tame lion" but He is a "good lion."

Grace, Peace, and Mercy,
Deb