Morning Moments

YOD OR JOD is the eleventh letter in the Hebrew alphabet and the sub-title of the eleventh section of this psalm.

The eightfold Jod. God humbles, but He also exalts again according to His word; for this the poet prays in order that he may be a consolatory example to the God-fearing, to the confusion of his enemies. It is impossible that God should forsake man, who is His creature, and deny to him that which makes him truly happy, viz., the understanding and knowledge of His word.Keil and Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament - Commentary on the Old Testament – Volume 5: Psalms.

73 Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.

All my life I have had a quest for knowledge. That is precisely what the psalmist is expressing here. He who formed us in the womb and who seperated us from our mother's womb to preach the gospel possess this kind of quest for God, His Word, understanding, instruction, and correction. We are compelled to seek and find, ask and get, knock and have His Word opened to us.

74 They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word.

True saints of God take great delight in those who place their confidence in the true and living God - JEHOVAH/JESUS. Those who are absolutely sure that the judicial declarations are right and that GOD in faithfulness chanstens us through affliction. It is a pity this is denied by superficial super saints who do not understand the ways of God. Don't let them deceive you.

75 I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.

Thank God, His promise is to bring comfort to those He chastens. It is an expression of His lovingkindness and mercy and is consistent with His Word. Temptation is to be resisted and testing is to be respected. No decent father chasens without a child knowing why and what he is being chastened for. It is even more true of our Father in Heaven.

76 Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant.

I love the way the psalmist always takes God back to His Word. It is as a child who says, "But daddy, this is what you said you would do." Some dads don't like to be reminded of their promises, but our Dad loves it. That is why we treasure up His Word in our hearts.

77 Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight.

Tough and Tender is our LORD and I am so glad He is both, and that He knows to be which when the time is right. I also love to see parents who are the same. I did not say "angry" and "mushie", but tough and tender as our Heavenly Father is with us. Laws are boundaries and the average kid today knows no boundaries. Too many parents are always allowing kids to move or push the boundaries.

One of the things I like about football is that there are boundaries and they are clearly marked. When parents mark clearly the boundaries and enforce the rules early, they are often spared the heartache later.

78 Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy precepts.

The prayer is that those who slander saints be put to shame. We are NOT ashamed of the gospel of Christ, but you can be sure that those who are critical of our faith, and those who speak ill of us will get their due. It has always amazed me that so called Christians can do a pastor wrong or say hurtful things to him without ever finding the need to apologize. BUT if a pastor says or does something to "offend" them, they often demand his apology. They WILL get their due.

79 Let those that fear thee turn unto me, and those that have known thy testimonies.

As fellowsaints, we should always be ready and willing to help fellowsaints when they need us because the witness of the Scripture shows us when and why and how to do it.

I recently had this experience with a fallen brother. Because he was fallen, few were interested in helping him. I had not seen him in awhile, but when I saw him I through my arms around him and said, "Brother, you are not what you think you and and you are not what others think you are. You ARE what God's says you are, so let's put all this mess behind us and live for Jesus who loves us when no one else will. It worked! Praise the Lord!

80 Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed.

My prayer since my conversion on April 25, 1966 has been, "Lord, do not let me be put to shame in the presence of my enemies." I have had enemies become friends because I WILL NOT move from God's Word. It's His Story and I'm sticking to it. Look at this prayer again:

80 May my heart be blameless regarding Your statutes so that I will not be put to shame ‏(HCSB).

BLESSINGS!