#856 Zayin 7

Zayin

49 Remember your word to your servant,

in which you have made me hope.

50 This is my comfort in my affliction,

that your promise gives me life.

51 The insolent utterly deride me,

but I do not turn away from your law.

52 When I think of your rules from of old,

I take comfort, O Lord.

53 Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked,

who forsake your law.

54 Your statutes have been my songs

in the house of my sojourning.

55 I remember your name in the night, O Lord,

and keep your law.

56 This blessing has fallen to me,

that I have kept your precepts. Psalm 119: 49-56

A continuation of Psalm 119, the ever significant Word of God. 

Zayin is the 7th letter in the Hebrew aleph-bet, meaning sword in the original Hebrew, also representing the number 7. It's use in modern times has become slang for the male member. It also represents nourishment, and on the seventh day God rested. He has provided the Sabbath for man, to rest from all earthly pursuits, to meditate on the Word, which is spiritual food and also the Sword of the Spirit. The seventh year also saw rest come to the earth, when it's fields were left fallow. This allowed it to become fertile again.

Remember Your word to your servant, in which you have made me hope - The Psalmist seizes upon God's faithfulness, His Word, not the writer's deeds. The thief on the cross could only believe, could only see the Savior was without sin, that he himself was a sinner, and there was no time for works. It would have to be grace. We love Him because He first loved us. 

This is my comfort in my affliction, that Your promise gives me life - Job's friends judged him based upon a meritorious system, insisting that his affliction was based upon a hidden sin. In such a system one will also hold that material blessing, health, physical comfort, are the result of godliness. 

- The worldling clutches his money bag and says, "this is my comfort"; the spendthrift points to his gaiety, shouts, "this is my comfort"; the drunkard lifts his glass, and sings, "this is my comfort"; but the man whose hope comes from God feels the giving power of the word of the Lord, and he testifies, "this is my fort." Paul said, "I know whom I have believed." Comfort is desirable at all times; but comfort in affliction is like a lamp in a dark place. Some unable to find comfort at such times; but it is not so with believers, their Savour has said to them, "I will not leave you comfortless." have comfort and no affliction, others have affliction and no comfort; the saints have comfort in their affliction. C. H. Spurgeon

The insolent utterly deride me - "If the world hated Me, they will hate you also."

But I do not turn away from Your law - I do not find an excuse for my behavior in the actions of others. The changing of rule, of cultures, of people's reaction to me, does not change Your Word. The path remains the same regardless of persecution.

14 Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; cast aside the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15 But if it is unpleasing in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD!” 16 The people replied, “Far be it from us to forsake the LORD to serve other gods!… Joshua 24: 14-16

When I think of Your rules from of old, I take comfort, O Lord - If we can find comfort in God's law, then we will surely walk in it. Once a man tastes the goodness of the Lord, has a spark of light unto His unfailing and holy nature, he may at once and then by greater and increasing illumination, see that God does not change, and He is still at work. God's holiness is on the side of His children, they need but trust in His Word. 

Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked, who forsake Your law - He is zealous for the honor of His God. The people of Moses's time heard the voice of God, saw great signs and wonders wrought out in His creation, and quickly made a covenant with God, agreeing to the words of His commandments. They did not have half a heart between them to keep it, to walk in His ways, and the pride of life, the lust of the eyes led them away. God made it so that Balaam could only bless them, yet they cursed themselves by breaking covenant with God. Do this and you shall live. David knew of God's just nature even unto himself as a king. 

- It is no proof of tenderness to shut one's eyes to the awful doom of the ungodly. Compassion is far better shown in trying to save sinners than in trying to make things pleasant all round. Oh that we were all more distressed as we think of the portion of the ungodly in the lake of fire! The popular plan is to shut your eyes and forget all about it, or pretend to doubt it; but this is not the way of the faithful servant of God. C. H. Spurgeon

…8 Beloved, do not let this one thing escape your notice: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance. 10 But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and its works will be laid bare.… 2 Peter 3: 8-10

Your statutes have been my songs, in the house of my sojourning - This world is not his home, only a temporal place in his journey. The Church is not a building, but the body of Christ. He sings the law for he has found what most do not, obedience brings joy.

27 As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said, “Blessed is the womb that bore You, and blessed are the breasts that nursed You.” 28 But He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” 29 As the crowds were increasing, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.… Luke 11: 27-29

…18 So then, just as one trespass brought condemnation for all men, so also one act of righteousness brought justification and life for all men. 19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. 20 The law came in so that the trespass would increase; but where sin increased, grace increased all the more,… Romans 5: 18-20

13 Therefore prepare your minds for action. Be sober-minded. Set your hope fully on the grace to be given you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the passions of your former ignorance. 15 But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do,… 1 Peter 1: 13-15

…24 and after observing himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom, and continues to do so— not being a forgetful hearer, but an effective doer— he will be blessed in what he does. 26 If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless.… James 1: 24-26

I remember Your name in the night, O Lord, and keep Your law - A sure sign of where the Psalmist's greatest treasures have come to be. At rest he goes to the place of soul rest, His eye is on this sparrow and so this sparrow turns it's heart toward the One Who watches over him. This has a great effect upon the morning.

- He found sanctification through meditation; by the thoughts of the night he ruled the actions of the day. As the actions of the day often create the dreams of the night, so do the thoughts of the night produce the deeds of the day. If we do not keep the name of God in our memory we shall not keep the law of God in our conduct. Forgetfulness of mind leads up to forgetfulness of life. C. H. Spurgeon

This blessing has fallen to me, that I have kept Your precepts - It is a blessing of grace that God has first revealed Himself to us in His Word, then that He has brought us to understand, and again to love it, which is shown in our obedience. We see the Psalmist has the Word, which most men will not bother to open, much less study to comprehend. The Word has become his meditation, his comfort, his prayer and praise. He has not overlooked the blessing.