Biblical spirituality, from A to Z

Ignoring God whenever he cramps our style has always been popular. Though tempted to do this, the psalmist seeks deliverance from such small-mindedness in the fullness and freedom of God’s word.

¹ How happy are those
who walk the path of integrity
always open to Yahveh’s instruction.
² How happy are those
whose lives line up with his decrees
who wholeheartedly seek him.
³ Wronging no one
they live life as he tells them to.
⁴ You’ve commanded
us to be diligent about obeying your orders.
⁵ If only my steps were resolute
in keeping your laws!
⁶ Then I’d never be shamed
for I’d keep your commands clearly in view.
⁷ I’d praise you from the bottom of my heart
on seeing where your just rulings lead.
⁸ I will obey your statutes.
Don’t totally give up on me!

⁹ How can a young person
stay on the path of purity nowadays?
Only by walking carefully
where your word tells us to.
¹⁰ I seek you with all my heart—
don’t let me stray from your commands.
¹¹ I’ve hidden your word in my heart
to keep from sinning against you.
¹² You are blessed, Yahveh.
Teach me your laws.
¹³ I can’t stop talking
about the things you’ve said.
¹⁴ I find more joy in the path
your word has put me on
than in gaining all kinds of wealth.
¹⁵ I’ll ponder your precepts
and reflect on your paths.
¹⁶ So delighted am I to hear your voice
I won’t forget a single thing you say. 

¹⁷ Be good to your servant
so I can live to keep your word.
¹⁸ Open my eyes
to the wonderful truths in your law.
¹⁹ I’m a stranger on earth—
give me clear directions here.
²⁰ My soul constantly aches
to know how you want me to live.
²¹ You blast the willful
who put themselves under your curse
for wandering from your commands.
²² Spare me all their taunts and insults
for obeying your laws.
²³ Even when powerful people
sit scheming against me
your servant stays focused on your statutes.
²⁴ I delight in your boundary markers—
they’re my most trusted counsellors.

²⁵ My soul clings to the dust—
give me life as you’ve promised to do.
²⁶ When I admitted what I’d done
you answered me.
Now teach me to live as you want me to.
²⁷ Help me grasp what you want of me
and I’ll fix my mind
on the wonderful things you’ve done.
²⁸ I’m overwhelmed by grief—
help me back onto my feet
as you said you would.
²⁹ Keep me from all the false leads out there
by graciously guiding me in your teaching.
³⁰ I’ve chosen to walk the path of truth
committed myself to obey your laws.
³¹ I’m holding onto your words for dear life—
don’t let me be disgraced, Yahveh.
³² I run with abandon
down the path of your commands
for you’ve set my heart free.

³³ Teach me what it means, Yahveh
to walk in the path your word marks out
and I’ll stay the course.
³⁴ Help me understand your law
so I can do all you ask
obeying you wholeheartedly.
³⁵ Lead me in the path of your commands—
my true delight.
³⁶ Make me long to obey you
not just to get ahead at all costs.
³⁷ Keep me from getting distracted
by worthless things.
Let me find life in walking your path.
³⁸ Keep your promises to your servant
so that you may be revered.
³⁹ Deflect the insults I so dread—
what matters most is what you say.
⁴⁰ See how I long to please you?
In your bounty
grant me life.

⁴¹ Let your unfailing love embrace me, Yahveh.
Rescue me, true to your word.
⁴² Then I’ll be able to refute
those who insult me
because I take you at your word.
⁴³ Don’t take the least of your faithful words
from my mouth
for I hope in your judgments.
⁴⁴ So I’ll follow your instruction always—
both now and forever.
⁴⁵ I will walk in freedom
as I seek to live by your truth.
⁴⁶ I’ll speak of your decrees before the powerful
without a hint of embarrassment.
⁴⁷ I delight in your commandments—
how I cherish them!
⁴⁸ I approach your beloved commands
with hands upraised
my mind poring over all you’ve said.

⁴⁹ Remember the word you gave your servant
the word you made me hope in.
⁵⁰ It’s what comforts me in my suffering—
your promise gives me life.
⁵¹ Though the headstrong really mock me
I refuse to flinch from your word.
⁵² When I recall your time-honored judgments
I’m encouraged, Yahveh.
⁵³ But I’m furious
to see how the self-seeking abandon your law.
⁵⁴ Your statutes have become my songs
here where I live in exile.
⁵⁵ At night I think of all you are to me, Yahveh
and pledge my love in return.
⁵⁶ This has become my life
as I’ve obeyed your commandments.

⁵⁷ Yahveh is all I want in life—
I promise to do all you ask of me.
⁵⁸ I seek your favor with all my heart:
true to your promise
grant me your grace.
⁵⁹ After reflecting on my ways
I turned back
to walk in the path your word sets out.
⁶⁰ Without hesitating
I hurried to obey your commands.
⁶¹ Though trapped by the cords of the self-seeking
I didn’t forget your word.
⁶² In the middle of the night
I got up and thanked you
that your decisions are unerringly just and true.
⁶³ I’m a friend to all who revere you
to everyone who observes your precepts.
⁶⁴ Your unfailing love fills the earth, Yahveh.
Teach me to live as you want me to.

⁶⁵ You’ve done your servant good
just as you promised, Yahveh.
⁶⁶ Teach me discernment and good judgment
for I’m committed to keeping your commands.
⁶⁷ Before I was afflicted
I went astray
but now I obey your word.
⁶⁸ You are goodness personified
and all you do is good.
Teach me to obey your laws.
⁶⁹ Though the arrogant smear me with lies
I give all my attention to what you’re saying.
⁷⁰ Their hearts are calloused, unfeeling
but I delight in your teachings.
⁷¹ The suffering I went through did me good
for it made me take your laws to heart.
⁷² The words you speak
are worth more to me
than a fortune in silver and gold.

⁷³ Your hands molded me
and made me into the person I am—
now give me the understanding I need
to learn to please you.
⁷⁴ Those who revere you
will be thrilled to see
that I’ve put my hope in your word.
⁷⁵ I know your judgments are just, Yahveh
that you made me suffer
out of faithfulness.
⁷⁶ Let your unfailing love comfort me
in keeping with what you promised your servant.
⁷⁷ Show me compassion so I may live
because your teaching is my delight.
⁷⁸ Let the insolent be shamed
for giving me a bad name with all their lies.
Meanwhile, I’ll stay focused on your directives.
⁷⁹ May those who revere you regroup around me
those who know your teachings.
⁸⁰ May my heart be blameless in obeying you
so I’m spared any further shame.

⁸¹ Bone-weary from waiting for you to save me
I still hope in your word.
⁸² My eyes are worn out
from watching for you to keep your promise.
When will you come through for me?
⁸³ Though I’ve become
like a wineskin left in smoke
I don’t forget your statutes.
⁸⁴ How long must your servant hold on—
when will you bring my tormentors to justice?
⁸⁵ The arrogant have dug pits to trap me
in defiance of your law.
⁸⁶ All your commands can be trusted.
Help me when people hound me with falsehoods.
⁸⁷ Though they almost made an end of me
I didn’t abandon your way of living.
⁸⁸ In keeping with your unfailing love
give me life and I’ll live to please you.

⁸⁹ Forever, Yahveh
your word stands indisputable in the heavens.
⁹⁰ Your faithfulness extends throughout all time
as enduring as the earth you created.
⁹¹ To this day your decree holds it all together
since everything exists to serve you.
⁹² If your teaching hadn’t been my delight
my suffering would have been the end of me.
⁹³ I’ll never forget your instructions
for you’ve given me new life through them.
⁹⁴ I am yours—rescue me
because I’ve made it my goal
to follow all your directives.
⁹⁵ Though evildoers are intent on destroying me
I’m focused on keeping your word.
⁹⁶ I’ve seen how limiting everything else is.
By contrast, your commandments
lead to wide-open horizons.

⁹⁷ How I love your word, Yahveh—
I think about it all day long!
⁹⁸ Your commands constantly guide me
making me wiser than my enemies.
⁹⁹ I understand more than all my teachers
because I meditate on your words.
¹⁰⁰ I even have more insight
than the wisest of sages
because I go by what you’ve said.
¹⁰¹ I’ve avoided getting onto a perilous path
by staying within the bounds set in your word.
¹⁰² I haven’t deviated from your laws
because you’re the one who taught me.
¹⁰³ How sweet your words are to my taste—
I crave nothing more!
¹⁰⁴ From your precepts
I’ve gained the wisdom to hate every false way.

¹⁰⁵ Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.
¹⁰⁶ I’ve sworn an oath and I will keep it—
to obey your love-shaped laws.
¹⁰⁷ I’ve endured terrible suffering, Yahveh.
Grant me life as you promised.
¹⁰⁸ Accept my freely offered praise, Yahveh
and teach me to think your thoughts after you.
¹⁰⁹ My life is in constant danger
yet I refuse to turn back from your path.
¹¹⁰ Though the wicked are trying to trap me
I don’t wander from the way you marked out.
¹¹¹ Your words are my heritage forever—
they’re my heart’s greatest joy.
¹¹² I’ve resolved to obey your statutes always
since their reward lasts forever.

¹¹³ Being totally committed to your revelation
I hate people whose allegiance is divided.
¹¹⁴ You’re my shelter, my shield—
I put my hope in your word.
¹¹⁵ Get away, you evildoers—
I’m obeying the commands of my God!
¹¹⁶ True to your word
empower me and I’ll live.
Don’t let my hopes be dashed.
¹¹⁷ Support me
and I’ll be rescued and live to keep your laws.
¹¹⁸ You reject all who stray from your teachings
for their deceptions are false.
¹¹⁹ Because you remove the wicked
from the earth like dross
I’m dedicated to all you’ve said.
¹²⁰ I tremble before you:
your judgments fill me with awe.

¹²¹ Everything I’ve done is just and right.
Don’t now turn me over to my oppressors.
¹²² Guarantee your servant’s well-being—
don’t let arrogant people get me.
¹²³ My eyes have given out on me
watching, waiting for you to come through
and deliver me as you promised.
¹²⁴ Show your servant your unfailing love
and teach me to please you.
¹²⁵ I’m your servant—
help me understand
so I can live out your word.
¹²⁶ Now is the time for you to act, Yahveh
for people have encroached on your revelation.
¹²⁷ I love your truth more than gold
even the purest gold.
¹²⁸ So I follow all your teachings
and hate everything that leads away from you.

¹²⁹ Your decrees are so wonderful—
that’s why I obey them.
¹³⁰ The opening up of your words
brings light to those lost without them.
¹³¹ I open my mouth and pant
longing for your commandments.
¹³² Turn my way and be gracious to me
as you always do for those who love you.
¹³³ Steady me in your word
when the going gets tough—
don’t let sin gain control of me.
¹³⁴ Free me from the grip of oppressors
so I can live as you tell me to.
¹³⁵ Bathe your servant
in the warmth of your smile
and teach me all you want of me.
¹³⁶ Rivers of tears stream down my face
when I see how people disregard your word.

¹³⁷ You are righteous, Yahveh
and your rulings reflect you perfectly.
¹³⁸ Everything you’ve required is righteous
and totally trustworthy.
¹³⁹ My passion to please you consumes me
because my enemies forget your words.
¹⁴⁰ Time and again
your promise has proven true
which is why your servant loves it.
¹⁴¹ Though I’m disregarded and disliked
I don’t forget your precepts.
¹⁴² Your righteousness endures forever
and your instruction holds true forever.
¹⁴³ Even when trouble and torment grip me
your commands still bring me joy.
¹⁴⁴ Your laws are forever righteous.
Give me understanding so I can live.

¹⁴⁵ I cry to you with all my heart—
answer me, Yahveh
and I’ll do all you ask of me.
¹⁴⁶ I call on you to save me
so I can live as you command me to.
¹⁴⁷ I’m up before dawn
crying for help
putting my hope in your word.
¹⁴⁸ And I lie awake through the night
pondering your promise.
¹⁴⁹ Listen to me
because your love never fails, Yahveh.
Give me life in keeping with your law.
¹⁵⁰ The closer my persecutors get to me
the farther they are from your word.
¹⁵¹ But you are closer still, Yahveh
and your promises are trustworthy.
¹⁵² I long ago learned that your precepts
were made to stand forever.

¹⁵³ Look on my suffering and rescue me
because I haven’t forgotten your law.
¹⁵⁴ Be my advocate and defend me.
Give me life as you promised.
¹⁵⁵ The wicked have no right at all to deliverance
because they pay no attention to your word.
¹⁵⁶ You’ve shown me so much compassion:
preserve my life as you promised, Yahveh.
¹⁵⁷ My enemies and oppressors are numerous
but I haven’t turned away from your laws.
¹⁵⁸ I’m appalled when I see the treacherous
who don’t listen to a word you say.
¹⁵⁹ Notice how I love your teaching, Yahveh
and lovingly keep me alive.
¹⁶⁰ Every word you utter is reliable:
all your just judgments hold true forever.

¹⁶¹ Powerful people harass me for no reason
but your word alone strikes fear in me.
¹⁶² I’m overjoyed by your promise
like someone striking it rich.
¹⁶³ I absolutely detest falsehood
but I love what you’ve revealed.
¹⁶⁴ I praise you seven times a day
because your judgments are just.
¹⁶⁵ Those who love your law
know perfect peace—
there are no stumbling blocks in their path.
¹⁶⁶ I wait expectantly for your rescue
obeying your commands as I do, Yahveh.
¹⁶⁷ I heed all your teachings
and love them dearly.
¹⁶⁸ I follow your guidance
and abide by your counsel
because you know me inside out.

¹⁶⁹ Let my cry reach you, Yahveh
help me understand as you said you would.
¹⁷⁰ Listen to my prayer
and deliver me as you promised.
¹⁷¹ Let praise flow through my lips
as you teach me your will.
¹⁷² Let your word roll off my tongue
for all your commands are just.
¹⁷³ Keep your hand free to steady me
since I’ve chosen your counsel.
¹⁷⁴ I long for your deliverance, Yahveh
for your instruction is my delight.
¹⁷⁵ Let me live to praise you
sustained by your life-giving laws.
¹⁷⁶ I’ve gone astray like a lost sheep.
Come and search for your servant
for I haven’t forgotten your commands.

In our harried age, we wish the psalmist had given us an executive summary here. Alternatively, we let her lead us in her long meditative prayer on what living life centered on God’s word means. Highlighting the psalm’s wholeness, its twenty-two stanzas go through the letters of the alphabet in turn, the first Hebrew word in each verse beginning with each stanza’s given letter. If we read this longest of all psalms through in one sitting, the effect is powerful.

The psalmist begins with the blessedness of obeying God, whose written word cuts through our complacency, revealing our urgent need of him. Besides speaking through scripture and sound teaching, God continually engages our hearts in conversation. To flourish in life, we must listen to all he says.

God’s goodness and unfailing love assure the psalmist that his word is trustworthy, making her delight in it. Following it enables us to navigate life correctly. While the self-seeking discount God’s truth, their false view of reality leads astray. The psalmist acknowledges how blind she is apart from God, how messed up things get when she makes herself the center. So beyond guidance, she also asks for the ability to understand, walk in its light, and communicate it to others. Only then can she count on God’s faithfulness. She can’t take it for granted.

The psalmist is also anxious about her vulnerability to attack. For powerful people misrepresent, mock, and viciously attack not just God’s truth, but also anyone following it. So she prays and waits for God to come through for her, as he has before. She clings to the fact that she can count on him even when he doesn’t seem to be in control. Her brokenness makes her so aware of her need to hear God’s word that she knows she can’t live without it, despite all her best efforts.

Lord, the psalmist has accurately described me and my world. How incredible that you walk and talk with me! Help me attend to all your words—to cling to them as if they’re my life, which they are. Open my mind to your truth, give me grace to obey it, and deliver me from evil, I pray. Amen.

In your free moments today, meditate on these words:

Your unfailing love fills the earth, Yahveh.
Teach me to live as you want me to.

The rejected stone

Like us today, the post-exilic Jews were dominated by pagan authorities bent on suppressing them. The psalmist recounts his rescue from death to assure his people that God is on their side and call them to faith.

¹ Give thanks to Yahveh because he’s good
and his faithful love always prevails!
² Let Israel say:
“His faithful love always prevails!”
³ Let the priests of Aaron say:
“His faithful love always prevails!”
⁴ Let all who revere Yahveh say:
“His faithful love always prevails!”

⁵ Cornered, with nowhere to turn
I cried out to Yahveh
and Yahveh answered me
bringing me out into unhindered freedom.
⁶ With Yahveh for me
I’m not afraid—
what can mere mortals do to me?
⁷ With Yahveh right beside me
supporting me
I can already see my enemies’ downfall.
⁸ It’s better to take refuge in Yahveh
than to put your trust in people.
⁹ It’s better to take refuge in Yahveh
than to rely on the most powerful people around.
¹⁰ When all the pagan nations surrounded me
I defeated them in Yahveh’s name.
¹¹ When they surrounded me
totally surrounded me
I defeated them in Yahveh’s name.
¹² They surrounded me like a swarm of bees
only to burn up like dried thistles
as I defeated them in Yahveh’s name.
¹³ Pushed hard, I was falling fast
but Yahveh came to my rescue.
¹⁴ Yahveh is my strength and my song—
he’s become my savior.
¹⁵ The camp of God-seekers
rings with shouts of joy and victory:
“Yahveh’s strong hand struck the decisive blow!”
¹⁶ “Yahveh’s strong hand is raised in victory!”
“Yahveh’s strong hand decided the outcome!”
¹⁷ I’m not going to die!
I’ll live to tell what Yahveh has done.
¹⁸ Though Yahveh tested me to the limit
he didn’t hand me over to Death.
¹⁹ Swing wide the gates of goodness and justice
so I can enter in to thank Yahveh.
²⁰ This is the gate to Yahveh’s house
the gate those who rely on God enter.
²¹ I praise you for answering my prayers
for rescuing me from death.

²² The stone the builders threw away
has now been made the capstone!
²³ This was entirely Yahveh’s doing
and it was astonishing to see.
²⁴ This is the day Yahveh has made—
let’s celebrate and revel in what he’s done.
²⁵ Yahveh, we pray you’d rescue us!
Yahveh, please make us flourish!
²⁶ Blessed is the one who comes
in Yahveh’s name.
We bless you from Yahveh’s house.
²⁷ Yahveh is God
and he’s shone his light on us.
Line the path with festive branches
all the way to the horns of the altar!
²⁸ You’re my God and I praise you.
You’re my God and I extol you.
²⁹ Give thanks to Yahveh because he’s good
and his faithful love always prevails!

Regardless of when this psalm was written, any psalm recounting the psalmist’s deliverance from pagans threatening him would have really encouraged post-exilic Jews, living under ongoing oppression. With no way out, the psalmist was pushed so hard he thought he was going to die. Then his good God, whose gracious love is unstoppable, showed up to turn the tide, enabling the psalmist to defeat his foes.

This naturally led to exuberant celebration in God’s camp. Returning home, the psalmist calls out for Jerusalem’s gates to open so he can praise God and tell his people what God has done and what he’s taught him. Namely, that he should neither fear what people can do to him, nor hang his hopes on what people can do for him. Ultimately, he must revere and trust God, who alone is his savior and his song.

The psalm’s last section gives the community’s response to the psalmist. Since the reversal of his fortunes was entirely God’s doing, his people recognize he’s been blessed by God. They exclaim that God has taken the stone the builders spurned as useless and made it the building’s one indispensable stone, exalted above the rest. Rejoicing in God’s favor, they also ask him for ongoing success, and embrace him wholeheartedly as their God.

Lord, I easily alternate between fearing people to looking to others to save me. But you’re the one who takes me from being cornered to breathing free in your appointed place—who takes the stone the builders discarded as worthless and glorifies it in your temple. I worship you, O God. Amen.

In your free moments today, meditate on these words:

Give thanks to Yahveh because he’s good
and his faithful love always prevails!

The God whose love will win

We all choose between two kinds of power: self-centered, coercive power and the power of God’s love, which bears all for its object’s sake. This psalm calls us to worship the God whose love will triumph.

¹ Praise Yahveh, all you nations!
Extol him, all you peoples!
² For Yahveh’s unfailing love for us is strong
and his faithfulness endures forever.
Praise Yahveh!

As the shortest psalm in the Psalter, this psalm is nevertheless enormous in its scope, calling everyone on earth to praise God, which would fulfill God’s promise to bless the whole world through Abraham. Since the Hebrew word rendered “strong” has military connotations, the psalmist implies that God must be worshiped universally because his unfailing love will triumph over evil.

We see two kinds of power in the world. That of Pharaoh and his gods, determined to maintain their egocentric existence through ruthless, dehumanizing coercion. And that of Yahveh, whose compassion for the enslaved Israelites was as undeserved as his commitment to them was enduring. Pharoah’s gods stood for the cruelty that destroyed anyone abandoning them for a rival. By contrast, Yahveh forgave the Israelites’ unfaithfulness time and again—not just at Sinai.

The thought here is that Pharoah and his ilk will ultimately sink while Yahveh realizes all his loving designs for creation. Earth’s peoples and nations will remain confused, warring, chaotic, and self-destructive till they heed the psalmist’s call to submit to the God whose love alone is strong enough to hold everything together. So we sing this psalm in the hope that God will yet heal the nations, gently binding them together as one—as he one day will.

You call us to live by the power of your love, God, to believe it will yet triumph over every rival form of power. Help me do that, Lord. And hasten the day when every people sees your love outpoured in Jesus’ passion and joins the throng worshipping the Lamb who died for them. Amen.

In your free moments today, meditate on these words:

Yahveh’s unfailing love for us is strong
and his faithfulness endures forever.
Praise Yahveh!

He sets the captive free

The psalmist loves God in response to God’s love for him. This is every true believer’s story. Besides telling of God’s rescuing him, the psalmist describes his response to God—or what loving God looks like.

¹ I love Yahveh
because he heard my cry
heard my cry for mercy.
² Because he turned and heard me
I’ll pray to him as long as I live.
³ Gripped by fear and anxiety
with Death dragging me off to the grave
⁴ I implored Yahveh:
“Save me, Yahveh!”
⁵ How kind Yahveh is, how good!
How tenderhearted, this God of ours!
⁶ Yahveh took care of the thoughtless—
when I was all but lost
he rescued me.
⁷ “Rest easy, my heart
seeing how lavishly Yahveh has loved you.”

⁸ You kept me from dying, Yahveh
dried my tears
kept me from ruin.
⁹ Now I walk with Yahveh
with a new lease on life.
¹⁰ It was faith that made me tell you
“I’m in deep trouble!”
¹¹ And faith even when I said in panic
“There’s not a soul I can count on!”
¹² What can I possibly give Yahveh
for all his kindness to me?
¹³ I’ll raise the cup of salvation
and pray to Yahveh
based on all he’s shown himself to be.
¹⁴ I’ll keep my vows to Yahveh
in front of all his people.
¹⁵ In Yahveh’s eyes
his devoted servants’ death is grievous.
¹⁶ I am your servant, Yahveh
the son of your servant-girl
and you’ve freed me from my chains.
¹⁷ I’ll offer you a thanksgiving sacrifice
and pray to you, Yahveh
based on all you’ve shown yourself to be.
¹⁸ I’ll honor my vows to Yahveh
in the presence of all his people
¹⁹ in the courtyards of Yahveh’s house
in the heart of Jerusalem.
Praise Yahveh!

The psalmist says he loves God because God saved his life. He gives very few details, implying only that he was heedless or unwary, and that everyone he trusted failed him. Unable to escape Death’s clutches, he begged for mercy, and God heard and saved him. Moving forward, such undeserved love gives him confidence that God is for him.

The psalmist calls himself the son of God’s servant-girl, meaning that he’s doubly bound to him, with no possibility of emancipation. Yet God has freed him from death, filling his heart with praise. With his life restored to him, the psalmist rededicates himself to God. He says he’ll do three things to show his devotion to God, all prayer-bathed in company with God’s people, in God’s house. He’ll offer salvation’s cup, pay his vows to God, and offer a thanksgiving sacrifice.

The cup referred to wine poured out before God in token of the life the psalmist owes him. But Jews later identified it with a cup drunk in Passover, celebrating Israel’s rescue from Egypt. As Jesus shared that cup with his disciples at the Last Supper, those ideas coalesced and took on new meaning—as the wine was both the new covenant in his outpoured blood and the celebration of his victory over death.

I love you, Lord, because you first loved me. Careless as I was, you poured out your life to rescue me from certain death. How can I possibly repay you for the love you’ve lavished on me? I can only fill your house with praise and offer myself in service to you, which is true freedom. Amen.

In your free moments today, meditate on these words:

I love Yahveh because he heard my cry
heard my cry for mercy.