Psalm 119 - 14 - Nun - Committed to Following

"(Nun) Your Word is a lamp to guide my feet
and a light for my path.
I've promised it once, and I'll promise it again:
I will obey Your righteous regulations.
I have suffered much, O LORD;
restore my life again as You promised.
LORD, accept my offering of praise, 
and teach me Your regulations.
My life constantly hangs in the balance,
but I will not stop obeying Your instructions.
The wicked have set their traps for me,
but I will not turn from Your commandments.
Your laws are my treasure;
they are my heart's delight.
I am determined to keep Your decrees
to the very end." (Psalm 119: 105-112)  

Dear friend,

     What does commitment look like? How committed is "committed"? For the Psalmist, this commitment is an "all in" oath. 

• he has promised and promised again
• he vows to obey God's righteous regulations
• even through suffering and threat of death, he will follow God's instructions
• he guards the Word of God as a treasure in his heart
• he is determined to keep the Lord's decrees to the very end!

     As we've noted before, his is a very bold faith. He is "all in" with God and His Word, and he boldly makes requests of God:

• restore my life again as You promised
• accept my offering of praise
• teach me Your regulations

     This is the very essence of a relationship. Unfortunately, many never develop this type of relationship with anyone, and even fewer with God. We guard ourselves; we trust no one completely. Always we are holding something back, lest our hearts are wounded, or our secrets are revealed, or our trust is not reciprocated.

     God is completely trustworthy. He will heal, not wound, our hearts. He knows our secrets and loves us anyway. He bestows grace, favor, mercy, help, healing, hope, trust. We can be "all in" with God, because He is "all in" with us--so much so that He died to save us.

"I have loved you, even as the Father has loved me. Remain in My love. When you obey My commandments, you remain in My love, just as I obey the Father's commandments and remain in His love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with My joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is My commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends." 

(John 15:9-13; note the context; it's several chapters long) 

• What is the most frightening aspect of an "all in" relationship with God? Why?
• What is the most appealing aspect? Why?
• What relationships in your life are the most important? 
• To what lengths would you go for them?

Heavenly Father, You are the LORD, and yet You desire a relationship with us, not a dictatorship. You are good, and all Your ways are good. Will You help us to be "all in" in our relationship with You? We thank You for offering the relationship, for dying to save us, for inviting us to begin again when we fail.

This song is based on the "Nun" passage of Psalm 119.