Psalm 119 - 18 - Tsadhe - Perspective

"(Tsadhe) O LORD, You are righteous, 
and Your regulations are fair.
Your laws are perfect 
and completely trustworthy.
I am overwhelmed with indignation, 
for my enemies have disregarded Your words.
Your promises have been thoroughly tested; 
that is why I love them so much.
I am insignificant and despised, 
but I don't forget Your commandments.
Your justice is eternal, 
and Your instructions are perfectly true.
As pressure and stress bear down on me, 
I find joy in Your commands.
Your laws are always right; 
help me to understand them so I may live."
(Psalm 139: 137-144)

Dear friend,

Notes from "Tsadhe": Perspective

Sorrow, stress, testing, rejection, 

pressure, enemies, indignation

The author experienced "real life," just like us. He wasn't isolated from the world. This should give us comfort and perspective. Biblical authors were real people; they lived through good and bad. They persisted in their faith.

In the midst of this author's trials, we see that he clings to the Lord and to His Word.

Here is truth; here is our perspective:

God is righteous; 

His regulations are fair. 

His laws are perfect and completely trustworthy. 

His ways have been tested and proven. 

His justice is eternal 

and His instructions are perfectly true. 

His laws are always right. 

Always.

When life whirls out of control, we can lose perspective. What we see overwhelms us. Our feelings get the best of us. Our thoughts convince us that all hope is lost.

But hope is NOT lost.

God is enthroned. He is good. His ways are right. He is eternal. His justice wins in the end. Our hope is in Him, not in this world. 

When life rages out of control, 

we must choose His way, 

see from His perspective, 

cling to Him.

This is not easy. It is right. This is faith. Faith is perspective. Though we do not see, we know. In our despair, we hope. In our sorrow, we rejoice.

"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." (Hebrews 11:1 NIV--I switched versions because I like this wording better.)

"Because of Christ and our faith in Him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God's presence. So please don't lose heart because of my trials here. I am suffering for you, so you should feel honored. When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit. Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to Him in the church and in Jesus Christ through all generations forever and ever! Amen." (Ephesians 3:12-21) 

• How is faith exercised more during difficult times?
• When battling emotions, how can we exercise our faith?
• In what way will knowing God's Word help with perspective?

Heavenly Father, We thank You, for in You we have everything we need. Will You help us when we lose perspective? Will You bring Your Word to our minds? Will You strengthen our faith to place our hope in You, even when it seems that all hope is lost? We want to walk in Your ways, to live a faith-filled life, to know You and to love You.