Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn your commandments. Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice, because I have hoped in your word. I know, O LORD, that your rules are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.

Let your steadfast love comfort me according to your promise to your servant. Let your mercy come to me, that I may live; for your law is my delight. Let the insolent be put to shame, because they have wronged me with falsehood; as for me, I will meditate on your precepts. Let those who fear you turn to me, that they may know your testimonies. May my heart be blameless in your statutes, that I may not be put to shame!

What a packed stanza. The first segment focuses on the Psalmist’s acknowledgement that the source of all his being originates from the LORD, God, the Almighty. Look at that last phrase, “that in faithfulness you have afflicted me” Do I ever stop, take a moment to thank and praise the LORD for the mess that I gotten myself into, to acknowledge that many times I needed a “slap up along side the head.” Midwestern slang!

Now look at the second stanza. It drips with the many acknowledgements of the LORD’s goodness. Join with me as I list these wonderful gifts:

• His promised steadfast love comforts me, without exception.
• His mercy is the source of my existence in its delight.
• He stands between me and the insolent, defending me from their falsehoods, leading me to meditate on His precepts.
• A plea to Him is that He will use me to lead others to Him.
• Finally, and most importantly, He will lead me into a blameless state before Him according to his statutes.

May the LORD, God, the Almighty bless you and keep you in the arms of His Love.