“Consistency is everything”

By Rev. Michael Stonhouse

Meditation – Wednesday, September 13, 2023

Psalm 119:49-72 (Forward, p. 46) CEV p. 630

One cannot help but be impressed by our unidentified psalmist. Firstly, in his devotion to God’s Law and commandments regardless of the time of day:

“Even in the night I think about you, Lord, and I obey your law” (v 55);

“Your laws are so fair that I wake up and praise you in the middle of the night” (verse 62);

And, not only that, he remains focused on God’s ways no matter where he finds himself:

“No matter where I am, your teachings fill me with songs” (v. 54);

But, perhaps even more to the point is that he remains fixed upon God’s laws and ways regardless of his circumstances. This is made very evident by the many ‘but’ passages. ‘Something negative is happening to me, but I remain steadfast in your Law’, that sort of thing:

“Conceited people sneer at me, but I obey your law” (verse 51);

“Evil people may set a trap, but I obey your law” (verse 61);

“My reputation is being ruined by conceited liars, but with all my heart I follow your teachings” (verse 69);

“Those liars have no sense, but I find happiness in your Law” (v. 70)

And even in those necessary moments of ‘correction’ (see verses 67 & 71), he listened and amended his ways.

And not only that—this, I would say is key—he pledges himself to not only pay attention to God’s law and commands but also to obey them immediately:

“I pay careful attention as you lead me, and I follow closely. As soon as you command, I do what you say” (verses 59-60).

I dare say that this psalm is an excellent reminder—and a bit of a cattle prod to shape up and do better, for seldom are we quite as devoted to reading or heeding God’s word, and seldom quite so readily obedient.

May we all take a lesson from today’s words. Amen.

Forward notes: “Your statutes have been like songs to me wherever I have lived as a stranger” (verse 54).

“I have always enjoyed singing. As a child, I would sing along to the music on the radio or cassette tapes in the car. I learned to memorize melodies quickly, and many tunes from my youth are so lodged in my brain and vocal cords that they feel unforgettable to me.

“Among the songs I remember most are hymns. My childhood church would sing every verse of a hymn as well as the chorus after every verse, and sometimes we would repeat a verse or chorus multiple times. At first, the repetitions wore out my nine-year-old lungs. But at some point, they became like a meditative practice that helped me focus on what I was singing.

“As I read this verse in Psalm 119, I am curious about the psalmist’s song traditions. I wonder if the comparison of God’s statutes to songs is about meditating or remembering. I wonder if the psalmist experiences a more transformative work through these statutes, a liberating melody that some might view as a stranger.”

Moving Forward: “What songs or hymns bring you comfort?”