Author: Christine Wyrtzen

CHOICES

I hold back my feet from every evil way, in order to keep your word.  Psalm 119:101

The way of destruction isn’t far off.  It’s presented to me many times a day in the form of a single step over its threshold.  A journey down the road of self-pity beckons me.  Another trail toward grudge holding calls out to me.  A beautifully paved highway of entitlement glitters in front of me.  It would be easy to put my toe over the line and just take the first step.  If I do, the second step is even easier. Continue reading “Choices” →

ARROGANCE OR HUMILITY?

I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts.  Psalm 119:100

This is quite a statement.  If I heard anyone in my lifetime say something like this, I’d probably think it was out of line.  So was David humble?  Or was this a flash of arrogance? Continue reading “Arrogance Or Humility?” →

NO MORE A WORD OF CONVENIENCE 

Forever, Oh Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens.  Psalm 119:89

            Mankind picks and chooses which of God’s precepts he wants to follow at any given time.  If it suits him, he obeys.  Look how many times a lead story in the news is introduced with ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’.  Scripture, in a post-Christian era, is snatched and used to support the universal message of love.  What commentators fail to quote is what precedes that verse; ‘Loving God with all our heart, soul, and strength.’  Continue reading “No More A Word Of Convenience” →

In your steadfast love give me life, that I may keep the testimonies of your mouth.  Psalm 119:88

Psalm 119 is the expression of extremes.  The writer (most think it is David) is in desperate straights and speaks about most everything in the context of life and death.  “Your Word is life to me.”  “I languish for Your saving hand.”  If any of us are in pleasant circumstances with our needs numbed out by pleasure, we will not track with the strong speech found within this chapter.

The psalmist’s words today are gut wrenching.  To paraphrase this out of the Hebrew language, the meaning takes on even more desperate overtones.  Here it is.  “Because you are so kind, keep me alive so that I preserve the testimonies of your mouth.”  It is not made clear whether David is in physical danger or spiritual danger.  But when threats against either are high, it really doesn’t matter, does it?  The truth is ~ God is the giver of life whether we need a physical resurrection or a heart preserver.

If you are looking for a Psalm to ponder out of mere interest, this is not the one for you.  A dispassionate reader will never know life change.  This Psalm is meant for those who know they would be ‘walking dead’ without the swift and life-saving hand of God.  Many of you are walking on hot coals everyday.  Your heart is bombarded with regret and the pressure to survive another’s cruelty, or any other circumstance which threatens to snuff the life out of a person’s soul.  The weight is so great as to make you throw up your hands and say, “I quit.  I’m numbing out to life.  It’s too painful to care anymore.” 

Ah, this verse is for you and me whenever we’re in that situation.

Oh God, you are kind.  You reach down and keep my faith alive when I ask you.  I can’t even decide to follow you.  The desire, even for that, is a gift out of the kindness of your heart.  Amen

VERY LONG COURT PROCEEDINGS

How long must your servant endure?  When will you judge those who persecute me? Psalm 119:84

            Have you ever been through a long court proceeding?  I haven’t.  But I have known friends who have and the time for testimonies, arguments, and then deliberation by the jury can seem long.  Given a complicated and in-depth case, the procedure can see like forever. Continue reading “VERY LONG COURT PROCEEDINGS” →

DECIDING WHAT IS MORE VALUABLE

The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.  Psalm 119:72

David had less of the scriptures than I have.  He only had the Torah; I have the Old and New Testaments.  Yet, is seems that he valued the scriptures more than I do.  His passionate language leads me to believe that. Continue reading “DECIDING WHAT IS MORE VALUABLE” →

VALUE OF SUFFERING

It was good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statues.  Psalm 119:71

My dad fought in WWII, in the European theatre.  He valued the freedom of this country more than we, his children, did because he was one of many who suffered for it.  He had several purple hearts to honor his wounds and his bravery. Continue reading “VALUE OF SUFFERING” →

DOUBLE CHECKING THEOLOGY

You are good and do good.  Psalm 119:68a

What do I really believe down deep about the character of God?  In reality, each of us can be prone to make judgment calls about God’s parenting according to our experience.  There are four choices, humanly speaking.

1. God is a bad parent because he does bad things. If I choose to be the interpreter of all the suffering in the world, and I believe there is a God, then I might conclude that God can not be good.  There is too much pain and a God who allows that, or causes that, can not be trusted.  I never trust Him to be my Father.  I remain a son of the devil – who is a bad parent and does bad things.  Irony. Continue reading “DOUBLE CHECKING MY THEOLOGY” →

JUDGMENT AND KNOWLEDGE

Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments.  Psalm 119:66

An educated person can be full of knowledge but lack good judgment.  Street smart and book smart are not one in the same.  What if I excel in one but not the other?  Can God teach me what I lack?  Yes. Continue reading “JUDGMENT AND KNOWLEDGE” →