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145I pray to you, Lord!
Please answer me.
I promise to obey your laws.
146I beg you to save me,
so I can follow your rules.
147Even before sunrise,
I pray for your help,
and I put my hope
in what you have said.
148I lie awake at night,
thinking of your promises.
149Show that you love me, Lord,
and answer my prayer.
Please do the right thing
and save my life.
150People who disobey your Law
have made evil plans
and want to hurt me,
151but you are with me,
and all your commands
can be trusted.
152From studying your laws,
I found out long ago
you made them to last forever.
153I have not forgotten your Law!
Look at the trouble I am in,
and rescue me.
154Be my defender and protector!
Remember your promise
and save my life.
155Evil people won't obey you,
and so they have no hope
of being saved.
156You are merciful, Lord!
Please do the right thing
and save my life.
157I have a lot of brutal enemies,
but still I never turn
from your laws.
158Those unfaithful people
who refuse to obey you
are disgusting to me.
159Remember how I love your laws,
and show your love for me
by keeping me safe.
160All you say can be trusted;
your teachings are true
and will last forever.
161Rulers are cruel to me
for no reason.
But with all my heart
I respect your words,
162because they bring happiness
like treasures taken in war.
163I can't stand liars,
but I love your Law.
164I praise you seven times a day
because your laws are fair.
165You give peace of mind
to all who love your Law.
Nothing can make them fall.
166You are my only hope
for being saved, Lord,
and I do all you command.
167I love and obey your laws
with all my heart.
168You know everything I do.
You know I respect every law
you have given.
169Please, Lord, hear my prayer
and give me the understanding
that comes from your word.
170Listen to my concerns
and keep me safe,
just as you have promised.
171If you will teach me your laws,
I will praise you 172and sing
about your promise,
because all your teachings
are what they ought to be.
173Be ready to protect me
because I have chosen
to obey your laws.
174I am waiting for you
to save me, Lord.
Your Law makes me happy.
175Keep me alive,
so I can praise you,
and let me find help
in your teachings.
176I am your servant,
but I have wandered away
like a lost sheep.
Please come after me,
because I have not forgotten
your teachings.
Reflect
Everyone has at least one getting lost story. Even knowing the instructions on how to get there, you got lost. Maybe you were distracted or perhaps misread a street name. Regardless, the outcome was the same: lost.
The Psalmist talks about his great love for the word of God and his obedience to it. Even while he is calling to God with his whole heart, at the end of this portion he calls himself a “lost sheep.”
Thinking about life as servants of our Lord Jesus, who calls himself the “Good Shepherd” and promises us his constant presence, we still find ourselves wandering off the straight path where we were walking with him.
I was thinking about this. What causes us to wander, even when we love him wholeheartedly? We read his word and meditate on it, yet we find ourselves lost on some bunny trail.
There are many things that happen which can cause us to run off that straight pathway. Perhaps when we are deeply hurt by something very unkind said or done to us, especially by people we love. This can cause us to step off that path. When we look down, our feet are stuck fast into mud and we are not going anywhere. We need the Good Shepherd to rescue us. The beautiful truth is that he will.
He is near to us when we call. By his Spirit he tells us exactly what we need to hear. He pulls our feet out of the mud and washes them sparkling clean. Then he leads us back to that straight path.
Respond
Father, thank you for your eye that is ever upon me. Good Shepherd of my soul, thank you for your love for me. Rescue me. Amen.
Donna Dyck
Donna and her husband Bill are parents of 4 adult children and have 9 grandchildren. They have been pastoring at Toronto Alliance church for 28 years. Donna has written 2 books, Confessions of a Not So Average Girl and Confessions of an Unlikely Pastors wife. She has spoken at many conferences, seminars, and events over the years. She and her husband have just written a Devotional called Hope for an Unwanted Journey which will be published soon and is for parents, especially those who are walking through the valley of addiction or mental illness with their loved ones.