Text:

"153 Look on my affliction and deliver me, for I do not forget your law. 154 Plead my cause and redeem me; give me life according to your promise! 155 Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek your statutes.
156 Great is your mercy, O Lord; give me life according to your rules. 157 Many are my persecutors and my adversaries, but I do not swerve from your testimonies. 158 I look at the faithless with disgust, because they do not keep your commands. 159 Consider how I love your precepts! Give me life according to your steadfast love.
160 The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever. 161 Princes persecute me without cause, but my heart stands in awe of your words. 162 I rejoice at your word like one who finds great spoil. 163 I hate and abhor falsehood, but I love your law. 164 Seven times a day I praise you
for your righteous rules. 165 Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble. 166 I hope for your salvation, O Lord, and I do your commandments. 167 My soul keeps your testimonies;
I love them exceedingly. 168 I keep your precepts and testimonies, for all my ways are before you. 169 Let my cry come before you, O Lord; give me understanding according to your word! 170 Let my plea come before you; deliver me according to your word. 171 My lips will pour forth praise, for you teach me your statutes. 172 My tongue will sing of your word, for all your commandments are right. 173 Let your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts. 174 I long for your salvation, O Lord, and your law is my delight. 175 Let my soul live and praise you, and let your rules help me. 176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for I do not forget your commandments."

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Lexicon:
vs. 153 - look (ra'ah) - "to see, to look at, to view with a purpose, to regard, to be pleased with the sight, to choose, to provide or care for something, to procure for oneself"

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vs. 153 - affliction ('oniy) - "trouble, depression, misery"

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vs. 153 - deliver (chalats) - "to pull off, to equip for the fight, to strengthen, to set free, to ready and prepare for battle, to equip for war"

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vs. 154 - plead (riyb) - "to contend, to strive, to defend"

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vs. 154 - redeem (ga'al) - "to buy back, to act as the kinsman-redeemer (Ruth 3), to require the penalty of bloodshed, to ransom, to avenge"

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vs. 157 - swerve (natah) - "to stretch or spread out, to bend away, turn away, to go away, to deflect (to turn from a true course or straight line), to decline"

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vs. 161 - stands in awe (pachad) - "to tremble for fear, to revere, to be timid"

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vs. 164 - seven times (sheba') - "an indefinite number"

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vs. 164 - a day (yowm) - "daily, perpetually, lifetime, in all time"

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vs. 165 - great (rab) - "abundant, exceedingly, plenteous, enough"

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vs. 165 - peace (shalowm) - "completeness, soundness, contentment, welfare, safety, rest"

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vs. 169 - come (qarab) - "to approach, to draw near, to be at hand"

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vs. 169 - before (paniym) - "in the presence of God, before the face of God"

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vs. 175 - live (chayah) - "to have life, to remain alive, to live prosperously, to be restored to life or health, to live well, to continue safe and sound, to revive, to be healed, to call back to life, to save from death, to grant life"

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vs. 175 - praise (halal) - "to make a show, to shine, to sing, to celebrate, to boast" 

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vs. 176 - seek (baqash) - "to search out by any method, to choose, to seek for oneself, to strive after, to require, to desire"

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What does this reveal about God's character?

God delivers us from our afflictions, depression and misery.  He equips and strengthens us and makes us ready for battle. God is our redeemer.  Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, He has bought us back from the sin that stole our souls.  God is peace, and He is the giver of peace.  When we put our trust and hope in Him, He will give us His peace (Himself) that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7).  He will make us whole, complete and content (Psalms 16:11). God is near to us, at hand.  He allows us, through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, to approach His throne and to remain in His presence.  

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Questions:

1) What afflictions am I enduring today from which I need the Lord's deliverance?

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2) Jesus has already paid the price for salvation.  Have I accepted the salvation He freely gives me?  If not, please visit our Resources page for more info on how you can pursue a personal relationship with Jesus. 

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3) Do I maintain a heart and an attitude of praise to God?  

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4) How often am I in God's word?  Daily, Weekly, Rarely?  

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5) In what ways do I boast of the Lord?  Am I shining for Him?  Or do others not even know I am a Christian?

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6) Do I believe that God loves me enough to seek me out and to choose me?  What lie am I entertaining and believing that tells me I'm unlovable?  

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Prayer:

Father God, I praise your name today, for who you are and all you've done for me.  I can't even begin to count all the ways you've saved me because they are so innumerable.  And, I'm sure there are so many things from which you've delivered me and of which I'm still unaware.  Thank you for your deliverance and redemption, which fills my life.  I pray today, Lord, that you would rescue me from __________, as I am struggling to keep my head above water in this area.  You are my peace, Lord; and, my contentment can only be found in you.  I commit my life to you and thank you for your salvation through Jesus.  I choose to trust and hope in you alone, Lord.  Keep my eyes and heart transfixed on you.  Help me to not abandon your words, which give me life. Show me the need to spend time in your presence and give me a desire to do so.  Help me to carve out time every day to spend alone with you, reading your word and praising and seeking you.  Lord, thank you for choosing me. Thank you for loving me and for rescuing me from the entanglement of sin that stole my soul.  You have declared your unfailing love for me in your word (John 3:16, 1 John 4:19, Deuteronomy 7:9, Proverbs 8:17, 1 John 3:1, 1 John 4:9-11, Ephesians 2:4-5, Romans 5:8-9, Romans 8:38-39). Lord, I pray today that you would make this love real to me.  Show me how fully, perfectly and completely you love me, so that I can love those you've placed around me (2 Thessalonians 3:5, Ephesians 3:17-19).  Let me boast of you and of your unfailing love all the days of my life.  In Jesus' name I pray, Amen!