ג Gimel
17 Be good to your servant while I live,
that I may obey your word.
18 Open my eyes that I may see
wonderful things in your law.
19 I am a stranger on earth;
do not hide your commands from me.
20 My soul is consumed with longing
for your laws at all times.
21 You rebuke the arrogant, who are accursed,
those who stray from your commands.
22 Remove from me their scorn and contempt,
for I keep your statutes.
23 Though rulers sit together and slander me,
your servant will meditate on your decrees.
24 Your statutes are my delight;
they are my counselors. NIV
In verse 17, for what purpose does the writer of this psalm ask God to "be good" to him? Is this why you would ask God to be good to you? What surprises you about this request?
Considering verse 18, what would it mean to have eyes that were "closed"?
In verse 19, what does it mean to be a "stranger on earth"? In what ways is a Christian a "stranger on earth"?
On a scale of 1 to 10 (least to greatest), where do you place yourself in comparison to verse 20?
Look at verses 21-24. With the personal experience of the psalmist in mind, what do you find is the most difficult thing about following God's commands in our society today?
::::: Equipping Challenge :::::
What does it mean to make God's "statutes" your "counselors"? What counsel from this passage do you need to apply to your life today?