Psalm 119:153

The next octave we take up from Psalm 119 bears the title of the Hebrew letter Resh.  From what I can gather about the pronunciation of this letter, the e is pronounced like our letter a in the words tame, ace, or race.  With that in mind, as I undertake this octave I feel like I am in a resh to finish these blogs.  Now that is really scraping the bottom of the barrel for something funny to the point that it isn’t even funny. 

Looking out over this octave we can see some threads stitching it together.  Twice, in the first two verses the psalmist prays for deliverance.  In verse 153 and verse 159, he asks the Lord to consider him.  Then we find him beseeching the Lord three times to quicken him (verses 154, 156, 159). From these requests and from the statements he makes in this psalm he is obviously in affliction, some of which is arising from the presence of the wicked who are his persecutors and enemies.  And this brings us to consider today’s verse:   

Psalms 119:153  ¶RESH. Consider mine affliction, and deliver me: for I do not forget thy law.

What is it for one to consider something?

Consider – To view or contemplate attentively, to survey, examine, inspect, scrutinize.  To look attentively.  trans. To contemplate mentally, fix the mind upon; to think over, meditate or reflect on, bestow attentive thought upon, give heed to, take note of.

The psalmist was praying to God to fix His holy mind on his affliction, to take notice of it.  This is something our God has done for His afflicted people throughout history.  The deliverance of Israel out of Egypt arose from the Lord considering the affliction of His people in Egypt.

Exodus 3:7  And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;

8  And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians….

Perhaps it was the memory of this that provoked the psalmist to beg God to consider his affliction and deliver him.  The psalmist David had this testimony that accords with today’s verse:

Psalms 31:7  I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities;

8  And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large room.

While God was upon this earth in the flesh of Jesus Christ, many times He looked attentively upon the affliction of men; and moved with compassion by what He saw, He delivered them.  Here are but a couple of several instances we might cite:

Luke 7:11  And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people.

12  Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.

13  And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her  (He considered her affliction), and said unto her, Weep not.

14  And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.

15  And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.

16  And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.

John 5:5  And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.

6  When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case (He considered his affliction), he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?

7  The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.

8  Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.

9  And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.

We who have the completed canon of Holy Scripture in the 66 books of the Bible have numerous examples of the Lord considering the affliction of His people and delivering them.  We do indeed serve a considerate God.  Therefore, we have abundant reason to offer to Him the prayer of today’s verse.

But notice that in begging the Lord to consider him, the psalmist could advance that he had not forgotten the Lord:  for I do not forget thy law.  He did not let his affliction crowd out the memory of God’s law.  In fact, his affliction had accomplished the purpose for which God had permitted it and that was to direct him to God’s law.

Psalms 119:71  It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.

Afflictions should make us mindful of our Bible. 

The psalmist had resolved back in verse 16 of Psalm 119:  “I will not forget thy word.”  And according to today’s verse, he had made good on that promise:  for I do not forget thy law.  We are far more apt to remember something if we determine that we will remember it.  Forgetfulness often occurs because we lack the willpower to remember. 

When you are pleading with God to pay attention to your affliction and deliver you, it is always to your advantage to be able to tell the Lord that you have paid attention to His word and have not forgotten it.  God gives special consideration to those who give special consideration to His law.

Deuteronomy 7:9  Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations….