Rulers persecute me without cause, but my heart trembles at your word. 162 I rejoice in your promise 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 laws. 165 Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble. 166 I wait for your salvation, O LORD, and I follow your commands. 167 I obey your statutes, for I love them greatly. 168 I obey your precepts and your statutes, for all my ways are known to you.

Is the Psalmist filled with self-righteous boasting or is he sincere and right with his statements of fidelity toward God? Is it ever right for us to state our voice of dedication and commitment along with our genuine service toward God? Does this agree or contradict the principle of humility? To answer this, let me ask one more question. Have you ever told someone that you loved them with all of your heart and that you would do anything in your power for them? On one occasion I told my wife this (when things between us were a bit strained) and she replied that if I really loved her, I would show it in the way I treated her. John tells us to love in actions not only in word.

When we read this section of Psalm (along with most others) we see someone who is totally committed to God, to his word and to allowing God to be in total control of his life. He depended on God for every facet of his being. He never acted without consulting the will of God. What we see is total humility. Empty boasting would be if he said all these things but lived by his own will and did not demonstrate his commitment by his life. This is precisely what James tells us in the 2nd chapter of his book. Faith without works is dead. For our faith in God to be alive and meaningful, for it to be worth anything toward God, it must be active, alive and working. This is not merit. It is humble dedicated commitment to our Great God who rules all things and to whom we submit our will, our actions and our lives. Yes, we need to examine our own hearts and lives honestly (not deceiving ourselves) to determine if we are
truly committed to God. As a church sign read; “If you were on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you”? God is the judge and he alone knows all the evidence.

Dear God, please help me to be humble. Help me to never think more highly of myself than I should but help me to realize how very valuable I am in your sight. Help me to accept the goodness you work into my heart and my life and to use it in service to you. I ask for your blessings on those who are hurting in so many ways. Help them to know the comfort that only you can give. Use me to share your comfort and your love. I pray in Jesus name.

May God bless each of us as we live for him today.