I Lift My Hand, For the Lord is Good and Full of Mercy

Psalm 119:41-48 Vau ו 41 Let thy mercies come also unto me, O Lord, even thy salvation, according to thy word. 42 So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word. 43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments. 44 So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever. 45 And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts. 46 I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed. 47 And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved. 48 My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.

This week’s section of Psalm 119, the letter Vau, highlights God’s grace, mercy and forgiveness towards His people. The Psalmist begins with acknowledging their need for God to extend His mercy toward them, and further expresses an understanding that salvation comes directly from God’s merciful nature. This Psalm gives us the opportunity to meditated on God’s mercy in our own life. Not just the mercy of salvation, but in our lives and circumstances. Can we recognize where we would be without God’s mercy? How much He has provided for and blessed us despite our inability to earn His mercy or deserve it?

Ephesians 2:3 reminds us that we all once operated in the desires of the flesh and, “were by nature children of wrath.” Can we receive this fact in humility and continue turning away from the flesh, rather than defending it? As Romans 3:23 states, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Further, can we acknowledge that we have far more than we deserve despite our past sin, and times of disobedience? No matter who you are, no matter what you have or have not done, we all desperately need God’s grace, because we all fall short of deserving anything from God. All we have, especially salvation, comes through God’s mercy alone, and His mercy and love is never ending in abundance.

“It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, Because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: Great is thy faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23

As a result of understanding just how reliant we are on God’s mercy, we may start to realize just how unworthy we are of it. However, God does not want us to be consumed by shame, rather to blossom in the freedom He provides us. Yet, the only way not to buckle under shame in light of His glory is to be rooted in His love for us, and in a confidence in His word and promises. Not just the written word, but also His intimate words towards us. If we fail to hold onto His words and true nature, the crippling reality that we are unworthy of God will easily crush us, and that is just what the enemy wants. Without holding onto God’s nature of love and forgiveness, the shame in light of His glory will be weaponized by the enemy and consume us. This is where the enemy attempts to steal our freedom and peace with God.

As the Psalmist notes, others will have “reproach” for us as a result of our confidence in the Lord. They will speak against us, reminding us that we are unworthy, reminding us that we should be ashamed, and that we could not be loved by God. However, this is the voice of the enemy from their own lips, and rather than give ear to the shame and condemnation we should focus on God’s promises and love. What God gave to have us despite our unworthiness. This is where the true power of transformation begins, not so that we might take that grace for granted, but that we might begin to trust His work in us to make us new in sprit.

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. (Romans 8:1-5)

The psalmist recognizes that freedom comes from a focus on God’s nature, God’s word, God’s love, God’s mercy, and God’s promises. When a heart truly seeks these things, they will overcome and walk in freedom. “And I will walk in liberty: for I seek thy precepts.” True freedom is found when we rest in the Lord. The psalmist reminds themself that the way to overcome shame and unworthiness is by holding fast to God’s promises, His word, His ways of doing things. They focus on their love for God, and God’s love for them, rather than their failures.

Lastly, the psalmist declares they will not only delight in what God is doing in their life, but that their, “hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments. I believe this is a commitment to testify of God’s goodness and mercy; of God’s love, grace and forgiveness. When we receive it, we should feel compelled to share it. Not in order to show people how righteous we are, but to show people there is a way out, there is freedom, and that God is waiting with open arms to receive us. He wants to bless us with His mercy, bringing us back into Himself and offering us all His goodness.

8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. (Psalm 103: 8-12)

What does this teach us about the goodness of God? Who He is? How incredible our Father and Creator is, that His ultimate goal is unity with us? Despite what we have done He longs for us to come home to Him. That Jesus died for us to have the opportunity to worship Him in Spirit and in truth, as family. Not insisting on punishment, but sacrificing of Himself, to impart to us undeserving mercy. The letter Vau expresses this symbolically by its single stroke down. The Source, God, shares His goodness. He is reaching down to us and sharing His light, love, mercy, righteousness, the list is endless, with us below, from above.

†

So the question is dear reader; can we receive Him for who He is, despite what we are?

For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. (Hosea 6:6)