Pslams 119 Verse 20: Comfort In Affliction

Hidden Treasures of the 119th Psalm. Well, quite honestly, as we look at this verse today, verse 50, I guess it's just what the doctor ordered for me today, because I've needed some comfort, honestly.

Verse 50 in the Zion section is the second verse, which would make it on understanding, and it says, This is my comfort and my affliction, for thy word hath quickened me. So, you know, let me just share what's going on in my life right this minute. Since about five o'clock this morning, I've been texting back and forth with an estranged family member who is threatening suicide, and perhaps, you know, because they turned off their phone, that's what's going on.

I don't know. And I could use some comfort. And I certainly thought about not doing this podcast this morning, but I prayed a lot about it, and God said, Go for it. So, here we are, you know, kind of really putting the rubber to the road, because I could use some comfort, as this is the understanding of the previous verse. So, when you look at the verse before it, which we talked about yesterday, remember that word zakar, which is so important to comfort, believe me, is remembering God's there. Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou has caused me to hope.

He's asking God to remember, but interestingly here, he is remembering, right? Because this, which the word this, in this particular case, because it's a Zion section, starts with a Zion, this is my comfort. And the neat word that he uses there is comfort. And that word is similar to the word, very similar to the word for repentance.

It's made up of the same thing. It has an extra letter, meaning sort of repentance expressed. And when you see it, there's a sense of the seed of faith in that, and that word comfort is, again, if we have faith that Jesus has got this, this is how we're going to get through our affliction. And I do love, love, love how the psalmist finishes the verse, for thy word, which is, he used the word amira, not debar.

So, the word that he had in the previous verse, was the one version of the word, and here we have the feminine version, which is amira, hath quickened me, meaning has brought me life, to see life. And of course, right this minute, it's exactly what I need to do, is I need to see life. And so, you know, what a beautiful thing, in times like this, that we can see that his promises are true.

And I just have to come to the point where, you know, all things work together for good, somehow. I don't know what Satan has meant for evil in this particular situation, God will use for good, and I don't know how that's going to work, but I do know that it's going to work. And I do know that the Zion, that God has remembered this loved one, and it's right now a priority in that situation, the whole idea of being mindful and remember me. Like, the thing that I did not mention yesterday, that I really think is so critical, is what the thief on the cross said, right? Because I mean, here's this man, he's dying, and he's saying, remember me, Jesus, when you come into your kingdom. And, you know, that's the cry of all our hearts, is we want to be thought of, we want to be remembered.

I think that's why this family member has been reaching out to me. And so, this family member has been reaching out to me all day, is he wants me to be mindful of him. And I think that's what we all want, and I think it's a beautiful thing that David starts out the Psalm with asking God to remember, but here he is clearly saying the way he's going to get his comfort is based on how God quickened him, and with that life, you know, he too can remember, and remember what?

Remember the emira, remember the word, which means Jesus. And so, you can see Jesus in a situation where maybe it's difficult to see him, and I'm going to leave it there for today. And I thank you, and I'm honored. I hope you'll pray with me for this loved one, that they'll get help or, you know, that God will again work in this situation, whatever it may be. And I thank you for being my friends and listening today. God bless.