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Psalm 119:171-172 May my lips overflow with praise, for you teach me your decrees.  May my tongue sing of your word, for all your commands are righteous.

Throughout this long, cleverly constructed acrostic song, the psalmist has been reflecting on everything God’s Word means to him as it taught him, rebuked him, corrected him, and trained him in righteousness – it was his constant guard (verses 9-11), guide (verse 105) and source of wisdom (verses 98-100).

Now in this final section of eight verses, where every verse starts with the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet, he feels the pressure from within his very being to overflow with praise and song, using his lips and tongue to declare to others how much God’s Word means to him.

Can we identify with this?  Is this what God’s Word means to us?  Do we organise our daily routine to ensure there is time to read a bit of God’s Word and let it soak into our hearts and minds?  Do we make it a top priority to gather with God’s people and sit under the faithful preaching of God’s Word each Lord’s Day?

Dear Lord, may your Word become so much a part of my life and my thinking that I want to take every opportunity there is for me to share its truth with others.  “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law” (Psalm 119:18).  “Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord!  Unnumbered blessings give my spirit voice; tender to me the promise of his Word – in God my Saviour shall my heart rejoice. … … Tell out, my soul, the glories of his Word!  Firm is his promise, and his mercy sure: tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord to children’s children and for evermore!” (Timothy Dudley-Smith)
– Bruce Christian