The 7th letter of the Hebrew Aleph-Bet
Zayin
ז
The power of God’s word to comfort and strengthen.
The seventh letter of the alef-beis is zayin. Its design is the form of a sword. The top of the zayin is the handle, and the vertical leg is the blade. Another interpretation of the zayin’s design is that it represents a crown and a sceptre. The zayin thus alludes to power and authority.
V49 - Remember your word to your servant, In which you have made me hope.
Asking God not to forget us , as He promised and through His promise we live in hope.
“When we hear any promise in the word of God, let us turn it into a prayer. God’s promises are his bonds. Sue him on his bond. He loves that we should wrestle with him by his promises.” (Sibbes, cited in Spurgeon)
Spurgeon said that he often carried with him a small book of God’s promises (Clarke’s Precious Promises), and he turned to specific promises to help him at needful times. “But God – let us speak with reverence – when he gives a promise, binds himself with cords of his own making. He binds himself down to such and such a course when he says that such and such a thing shall be. Hence, when you grasp the promise, you get a hold on God.” (Spurgeon)
This also demonstrates that the word of God is worthy of such hope. “It is an irrevocable word. Man has to eat his words, sometimes, and unsay his say. He would perform his engagement, but he cannot. It is not that he is unfaithful, but that he is unable. Now this is never so with God. His word never returns to him void. Go, find ye the snowflakes winging their way like white doves back to heaven! Go, find the drops of rain rising upward like diamonds flung up from the hand of a mighty man to find a lodging-place in the cloud from which they fell! Until the snow and the rain return to heaven, and mock the ground which they promised to bless, the word of God shall never return to him void.” (Spurgeon)
V50 - This is the comfort in my affliction, Your promise gives me life.
We will have suffering in this world, there is no escaping it. But we can rely on God's promises to sustain us continually.
In the midst of affliction, the psalmist proclaims his comfort: this is my comfort. “The worldling clutches his money-bag, and says, ‘this is my comfort’; the spendthrift points to his gaiety and shouts, ‘this is my comfort’; the drunkard lifts his glass and sings, ‘this is my comfort’; but the man whose hope comes from God feels the life-giving power of the word of the Lord, and he testifies, ‘this is my comfort.’” (Spurgeon)
V51 - The insolent utterly derided me , but I do not turn away from your law.
The worldly wise mock our belief in God, but we will not loose faith and will follow the Lord's instruction, bless those whom persecute you, when reviled - we bless.
“Christian! Be satisfied with the approbation of your God. Has he not adopted you by his Spirit, sealed you for his kingdom? And is not this ‘honour that cometh from God only’ enough – far more than enough – to counterbalance the derision of the proud?” (Bridges)
V52 - When I think of your rules from old, I take comfort oh Lord.
We take comfort that we are no longer under the law, that we are redeemed through Christ our Lord.
“Christian! Be satisfied with the approbation of your God. Has he not adopted you by his Spirit, sealed you for his kingdom? And is not this ‘honour that cometh from God only’ enough – far more than enough – to counterbalance the derision of the proud?” (Bridges)
“When we see no present display of the divine power it is wise to fall back upon the records of former ages, since they are just as available as if the transactions were of yesterday, seeing the Lord is always the same.” (Spurgeon)
V53 - Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked, who forsake your law
Never comprise the seriousness of sin, we should be mortified at the sin of the world, and grieved because of the path to hell by the ungodly. Take every change to proclaim the Gospel!
Those who deny or depreciate God’s word do just this – they forsake the word of God. Worse yet, they often lead others to do the same. Jesus graphically described the penalty for those who lead others astray in Luke 17:1-2 (Guzik)
V54 - Your statues have been my song, in the house of my sojourning
Even though the world rejects You , We thank you that we are pilgrims; foreigners in this world. We will sing praise and worship, for your ways has set us apart.
. “A pilgrim is a person who is travelling through one country to another…. We are hurrying through this world as through a foreign land. We are in this country, not as residents, but only as visitors, who take this country en route for glory.” (Spurgeon)
Since our songs are so very different from those of the proud, we may expect to join a very different choir at the last, and sing in a place far removed from their abode.” (Spurgeon)
V55 - I remember Your name in the night oh Lord, and keep your law.
During the darkest of time, We remember who the Lord is and all His promises. We will keep walking in His light , His glory!
"If we have no memory for the name of Jehovah we are not likely to remember his commandments: if we do not think of him secretly we shall not obey him openly.” (Spurgeon)
V56 - The blessing has fallen to me, that I keep your precepts
Oh what a blessing it is to be obedient to the Lord!
“We are not rewarded for our works, but there is a reward in them.” (Spurgeon)
Oh Holy Father:
Your word gives us hope
Your promise gives us life
Your law provide us comfort
Your statues brings praise from our lips
Your name is a guide in the darkness
Your precepts is a blessing
All Glory to You!