my soul longs for your salvation; i hope in your word. [psalm 119:81]
my soul longs. what does your soul long for today? i would say the longing of my soul waivers from day to day, depending on the desires of my flesh, my time with the Lord, the temptations of the enemy, and the luring of the world, pulling my desires in every direction, and my weak flesh follows, often with very little pushback.
but this psalmist longs for the salvation of the Lord! specifically here he is asking for salvation from his persecutors. his God given sense of justice longs to see God’s name revered, his law followed, and his glory lifted high. he is looking at the world around him and lamenting the evil that he sees. these are all longings that mirror God’s very own longings, and so he cries them out. and so can we.
however, the cries of this man are not as though he cannot find this salvation. he knows where it lies. and so he places his hope in the word of God. and so can we, because we have been given access to the knowledge of God through his word! so let us run, in the Spirit, by the blood of Christ, to the word of God, for salvation!
God’s word brings eternal life- “Lord, to whom shall we go? you have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” [john 6:68-69]
God’s word gives us answers for life- his divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. [2 peter 1:3-4]
God’s word is as necessary as food- and he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. [deut 8:3]
God’s word brings freedom- so Jesus said to the jews who had believed him, “if you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” [john 8:31-32]
God’s word is powerfully effective- so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which i purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which i sent it. [isaiah 55:11]
God’s word heals his children from affliction- then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. he sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction. let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! and let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of his deeds in songs of joy! [psalm 107:20]
Father, thank you for the good news of your word! thank you for revealing to us the good news of your glory through your Son! thank you for salvation, and thank you for your steadfast love!
~arwen eastman