Sharper Iron — God's Word is Our Great Heritage - Psalm 119:17-24: Strength for Sojourners

In the third stanza of Psalm 119, we ask that God would bestow His bounty upon us through His Word, even as we sojourn in this life. His commandments are our constant desire, for to wander from them would earn His rebuke. Even as those who hold power and authority in this life may plot against us, God’s Word remains our focus and gives us counsel.

Rev. James Helms, Jr., pastor at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Greenbelt, MD, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Psalm 119:17-24.

“God’s Word Is Our Great Heritage” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through Psalm 119. As this longest Psalm takes us through an acrostic journey through the Hebrew alphabet, our God teaches us to find joy, refuge, strength, and life in His Word, which is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.

Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God’s Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen.

Sharper Iron is underwritten by Lutheran Church Extension Fund, where your investments help support the work of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit lcef.org.

Psalm 119:17-24

Gimel

¹⁷Deal bountifully with your servant,
    that I may live and keep your word.
¹⁸Open my eyes, that I may behold
    wondrous things out of your law.
¹⁹I am a sojourner on the earth;
    hide not your commandments from me!
²⁰My soul is consumed with longing
    for your rules^[a] at all times.
²¹You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones,
    who wander from your commandments.
²²Take away from me scorn and contempt,
    for I have kept your testimonies.
²³Even though princes sit plotting against me,
    your servant will meditate on your statutes.
²⁴Your testimonies are my delight;
    they are my counselors.

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Footnotes

Psalm 119:20 Or your just decrees; also verses 30, 39, 43, 52, 75, 102, 108, 137, 156, 175

Rev. Timothy Appel

Although a mathematics degree may not be incredibly helpful to (proudly born-and-raised Texan) Rev. Timothy Appel while hosting Sharper Iron, his love of CFW Walther and the season of Easter will come in handy. His Call is shepherding the flock at Faith Lutheran Church in Godfrey, Illinois, and he’s also husband to wife Kristin and dad to their growing basketball team of children. When he’s not carrying out pastoral duties, you may find him reading “The Lord of the Rings,” snacking on Reese’s peanut butter cups, playing dominoes with his boys, or studying up on Texas history (including Sam Houston, of course).