The Plumbline

Psalm 119:17-24 (The Message) "Be generous with me and I'll live a full life; not for a minute will I take my eyes off your road. Open my eyes so I can see what you show me of your miracle-wonders. I'm a stranger in these parts; give me clear directions. My soul is starved and hungry, ravenous - insatiable for your nourishing commands! And those who think they know so much, ignoring everything you tell them - let them have it! Don't let them mock and humiliate me; I've been careful to do just what you said. While bad neighbors maliciously gossip about me, I'm absorbed in pondering wise counsel. Yes, your sayings on life are what give me delight." Not many of us set out each day with the purpose in mind that we want our day to be simply mediocre, middle-of-the-road, or lacking in any good thing. In fact, we want just the opposite - we long to go for the gusto - dreaming about strongly committed relationships, excellent health, sufficiency in every area of o...

Psalm 119:9-16 (The Message) "How can a young person live a clean life? By carefully reading the map of your Word. I'm single-minded in pursuit of you; don't let me miss the road signs you've posted. I've banked your promises in the vault of my heart so I won't sin myself bankrupt. Be blessed, God; train me in your ways of wise living. I'll transfer to my lips all the counsel that comes from your mouth, I delight far more in what you tell me about living than in gathering a pile of riches. I ponder every morsel of wisdom from you, I attentively watch how you've done it. I relish everything you've told me of life, I won't forget a word of it." There is perhaps no greater reward for a child of God than to really have an understanding of the promises of God, the warnings that stand as "sign posts" of pitfalls to avoid, or the life lessons learned by those of the faith that have walked before us. David opens this section with...