May 29, 2020 -- Psalm 119:174 -- The Longing of our Hearts
/I long for your salvation, O LORD,
and your law is my delight.
Psalm 119:174 English Standard Version
Yesterday I was teaching a bible study and it was hot. Already by 9 AM there was that sweaty, clammy feeling you get when the temperature and humidity are racing each other upwards. In the distance there was the bell and jangling sound of an ice cream truck. One of the men in the study almost started physically drooling. He summed up what the other guys there were all thinking: “I really want an ice cream cone”. Everyone laughed when the jangling noise was cut short and someone answered his cell phone. His ring tone was set to the sound of bells of an ice cream truck!
What is it you long for? The Psalmist has spent the last 173 verses training his longings for the salvation of the Covenant-Keeping God. The Psalmist is imagining the joy of knowing sin is completely vanquished so that nothing hinders complete communion with the Living God. The Psalmist is focusing on the Word of God and His law so that there will be nothing to distract him from seeking God in all things in every part of his life.
Two days ago I was in my study. Lunch was a long distant memory as I was working on a project. Suddenly I caught the scent of cooking sausages. My wife was busy making supper and the aroma of it caught my nose and my anticipation of a delicious meal whipped up my appetite.
The Spirit of God applies the word of God to our mind and heart and we catch a glimpse of Jesus. We grow in our understanding of the fullness of our salvation in His glorious Name. And our souls swell with the anticipation of unfettered joy that will be ours in His presence. The bible says that Christians are the aroma of Christ to other believers. Seeing other Christians increases our awareness of the nearness of Jesus. We long for Him intensely. The songs in our hearts are directed to Him. The prayers of our life gain intensity as we more fully grasp the abundance of salvation blessings given us by our Father in heaven.
Faithful God of our Salvation, blessed are You and worthy of praise. Living Jesus, Desire of all Nations, we long for the new heavens and the new earth when we shall fully, eternally delight in Who You Are. Spirit of Truth direct us as believers in the richness of this salvation so that sin will be exposed as the cheap poison it is so that we will by-pass it in order to more fully take hold of the wonders, the adventure, the splendors of the salvation of the LORD our God. Increase our expectant desire and ardent longing for Your salvation, O God of Radiant Beauty. Amen.
