Weekly Introduction: Because the psalmist is living his life according to the precepts of God’s Word, he is able to rejoice in the life God has given him as he successfully navigates the unexpected turns and potential pitfalls of life. I pray that you will sense the joy of the psalmist as we look at the next 8 verses presented under the heading of the fifteenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, Samekh.

I hate double-minded people, but I love your law (vs 113).

Double-minded people are people who just can’t make up their minds, and in this case, it’s about people who can’t decide if they will follow God’s laws or chart their own course without God. The psalmist tells us that he loves and is committed to following God’s laws and will not veer off the path of righteousness.

You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word (vs 114).

The psalmist turns his thoughts to times when he has been attacked by those who want to discredit him, and he confesses to the Lord that He is his “refuge and shield” from the enemy during times of trial. But that’s not all, because the Word of God is full of promises to the righteous, he has decided to put his hope in God’s Word

Away from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commands of my God (vs 115)!

The psalmist forcefully calls the evildoers to leave him alone, so that he may concentrate of keeping God’s commandments. Yes, we too get distracted by others, sometimes to the point of exhaustion, but like the psalmist, his whole life is focused on keeping the Lord’s commands. And did you notice that the psalmist claims that God’s commands come from “his God”? Here, we get a glimpse of the personal connection that he has with “his God.”

Sustain me, my God, according to your promise, and I will live; do not let my hopes be dashed (vs 116).

Here, the psalmist asks God to sustain him, as it is one of the many promises found in God Word. And once again, he uses the phrase “my God,” as noted above. He desires to live, and he asks God to not let his hopes for honoring Him by keeping His commandments be dashed against the rocks.

Uphold me, and I will be delivered; I will always have regard for your decrees (vs 117).

Not only does the psalmist ask the Lord to “sustain” him, but to also “uphold” him, that is, to lift him up so that he will be delivered from the attacks of the enemy. Once again he affirms his constant claim that he will have regard for God’s decrees, as should each of us.

You reject all who stray from your decrees, for their delusions come to nothing (vs 118).

The psalmist is reflecting on God’s own Word, that those who stray from His decrees, will be rejected, that is, they will not receive the blessings promised to those who follow His Word. Furthermore, he is making a clear statement that when they think that rejecting God and His decrees will bring them joy and fulfillment, they are simply delusions. Their thoughts and plans are empty and will only lead to destruction.

All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross; therefore, I love your statutes (vs 119).

And now the psalmist includes all the wicked in his assessment of their future, that is, God will “discard” them from His promises, both in this life and the next. The psalmist does not want to be named among them, and so he reaffirms his love for God’s statutes, as each of us should do each day.

My flesh trembles in fear of you; I stand in awe of your laws (vs 120).

In his frailty as a member of the human race, the psalmist “trembles” when he thinks of what God could do to him if He chose to do so. Although we should “fear” God’s wrath if He chooses to dispense it, we should be grateful for God’s grace, and for His laws because they are good and righteous. The psalmist stands in “awe” of God’s laws, because they have helped him avoid the destructive land mines of life that we have mentioned many times before.

I pray this week that we would also love God’s commandments and stand in awe of how perfect they are. After all, they keep each of us from making bad decisions that will destroy our lives. And, like the psalmist, may each of us have such a relationship with God that we can call Him “my God.” May you have a blessed week honoring God and keeping His loving and righteous precepts.