Psalm 119 Seventeenth Octave
Law and Order undoubtedly had the best TV courtroom scenes. The drama of a witness taking the stand and swearing an oath to ‘tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth so help me God’, still rings in my ears. That’s the requirement of a witness. Psalm 119:129-136 begins with the Hebrew word for miracles: the unexplainable wonders of God. This witness shared his testimony that God has repeatedly worked miracles in his life; shouldn’t that be our attitude as well?
I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. (Psalm 77:11 ESV)
We all have a testimony regardless of whether we consciously remember God’s favor or not. It’s a challenge, for sure, to take the time to write a 3-5 min. testimony of what God has done in your life but it’s worth your investment. The Psalmist tells us that it’s this revelation, like the unfolding of a napkin, that brings light to others (vs. 130). As our own story progresses we may find ourselves eagerly desiring to share it (vs. 131) because His grace and mercy has been so wonderful. He shows us the way to live out our faith, many times with signs and wonders that cannot be explained: except for God.
The wife of Manoah, Samson’s mother, felt this way. Judges 13:2-25 tells us the story of God, appearing as the angel of the LORD, responding to her husband’s question,
“What is your name, so that, when your words come true, we may honor you?” And the angel of the LORD said to him, “Why do you ask my name, seeing it is wonderful?” (Judges 13:17-18 ESV)
It’s easy to see why the writer declared (vs. 132) that he loved this name for God, miracle-working and full of wonder but can we expect God to be unchanging in His character today? I’d love to see God raise the dead or heal the blind and deaf but it’s just as miraculous to see someone set free from addictions, anger, or walking in forgiveness when unjustly wronged. Paul tells us that the true signs of an apostle (2 Cor. 12:12), one whom God sends, are signs, wonders, and mighty works. Our mistake is that when God uses us to break sin’s dominion over another (vs. 133) we often don’t testify to the wonder of His ways. That needs to change.
Our prayer should be in alignment with the Psalmist’s that we would walk in His Presence and have a readiness to bring help to others in His name. He began this octave with a testimony of God’s wonder and ends with tears of regret that people don’t receive God’s Word even after experiencing the God of Wonder (Is. 9:6). Join me in praying that the Body of Christ will be stronger witnesses and give more testimony to the power of Christ working through us.
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