dave dack

Heth 57-64

You are my portion, LORD; I have promised to obey Christ.
I have sought your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise.
I have considered my ways and have turned my steps toward Christ.
I will hasten and not delay to obey your Son.
Though the wicked bind me with ropes, I will not forget Christ.
At midnight I rise to give you thanks for my Savior.
I am a friend to all who fear you, to all who follow Christ.
The earth is filled with your love, LORD; teach me Christ’s love.

Teth 65-72

Do good to your servant according to your word, LORD.
Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I trust in Christ.
Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your Son.
You are good, and what you do is good; teach me Christ’s love.
Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies, I cling to Christ with all my heart.
Their hearts are callous and unfeeling, but I delight in Christ.
It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn Christ’s love.
Christ is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.

Yodh 73-80 

Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding to learn from Christ.
May those who fear you rejoice when they see me, for I have put my hope in your Son.
I know, LORD, that Christ is righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to me.
Let your compassion come to me that I may live, for Christ is my delight.
May the arrogant be put to shame for wronging me without cause; but I will meditate on Christ.
May those who fear you turn to me, those who understand Christ’s ways.
May my heart be blameless toward Christ, that I may not be put to shame.

Daleth 25-32

I am laid low in the dust; preserve my life according to Christ.
I gave an account of my ways and you answered me; teach me about Christ.
Cause me to understand the way Christ, that I may meditate on his wonderful deeds.
My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to Christ.
Keep me from deceitful ways; be gracious to me and teach me Christ’s ways.
I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set my heart on Christ.
I hold fast to Christ, LORD; do not let me be put to shame.
I run in the path of your Son, for you have set my heart free. 

He 33-40

Teach me, LORD, the way of Christ, that I may follow Him to the end.
Give me understanding, so that I may keep His teachings and obey them with all my heart.
Direct me in the path of Christ, for there I find delight.
Turn my heart toward my Savior, and not toward selfish gain.
Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to Christ.
Fulfill your promise to your servant, so that you may be feared.
Take away the disgrace I dread, for Christ is good.
How I long for Christ! In your righteousness preserve my life.

Waw 41-48

May your unfailing love come to me, LORD, your salvation, according to your promise; then I can answer anyone who taunts me, for I trust in Christ.
Never take your word of truth from my mouth, for I have put my hope in Christ.
I will always obey your Son, for ever and ever.
I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out my Savior.
I will speak of Christ before kings and will not be put to shame, for I delight in Christ because I love Him.
I reach out for Christ, whom I love, that I may meditate on Him.

Zayin 49-56

Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope.
My comfort in my suffering is this: Christ preserves my life.
The arrogant mock me unmercifully, but I do not turn from your Son.
I remember, LORD, your Holy One, and I find comfort in Him.
Indignation grips me because of the wicked, who have forsaken Christ.
Christ is the theme of my song wherever I lodge.
In the night, LORD, I remember your name, that I may cling to Christ.
This has been my practice: I obey Christ, your Word.

Be good to your servant while I live, that I may obey Christ.
Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in Him.
I am a stranger on earth; do not hide Christ from me.
My soul is consumed with longing for Christ at all times.
You rebuke the arrogant, who are accursed, those who stray from Christ.
Remove from me scorn and contempt, for I keep Christ’s teachings.
Though rulers sit together and slander me, your servant will meditate on Christ.
Christ is my delight, he is my counselor.

How can those who are young keep their way pure?
By living according to Christ.
I seek you with all my heart - do not let me stray from Christ.
I have hidden Christ in my heart that I might not sin against you.
Praise be to you, Lord; teach me Christ’s ways.
With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth.
I rejoice in following Christ as one rejoices in great riches.
I meditate on Christ and consider him.
I delight in Christ; I will not neglect his teachings.

Psalm 119, written as an acrostic poem, is an incredible text both for instruction and for praying. A few days back, Chris said, “You know, if you replace each reference to the law with Christ, it’s very powerful.” So here is the first stanza, Aleph, rewritten to center on Christ…

Aleph  1-8
Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who follow after Christ.
Blessed are those who obey his teachings, and seek him with all their heart –
They do no wrong but follow his ways.
God, you have sent your son, and he is to be fully obeyed.
Oh that my ways were steadfast in obeying Christ!
Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all his instructions.
I will praise you, God, with an upright heart as I come to know Christ.
I will obey your son; do not utterly forsake me.