A Stranger in the Earth - Psalms 119:19

In Psalms one hundred nineteen the Psalmist said, “Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live, and keep your word”, and in chapter one hundred nineteen and verse nineteen of Psalms the Psalmist said, “I am a stranger in the earth” where we read,

I am a stranger in the earth: hide not your commandments from me.

The verse begins, “I am a stranger in the earth:” The Psalmist began with the words, “I am a stranger” or “I, the Psalmist, exist as a sojourner, temporary inhabitant or foreigner” “in the earth” which means “within the land, country, territory, region and world”. The Psalmist considered himself as a sojourner and foreigner in the world.

The verse continues, “hide not your commandments from me.” The Psalmist added the words, “hide not your commandments” or “do not conceal, keep hidden or secret your, Jehovah God's, law, ordinance and precepts” “from me” which means “separate and apart from me, the Psalmist”. The Psalmist appealed to Jehovah God not to conceal or keep secret His ordinances and law from him.

When we think through the words in this verse, we see how the Psalmist thought of himself as a foreigner or temporary residence within the world, and he did not want Jehovah God to conceal His law from Him. This world was not the Psalmist's home, and even as every person, we are only upon the “earth” for a short time compared to eternity. The apostle Peter saw believers in Jesus to be “strangers and pilgrims” in the world, (See 1 Peter 2:11) and because our lives are temporary in the world, Jehovah God sent His Son Jesus to be crucified for our sins so we can be forgiven and granted everlasting life with Him. Although the Psalmist's and our time on “earth” is short, we may have confidence in Almighty God that He has a plan for us to live forever with Him.

Next time the Psalmist says, “my soul breaks”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".