Gone Astray Like a Lost Sheep - Psalms 119:176

In Psalms one hundred nineteen the Psalmist said, “Let my soul live, and it shall praise you; and let your judgments help me”, and in chapter one hundred nineteen and verse one hundred and seventy-six of Psalms the Psalmist said, “I have gone astray like a lost sheep” where we read,

I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant; for I do not forget your commandments.

The verse begins, “I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant;” The Psalmist began with the words, “I have gone astray” or “I, the Psalmist, erred, wandered, staggered and was mislead” “like a lost sheep” which means “similar and in likeness to a perishing, vanishing and dying grazing animal known as a lamb or sheep”; “seek your servant” or “require, desire, exact and search for your, Jehovah God's, man of servile condition, bondman and worshiper”. The Psalmist referred to the way he was similar to a grazing sheep that vanished, and he wanted Jehovah God to search for him because he was His bondman and worshiper.

The verse continues, “for I do not forget your commandments.” The Psalmist added the words, “for I do not forget” or “because, since and on account that I, the Psalmist, in no way or manner ignore, wither from and cease to care for” “your commandments” which means “your, Jehovah God's, law, ordinance and precepts”. The Psalmist referred to the way he in no way ignored or ceased to care for Jehovah God's laws and precepts.

When we meditate upon the Psalmist's words in this verse, we learn about the Psalmist's own appraisal of himself. He knew he strayed from Jehovah God like a “sheep” that wanders away from the fold, and he wanted God to search for Him like a shepherd who watches his grazing animals. The Psalmist did not ignore or cease to care for Jehovah God's precepts, and this type of relationship is desired by God for everyone. Jesus spoke of a lost sheep for which the Shepherd looked after leaving ninety nine other sheep who were not lost, and God will look for us as well. (See Matthew 18:12-13 and Luke 15:4, 7) God loves us and, and He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for our sins. When we believe and trust in Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and remind us of His “commandments” all the days of our lives.

Next time we begin a new chapter where the Psalmist says, “in my distress I cried unto the LORD”, 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".