rivers from my eyes

Psalm 119:129–136 NKJV
129 Your testimonies are wonderful; Therefore my soul keeps them.
130 The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.
131 I opened my mouth and panted, For I longed for Your commandments.
132 Look upon me and be merciful to me, As Your custom is toward those who love Your name.
133 Direct my steps by Your word, And let no iniquity have dominion over me.
134 Redeem me from the oppression of man, That I may keep Your precepts.
135 Make Your face shine upon Your servant, And teach me Your statutes.
136 Rivers of water run down from my eyes, Because men do not keep Your law.

I start with the final verse of this portion of Psalm 119.  I start there, but I will not end there.

Does verse 136 not capture what is happening in the United States of America at this very moment?  Men, women, and teenagers do not keep the law of God.

Let me be transparent and crystal clear.  I am not talking about people engaged in lawful protest concerning the injustice of the killing of Mr. George Floyd.  I myself have joined several protests, carrying a sign, praying on the sidewalk, and singing hymns in front of abortion clinics.  Peaceful protest is a means of making a righteous and godly appeal to those in authority.  Martin Luther King taught us all about the effectiveness of peaceful protests.

That is the reason that the right to protest is protected in our Constitution.  People involved in governing need to know when those who are governed strongly disagree with something they are doing.  Those who are wise in authority want to know these things.

When people march peacefully, carry language appropriate signs, and chant slogans, they are not only within the laws of our land but also within the laws of God.  They are not the ones who cause rivers of tears “Because men do not keep Your law.”

No, the ones who bring rivers of tears to my eyes and the eyes of a great multitude of Americans are those who

• Began the riots now burning down our cities because of the unjust murder of a man.
• Those who worsened the crime by standing around watching a man be brutally assaulted and did nothing to stop it.
• Those who have chosen to take a route of disobedience to the law of both man and God by participating in riots rather than protests.
• Those who steal the legitimate purpose of protestors so that they can still merchandise they are not willing to pay for.
• Those who despise God-appointed authority of any kind, and they use the nation´s time of confusion and grief to upend government through arson, assault, and even more murder.

These are the ones who bring tears flowing like rivers of water to my eyes and the eyes of most Christians and most Americans.

So what do we do?  Is there any word from the Lord in His Holy Word?  Indeed!

Let me use the first seven verses in an application paraphrase.

129 – Lord, what we need now are Your wonderful testimonies; my mind, heart, and emotions need their guidance.

130 – The darkness of evil descends upon us and surrounds us.  Let the light of Your words reveal the simple path of righteousness.

131 – As the deer pants for the water, may I long for You and for Your Word.

132 – Lord I need Your mercy; my brothers and sisters in Christ need Your mercy!

133 – I am sorely tempted at the moment to be angry, hateful, and vengeful.  Direct my steps by Your Word.

134 – Let not these who threaten life and property be a threat to our freedom and liberty that we have in Christ.

​135 – Help me to feel the warmth of Your comforting presence when the frigid darkness of hate prevails in so much of our land.

​In the name of Jesus we plead,
Amen!

EMAIL BRO. MIKE