Devotional (plus study guide) select “Notes” icon ⤴
Transcript: select “Bulletin” icon ⤴
Psalm 119:25-32 || Ep. 2 ABCs of Grace – Dalet ד
Focus:
We’re continuing a special series where I share my dad’s teachings from Psalm 119, recorded way back in 1981. In this episode, my dad, Pastor Dave, guides us through verses 25-32, focusing on finding hope and strength in times of depression. He called this section “Orienting to Depression,” emphasizing the Hebrew letter Dalet that begins each verse. His insights are timeless and so relevant, especially if you’re struggling or supporting someone who is.
Favorite Excerpts from this message: One of my favorite excerpts from the transcript of this message is: “Let God remold your mind from within so that you may prove and practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands, and moves towards the goal of true maturity. You’re not going to move towards the goal of true maturity without your body or your mind being remolded from within. And the only building blocks for that is the Word of God.”
Here are three more excerpts from the message that stand out:
1. “Folks, it’s okay to allow depression to do its job. If you look at the very last verse of this section, we find out what the job of depression is. It tells us why. And what is it? God loves us, and each one of us has got these little teeny-peeny, weak, shriveled-up little hearts. Can’t really understand the breadth, the height, the depth, the length of God’s love and His mercy. Sometimes, to focus in and get an idea of who God is, what He is, how He acts, how He feels, God has to take us through circumstances that are a little out of the ordinary.”
2. “Most of our depression is the first half of the verse depression, isn’t it? We don’t get to the second half of the verse. In Psalm 119:28, Ezra says, ‘My soul melts from heaviness; strengthen me according to Your word.’ The picture is sagging. And yet, he doesn’t just say his soul is sagging; he also asks God to strengthen him according to His word. This is the only time this word is translated as ‘strengthened’ in the scriptures.”
3. “Remember, it’s not a matter of ability, it’s a matter of interest. That’s why I’m trying to focus our attention on the fact that the Word of God, over and over again in Psalm 119, is said to be the solution. If we don’t take that solution and make it a part of our lives, then we’ve got no solution to our problem. We just end up with a kind of floaty, ethereal sense of goodness, with no way to transfer that feeling to someone else because it hasn’t been grounded in the truth of God’s Word.”
Reminder:
These recordings are from old cassettes, so expect a little static and garble. But trust me, it’s worth it. Grab your Bible, follow along, and don’t forget to check out the study guides and transcripts on my blog, for a clearer understanding.
Key Points:
- Memorize Psalm 119:25-32 to internalize God’s promises.
- Reflect on areas of your life where you feel defeated and ask God to revive you according to His Word.
- Share this message with someone struggling with depression or loneliness.
- Study the verses mentioned in the podcast to deepen your understanding.
- Engage in daily meditation on God’s Word to combat negative thoughts.
Something Helpful and Fun: I’ve written a study guide (a fun fill-in-the-blank activity, actually! 😍) as well as a 3-Day Devotional to accompany this message. Click above the “Notes” link or icon. I hope these are fun and helpful for you! Are you on Instagram? Facebook? Twitter? Share this post with photo and tag me! @jennifergrichmond Copy and include the hashtags: #JGRBlog #DwellingRichly #ABCsOfGrace whenever you post! This is a free and helpful way to support this ministry and share the encouragement!
Continuing Series: There are 10 episodes from my dad’s remastered 1981 Sunday School class, “ABCs of Grace” where he went verse-by-verse through Psalm 119. Dad taught this series from 1981 to 1982 – at least 24 messages.
Read more about “Rediscovering Dad” here.
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Questions about the Bible?
You might enjoy this series on my podcast: “So Glad You Asked” which will take your questions about the Bible, living the Christian life, dealing with difficult situations/people/life issues – really anything on your mind and I’ll share my thoughts and responses. Submit questions about this or any topic to jennifer@DwellingRichly.org or https://www.jennifergrichmond.com/podcast/#question
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