Psalm 119:173 – Help!

May your hand help me,
for I have chosen your precepts.

There’s a long and hard road between a choice and an accomplishment.

Psalm 119 is a carefully crafted pattern that, among other things, brings together the idea of doing better, of doing one’s best to keep God’s law, and also the need for God at all times. Because the Psalmist has chosen God’s precepts, he will need God’s help.

This theme reminds me of Deuteronomy 8:17-18, words which follow mention of the troubles of the wilderness through which God has guided the people of Israel:

Lest you say to yourself, “I have acquired this wealth [or power] through my strength and through the effectiveness of my own hand.” You will remember the LORD your God, for it is he who has given you the strength to make wealth [or be powerful], so that he can establish his covenant which he swore to your ancestors, just as he does this day.

My translation

The word here translated “wealth” has a quite broad semantic range, and I see it as referencing both the existence wealth and possessions and the strength it takes to acquire those possessions and preserve them.

I made sure to translate one piece literally, the idea that “my own hand” has accomplished this. I did that to contrast this with the view in our passage, which is that is is precisely when one is determined to behave ethically, to live according to a high standard that one must be most aware of how much one needs an outside power.

This is a very important point to keep in mind, because this is the turning point where one can choose to worship the LORD or go for idolatry, especially the worship of oneself. Self-worship, self absorption, is a primary form of idolatry. Even the worship of other gods, actual images, comes from this point–the selection of a god who is suitable for us.

Paul Tillich uses the term “conceptual idolatry.” This refers not to bowing down to an image erected in a temple, but rather to an image of God/god we create in our own mind. It’s very easy to worship a lesser god, one not so demanding, one with lower standards. One, most importantly, who will let us worship ourselves through the mental image we make of that god.

Those who seek power for themselves are easily convinced that they have attained their power by themselves. But even more, they can create a mental image of a God who approves of each and every thing they do.

The idols need to be smashed. That includes the idols in our minds that approve of everything we do, even if it is wrong.

If you’re trying to follow God, you’ll find that you need to pray the Psalmist’s prayer. “LORD, let your hand be there to help me!” Without that, quite literally, you don’t have even a prayer!

At what point today will you acknowledge that everything is in the hand of God?

(Featured image generated by Adobe Firefly.)