A Look at Psalm 119:23

Psalm 119:23 “Though rulers sit together and slander me, Your servant will meditate on Your decrees.”
 

A decree is a decision. It is a decision handed down to us by God Himself. David knew that even though others were slandering him, his only option was to meditate and subsequently follow God’s decrees (decisions).
 

David began his book of Psalms by admonishing us to meditate on the Word of God. “And on His Law he meditates day and night” Psalm 1:2. To meditate on the Word of God is to become absorbed with it. It is to give the mind over to it. Through that, we become as stable as a tree. “He (who meditates) is like a tree planted by streams of water” Psalm 1:3. Stability is a much-needed quality for the one who feels that others are desirous of persecuting him.
 

David would meditate on God’s decrees. Many times, we feel quite justified in countering someone’s slander of us in kind. However, God’s decision on how to handle this is to turn the other cheek. It’s to go the second mile. It’s to pray for our enemies. If we would truly come to the revelation that vengeance is the Lord’s, we would become as stable as a tree in the midst of the storm of persecution. 

Bill Gothard once said, “Confidence is how little you react when falsely accused.” When Jesus was brought before Pilate, He was falsely accused. However, He did not react. He was stable, knowing first of all that vengeance is His father’s business, and, secondly, that false accusations will ultimately be found out.

In the midst of slander, meditate on God’s decisions for your life. 

Let’s each take some time to pray over/through this - to meditate on this verse; then, ask yourself how you react to false accusations. If you meditate on the word of God, you develop the stability of a tree. 

Continued