THE EXILE'S PRAYER


A. "I AM A STRANGER IN THE EARTH; HIDE NOT THY COMMANDMENTS FROM ME" - PSALMS 119:19
  1. Our text expresses man position in this present world:
    1. Said Jacob to Pharaoh, "The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years; few and evil have the days of the years of my life been" - Gen. 47:9
    2. This has been the sentiment of God's children in past ages - Heb. 11:13-16
  2. There is much in the prayer of the exile worthy of our prayerful consideration
B. A CLOSER PRAYERFUL LOOK AT THE PETITION OF THE EXILE'S PRAYER
  1. Its motivation:
    1. It expresses man's consciousness of his transient in this present world; Examples: Joseph considered his stay in Egypt transient - Gen. 50:24-25; Daniel worshipped with his face turned toward Jerusalem - Dan. 6:10; we think of the Jews in exile and what they did with their harps - Ps. 137:1-4
    2. It is an expression of loneliness for God - ponder these scriptures - Ps. 42:1-4; Ps. 63:1-2; 84:2
  2. Its depth:
    1. It reveals how sin has broken that original constant togetherness with God Is. 59:1-2; Examples: The parable of the prodigal son - Luke 15:11-32
    2. It expresses a deep longing for more information about God's plan for the future - the restoration of a broken relationship - John 3:16
    3. This prayer indicates, clearly, that the Psalmist understood, at least in part, God's plan for the redemption of man - Ps. 23:1-6
    4. "Hide not thy commandments from me" - what a wonderful payer for a better understanding of God's word - John 5:39
    5. To the Psalmist - God's word was sweeter than honey to be treasured above rubies - Job 28:18; Prov. 8:11
    6. How inclusive the prayer of the exile is when we think of its implication
C. A GREAT PRAYER LESSON FOR GOD'S PEOPLE TODAY
  1. It is a powerful reminder to us:
    1. That we, too, are pilgrims and strangers here, that we have no abiding city Is. 33:21
    2. We witness day by day, how the rich and the poor are carried out of their homes and placed in a temporary resting place - Job 7:1-11
  2. We shall do well to heed the admonition of our Lord when He says, "Set your affections on things above"


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