I have written previously in these essays about “purple passages,” by which I mean Scriptures that have special -- royal -- significance. It assumes that while all truth is equally true, all truth is not equally important, and so while all Scripture is equally Scripture, some portions are far more important than others. This is surely the case with Psalms.

In this series I am limiting myself to passages comprising of but a single verse. This may encourage memorization. I am aware that this selection is out of my own experience and appreciation, and that other selections could be made, such as your own. These are among the verses that I have colored purple in my own study, using the New King James Version.

. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart

Be acceptable in Your sight,

O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. (19:14)

This is arguably the most meaningful verse in the Psalms. C. S. Lewis esteemed it as the greatest lines in the English language. It is a prayer that recognizes the source of our strength. I once advised a man having a serious problem with lust to make this a frequent prayer, as frequent as his mind was assaulted. It might also be advisable for one given to loquaciousness!

Your word have I hidden in my heart

That I might not sin against You. (119:11)

This is more of a communion with God than a petition -- talking to God -- and it recognizes that we have a responsibility in resisting sin. The more we fill our hearts and minds with the riches of God’s word the more resistance we have to sin. Did not our Lord himself draw upon Scripture -- that he had stored up in his heart -- in time of temptation?

The Lord is gracious and full of compassion;

Slow to anger and great in mercy. (145:8)

Our prayers are enriched by references to such attributes of God as these. And as we praise God in such terms it is appropriate in that context to pray that he will have mercy on certain ones who are on our hearts -- and a good time to include the prayer that impressed Jesus, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” (Luke 18:13)

In the hand of the Lord there is a cup,

And the wine is red;

It is fully mixed, and He pours it out;

Surely its dregs shall all the wicked of the earth

Drain and drink down. (75:8)

This is all one verse, one of the longest in the Bible, and it deserves a place alongside the previous verse. Yes, God is great in mercy, and this cannot be overstated, but he is also a God of wrath. The cup of judgment is in his hand., and the wicked are destined to drink of it to the dregs. The wicked are not those who sin out of weakness and ignorance, and certainly not those who are sincerely mistaken, but those who knowingly and persistently reject the will of God. They are insincere and rebellious to what they know to be right. We are to distinguish between errors of the mind -- even an angel might be wrong -- and errors of the heart.

You have set our iniquities before You,

Our secret sins in the light of Your countenance. (90:8)

Though there are several references to “secrets of the heart” in Scripture, this is the only reference to secret sins. It is a soul-searching truth that God knows every thought and desire of our hearts. We may hide our sins from others, and even from ourselves, but God knows. He also knows when we are sincere and well-intentioned at a time when others are falsely accusing us. It is enough to send us to our knees in humble contrition and gratitude.

He counts the number of the stars;

He calls them all by name. (147:4)

Even though the stars are innumerable, God knows their number. He sustains an intimate relationship with all his creation, knowing every segment by name. How much more he knows us and watches over us!

He who planted the ear, shall He not hear?

He who formed the eye, shall He not see? (91:9)

This is stunning poetry as well as precious truth. It is the old “If then” argument -- If A is true, then B must be true. If God created such intricate mechanisms as ear and eye, does he not have the power to hear our prayers and see after us?

You hold my eyelids open;

I am so troubled I cannot speak. (77:4)

This is one of the many lamentations in the Psalms. It points out that God is with us and helps us in time of trouble. God has not relieved the writer of his troubled night, but he helps him stay awake so he can deal with his problems.

Open my eyes that I may see

Wondrous things from your law. (119:18)

What an appropriate prayer for one who opens his Bible for study! The rich resources of biblical truth are immeasurable, and there is always more gold to mine. We are not to study alone, but to look to God’s Spirit to give us an open mind and a heart that yearns for truth.

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High

Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. (91:1)

The Hebrew word for abide means to spend the night, as in an inn. The secret place refers to a private rendezvous with God, as in one’s own heart. The one who “spends the night” with God -- or is at home with God -- finds peace and security “under His wings,” as it goes on to say in verse 4.

Notes

I am pleased to report that Ouida continues to improve. Her kidneys have healed to the extent that she will not have to have dialysis. She is still weak and has little appetite. The doctor says the prognosis is good, but we still have a way to go. No prediction as yet as to when she might leave the hospital, and then there will be professional home care.

Our daughter Phoebe’s condition is not as encouraging. She remains in the hospital with little, if any, improvement. She has multiple dragons to fight. Her husband told me this week that he fears she will not make it.

. As for me I am soldiering on, doing such things as exploring the freezer and discovering things I didn’t know existed. I go to be with Ouida twice a day, only a mile away, and go several miles across town to see Phoebe frequently. Again, we thank you for your loving, prayerful concern for our family.

All these essays are available at leroygarrett.org Names are added upon request.