Psalm 119:73-96

“Let Your tender mercies come to me, that I may live; for Your law is my delight.” (Psalm 119:77, NKJV)

Who of us cannot use more tender mercies? This Hebrew word can also be translated “compassion.” We know how often Jesus felt compassion for others. One of my favorite passages is Matthew 9:36-38:

“But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.’” (Matthew 9:36–38, NKJV)

We need the Lord’s compassion because we often fall short of His perfection. We need His mercy and grace for living. But how does this come? The psalmist sees a relationship between receiving God’s tender mercies and delighting in God’s law.

Do we delight in His law? Do we crave the Word as much as our daily bread? If we do, then we will receive God’s instruction and compassion. God gives us these things so that we may give them to others. He wants us to comfort others with the same comfort we have received.

Now we look out upon a great harvest field. There are so many lost souls who do not know Jesus! It can feel overwhelming. But Jesus does not want us to feel overwhelmed. Instead, He wants us to pray that God will send out more workers. And guess what? You may be one of them!

Let us delight in God's Word today so that we may have compassion for others—especially for those who are helpless, weary, and scattered. They need to know our Shepherd! Then let us pray earnestly that God will move upon His people to be Christ’s ambassadors and reach them with the gospel.