"As Your Custom Is" --Psalm 119:132

There's a phrase we don't hear too much in spoken English anymore. It goes like this...it was his custom to... You might find it in a sentence like this one: Each day, as she made her rounds of the market stalls, it was her custom to pat the little urchins on their heads, grant them a ha' pence, and sweetly inquire of their mums how they were doing and how was the health of so and so still bedridden at home.

By saying that such and such is someone's custom, we are marking out that which a person does repeatedly, often, habitually (it's hard for the person not to do it). The custom, whatever it may be, tends to characterize that person and define his personality. It's what we would most likely envision in our minds when we think of what the person might be doing at any given time.

We find this phrase "as Your custom is" in Psalm 119:132 Look upon me and be merciful to me, As Your custom is toward those who love Your name.

What beautiful words! What blessed assurance! The Psalmist is in a difficulty. Something is pressing in on him; something is not right; there is a need for help. He turns to the Lord and asks for mercy--kindness, favor, grace, love. He asks, knowing that he has every reason to believe that the Lord will both hear and answer his prayer in a favorable way. Why? Because it is the Lord's custom, His habit, the characteristic way the Lord behaves.

Oh, that we would realize this about our gracious, good God and turn to Him frequently during each and every day. As a father who loves to give good things to his favorite son, so is our heavenly Father who loves to give good things to those who love His name. Who loves His name? Everyone whose custom it is to turn to Him regularly for all their needs, those who fear Him, those who abide in His Word and seek to please and obey Him, those who work hard at keeping their relationship with Him active.

Does this description of one who loves God leave you out? No, it doesn't. The focus is on God and His great kindness, His habits of love, His custom of granting mercy to those who ask. Merely to turn to Him and ask Him shows that you love His name.

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Oh heavenly Father! How delightful to know that you look upon Your children. You spend Your time with Your gaze habitually fixed upon us, as a mother her child. This verse in Your Word is meant to encourage us to turn to You in our great hour of need, with full assurance that You will see, hear, and respond favorably to our petitions and request. Help me, Father, to keep my eyes fixed on You, to turn to Your Word frequently, and to seek to obey You with all my heart and soul. Thank-You for the the love You have given us in Christ Jesus our Lord. In His name, Amen.