ש Sin and Shin161 Rulers persecute me without cause,  but my heart trembles at your word.  162 I rejoice in your promise  like one who finds great spoil.  163 I hate and detest falsehood  but I love your law.  164 Seven times a day I praise you  for your righteous laws.  165 Great peace have those who love your law,  and nothing can make them stumble.  166 I wait for your salvation, Lord,  and I follow your commands.  167 I obey your statutes,  for I love them greatly.  168 I obey your precepts and your statutes,  for all my ways are known to you. REFLECTIONSWritten by Wilmo WilmightonToday the acrostic poem that is Psalm 119 gets two letters for the price of one (the letters sin and shin are very similar in Hebrew). In the face of opposition from earthly authorities (hello Psalm 2), the person who has God’s word (verse 161), God’s law (verse 165), stands in awe of it, delights in it, and will not stumble (hello Psalm 1 and 2). When Jesus tells his disciples stories about the kingdom of God he compares it to a field in which someone finds a great treasure, or in another a perfect pearl, and in their joy the one who finds it sells all that they have in order to make sure they get it (Matthew 13:44-46). Everything else is less valuable.That’s how the poet feels about receiving God’s word (verse 162). They don’t just have it, they love it more than anything else (verse 167). God’s word keeps them grounded in the face of outward pressure (verse 161) and the temptation to listen to things that are untrue (verse 163).Do you set aside time to praise God seven times a day for his word like this Psalmist (verse 164)? Maybe not, but I do hope that you and I can spend some time each day standing in awe of God’s word, hoping in his salvation (in Jesus), and keeping his commandments (verse 166). If you miss or stumble today, be in awe that in God’s kindness there is still t-awe-morrow.ABOUT THE AUTHORWilmo mostly hangs at the back of Fairfield 10:30am and 6pm church, living in hope someone will make the call for a milk tea run after church.