Psalm 119:176

Dr. Ronnie Wolfe

I have gone astray like a lost sheep

Haven't we all? Isaiah said in Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.  The "all" in Isaiah 53:6 refers to all men everywhere, since we are all related to Adam, so Adam's sin came upon all of us, and we as sheep went  astray from our perfect relationship with God and are still in that state until grace overwhelms us and grants repentance and faith. When we believe, we are taken from under the curse of the law (Gal. 3:13) and brought into the liberty of Christ (Gal. 5:1).

. . . seek thy servant

When the Lord looked down from heaven, he saw that  They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one (Psalm 14:3). So, Luke 19:10 says, For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. If He does not seek us, then we will not be found. This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after (Jeremiah 30:17). Rom. 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
Luke 15:4-7  What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5  And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6  And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. 7  I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

Thank you, Lord, for seeking me, since I never would have sought you at any time.

. . . for I do not forget thy commandments.

What rejoicing there was in Heaven when I believed! I do not understand this completely, but I know it to be true. Now I remember the commandments of the Lord, because that law was my schoolmaster to bring me to Christ, and the moral law is good for me. I must as a believer keep His commandments; for, if I do not, then it is evidence that I do not belong to Him. John 15:10If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s command- ments, and abide in his love.