It’s not the first time I’ve been struck by the dissonance created by the last verse of Psalm 119. Not the first time I’ve taken a few minutes to process what I’m chewing on by typing a few words into my journal — this post will be the 8th time in the past 13 years. After 175 verses of declaring in different ways his love for the word of God, his thirst for the word of God, and his desire to be entirely submitted to the word of God, the songwriter talks about bailing on the word of God.

I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek Your servant,
for I do not forget Your commandments.

(Psalm 119:176 ESV)

I’ve gone astray . . .

I’ve erred. I’ve wandered off. I’ve drifted. Even though Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path, I’ve deviated.

Funny way to end an ode to the glories of God’s precepts (funny weird, not funny ha-ha). Having found an anchor for the soul, who sings about losing track of it, of letting go of it? The psalmist, apparently. And this guy relatably.

The songwriter is just keeping it real. It’s why he begins the 22nd stanza of his opus to God’s testimonies and promises the way he does.

Let my cry come before You, O LORD;
give me understanding according to Your word!
Let my plea come before You;
deliver me according to Your word.
. . .
Let Your hand be ready to help me,
for I have chosen Your precepts.

(Psalm 119:169-170, 173 ESV)

I’ve gone astray, give me understanding. I’ve wandered off, deliver me. I’m drifting, be ready to help me. Yeah, help! I need somebody . . . not just anybody. Lord, I need You!

Like I said, keeping it real.

But this morning as I chew on my propensity to be of the order of the ovine, it’s Peterson’s rendering of the verse that sparks within this wanderer a bit of wonder. Though I may tend to go astray, the reminder of God’s willingness to leave the ninety-nine to seek out the one (again and again and again), invokes awe.

And should I wander off like a lost sheep—seek me!
I’ll recognize the sound of Your voice.

(Psalm 119:176 MSG)

Yeah, that’s why I love the Word. That’s why I want to store it in my head and in my heart. For in it — by pursuing it — I learn to recognize the sound of His voice.

For I need to recognize that voice when it calls, “Where are you?”, after I’ve disobeyed, scurried off, and tried to hide (Gen. 3:9). Or, when I’ve blown it for the umpteenth time, again! . . . I want to be able to pick up on the muffled whisper coming from the other side of the door of my heart saying, “Hey, it’s Me knocking. Hear my voice and open the door. I want to come in and eat with you, and you with Me” (Rev. 3:20). And when I’ve sojourned into a place of self-sufficiency and have pretty much run my tank dry, I want to be able to be arrested by the sound of familiar words speaking into my weariness, “Come to Me. Quit trying to do it all on your own. I’ll give you rest. Take My yoke upon you. Learn from Me. Know that I am gentle and lowly in heart. Find rest for your soul. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matt. 11:28-30).

Prone to wander, Lord. I feel it. But seek me. Please, don’t stop seeking me!

I’ll recognize the sound of Your voice.

By Your grace. For Your glory.