Miranda Alfaro Scripture Analysis Journal-Scripture Selection Friday, August 30, 2013

I have selected Psalm 19 for my scripture analysis journal. I knew I wanted to write my analysis journal on a scripture from Psalms because I enjoy the uplifting words found within the passages. I knew that I found the right verse when I came across Psalm 19. The words in this passage hit me hard, stirring up emotions and feelings that I keep buried inside of me. This is the first verse I have read in the last few years. I used to be a very devoted Christian, read my Bible daily, talked to God a whole lot more than I do now, and lived differently. As tragedies arose in my life and I found myself far off the path I once was on, I lost the strength of the faith I once had in God. I did not entirely lose faith, I still had hope, but it was not the same. Reading Psalm 19 spoke to me in a way of reassurance that God is in control still, His word is true and joyful to the heart. In verse 11 of Psalm 19 NKJV, it says, Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward, this reminds me that it is worth it in the end to live as God righteously intends us to. However, it reminds me of my struggle of living the way God intends. This passage reassures me that God endures forever. It reminds me of what is important, what really matters in life; God and people. The end of this passage is my main reason for choosing this for my journal. Verses 12 and 13 say, Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from my secret faults. Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be innocent of great transgression. These words were comforting to hear, because three years ago I felt like everything safe and secure in my life came tumbling down.

My happy, loving family fell apart due to my brothers addictions. The pain it caused completely changed the person I was. Due to the hurt and the pain, I lost my way and stumbled into an abusive relationship with a guy much older than me. The damage caused by this completely changed the innocent, God-loving, people-loving, happy girl I was. This verse spoke to me as in I do not understand why I did the things I did and made the choices I made, and daily I ask myself this. This says that God can cleanse me from them all, and allow them to not take me over, but set me free, make me innocent once again. Verse 14 goes on to say, Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer which is what I want to get back to, living in a way that pleases God with my words and my actions. The New Oxford Annotated Bible says that Psalm 19 generally translates to divine instruction gives light and life to humans, this is the wisdom I know I need to be free once again and hope to find throughout this journal assignment.