The Nugget:
Psalm 119:147 I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word. (KJV)
Psa 119:147 I am up before dawn crying for help.
I find hope in your word. (NET Bible)Psa 119:147 Even before sunrise, I pray for your help, and I put my hope in what you have said. (CEV)
Psa 119:147 Before the sun is up, my cry for help comes to your ear; my hope is in your words. (Basic English Bible)
Psa 119:147 I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in your words. (ESV)
My Comment:
Saints hope in the Scriptures (The New Topical Textbook, subtopic under the main topic “The Scriptures,” page 240). Once again let me stress that in Bible terms, every believer is called a “saint.” It looks to me that the preference the Psalmist expresses favors having his prayer time or devotions first thing in the morning. But I’m sure any time is acceptable. God is always eager to hear our prayers. Are you putting your hope in the right place? Some people look to the horoscopes for direction. No Christian should be doing that! Such a practice might lead to Satan planting false ideas regarding guidance into our minds that way. Some very devout persons look to dreams and visions. We are not to get guidance from that direction either. Christians should be placing their hope in the Bible and what it teaches. God has placed in His written word all that we need to know (2 Timothy 3:17) about spiritual things, God’s will, and direction for Christian living. Do we see problems on our horizon? So did the Psalmist. Do what he did and get up early and spend some time in prayer. In the meantime, place your hope in God’s Word.
For those who desire to DIG DEEPER into this subject:
(1) Consult the cross references given in Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible on pages 633-634 for Psalm 119:147.
(2) Consult the cross references given in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge on pages 677-678 or in Logos 5 Bible software for Psalm 119:147.
(3) Lacking access to those two resources, consult the cross references for this passage as I have developed them as given below:
Psalm 119:147. I prevented. Note: That is, I anticipated, or rose before, the morning dawn; and was before hand with the light itself. ver. Ps 119:62. +*Ps 5:3. 21:3. 42:8. 55:17. 88:13. *Ps 130:6. 139:17, 18. +Ge 22:3. 1 S 1:19. Pr 31:15. La 2:19. Is 26:9. +*Mk 1:35. 1 Th 4:15. dawning. T#1156. ver. Ps 119:62. +*Ps 57:8. Ge 32:24. Jsh 6:15. 1 S 30:17. 2 K 7:5. Jb 3:9. 7:4. and cried. Lk 6:12. *Jude 1:20. hoped. ver. Ps 119:43, +Ps 119:49, 74, 81, 114. Ps 56:4. 130:5. *He 6:17-19. in thy word. ver. +Ps 119:9, 81, 148.
119.147 I rise before dawn and cry for help; I wait for Thy words.
encouraging cross refs.
1. psm 5.3 In the morning, O lord, Thou wilt hear my voice; in
the morning I will order my prayer to Thee and eagerly watch.
2. psm 21.3 For Thou dost meet him with the blessings of good
things; Thou dost set a crown of fine gold on his head.
3. psm 42.8 The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime;
and His song will be with me in the night, A prayer to the God of my life.
4. psm 88.13 But I, O Lord, have cried out to Thee for help, And in the
morning my prayer comes before Thee.
5. psm 130.6 My soul waits for the Lord More than the watchmen for the
morning; indeed, more than the watchmen for the morning.