Psalm 142 - Prayer for deliverance

According to the title, David wrote this psalm when he was in the cave of Adullum, on the run from Saul. This would fit with his description of his circumstances as a prison (v. 7) because he was not free to move around the country of which he had been anointed as its king. Circumstances did not seem to be in line with divine promises. So what did he do? He brought his circumstances to the Lord.

His prayer for divine help was intense – he cried and pleaded. Yet his prayer was informed – he knew which divine name to use and which divine attribute to focus on. Yahweh was the covenant God of Israel and he is merciful and gracious (v. 1). Further, his prayer was detailed and was delivered consciously in the presence of God (v. 2). David was aware of where he was and what he was doing when he prayed.

What did he say to the Lord? David mentioned God’s awareness of his dangerous circumstances, the traps of his enemies that he could not see, his isolation from others, the lack of interest in him (vv. 3-4). He knew that whatever his opponents did God was on his side. The Lord was his place of safety. Having the Lord was more valuable than any other set of possessions he could have. It was better for him to have God with him in the cave than to be in a palace without the Lord (v. 5).

Nevertheless, he prayed for recovery and deliverance. Although he had defeated Goliath, David knew that in himself he was weak in comparison to his opponents. He needed the Lord to help him in this difficult situation even as he had been helped before.

Psalm 134 - Speak well of God

Verse 1 indicates that citizens of Zion were addressing those who were working through the night in the temple. There were twenty-four Levites, three priests and the captain of the guard on duty in the temple. Verses 1 and 2 express the desires of the citizens for the priests and others who served overnight in the temple; verse 3 is probably the response of the priests to the citizens.

The citizens want the priests and others in the temple to speak well of the Lord. This is what is meant by the call to ‘bless the Lord’. Their God had done great things for them as a nation: he had revealed his mercy in delivering them from enemies, he had blessed them with a land of rest in which they could know his favour, and he had given to them many great and precious promises. This was their desire, to hear their divinely-chosen leaders speak well of their gracious Lord.

The priest and Levites on duty in the temple responded with the words of verse 3: ‘The Lord who made heaven and earth bless you from Zion!’ Immediately we have an example of speaking well of the Lord. In saying this benediction, the temple workers were giving assurance to the citizens that they were remembering their God-given calling. They reminded the citizens of God’s great abilities, of how he could bless them through his great power and covenant faithfulness.

The ‘you’ in verse 3 is singular. The usage of a singular pronoun indicates that each individual would hear the word addressed to themselves independently. Of course, we sense this kind of effect when we listen to the Bible being read. Its promises are addressed collectively and individually.

Psalm 133 - Life in the family of God

 The psalm was written by David during an occasion when he had enjoyed the harmony and peace of the family of God. The psalm points to the privilege of being allowed access into such fellowship, the pleasantness of enjoying such fellowship, and the purpose of God that such fellowship should mark his people.

The psalmist likens this relationship to the oil with which the high priest was anointed and to the dew that descended on the mountains of Israel. The people had read the accounts of the anointing of their priest and would have experienced the refreshing dew as they travelled round the country.

Brotherly love has many benefits. Like the oil, it is refreshing, and like the oil it spreads. Further, like the dew’s effect on vegetation, brotherly love through the Spirit’s blessing becomes a means of daily growth so that all the flowers that should be in the garden of our hearts will appear; these flowers are described in the list of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23).

Unity of believers, as this psalm depicts, is a very desirable thing. There are many ways by which unity can be presented. It is the case that the Lord’s people should be one doctrinally, should be one practically, and should be one internally from the heart. They should be one in public worship and in their attendance upon the means of grace and other occasions of fellowship.

Old Testament believers lived in an age in which spiritual blessings were not as full as ours. Our potential for fellowship is enhanced because the Spirit has come in his fullness and can lead us into the riches of fellowship that are found in having communion with the risen Saviour and his brothers under the loving eye of the heavenly Father. May our fellowship together stimulate us to want more of it and also strengthen us to live in a society that does not even remotely understand the meaning of true fellowship.

Psalm 132 - Desiring a Great Temple and King

In Psalm 132, the author begins by describing the search that David had led for a suitable place to locate a dwelling place for God (vv. 1-9). David’s seriousness in this task is revealed in the fact that he vowed to make this search the priority of his life, more important that building a palace for himself. The people celebrated when the ark of the covenant was brought to Jerusalem and worship was taking place there. The location for building the temple was found, although David was not given the actual task of building it.

The reference to David’s role is part of a communal prayer written long after he lived, and we should note that there is a stress on the Lord as the Mighty One of Jacob. Those offering the prayer as they attended the annual feasts in Jerusalem after the exile knew that it would take divine power to restore the glory of the temple even as it took divine power to commence its existence.

The author of the psalm knows that more is needed than the existence of the temple building. Divine blessing was also connected to the presence of a faithful Davidic king (vv. 10-12). Those who would have attended the feasts in Israel after the return from the exile would have seen a much smaller temple and a weakened royal line. Still they knew that the Mighty One of Jacob could change the situation through his power.

It was important for them to consider the desire that the Lord had to dwell on Mount Zion among his people (vv. 13-16). They rehearsed what he thought of it. Not only had he chosen it, he had dwelt there, not only in the sense of his omnipresence, but particularly as a place of satisfaction. Even as God rested on the seventh day of creation with delight, so he rested in the sanctuary among his redeemed people. His pleasure was revealed by him meeting their needs. The white clothing of her priests would picture the salvation he had provided – his righteousness, and great joy would mark her worship.

Yet it would have caused those attending the temple to wonder how things could get better. The answer to that dilemma is found in verse 17 and 18. One would yet come from the line of David who would defeat all his enemies and wear a permanent crown of glory. Here we have a picture of Jesus, and we are told that when his time for reigning comes, it will be a very prosperous period for Zion. We are living in the period when his crown shines with permanent lustre in heaven, which means that the future is bright for the people of God.

Psalm 131 - Growing Up

Warren Wiersbe comments that the problem with too many people is that they have grown old without growing up. Sadly, this can also happen in the Christian life, as is clear from 2 Peter 1:8-9 and Hebrews 5:12-14. The apostle John refers to three stages of spiritual growth (1 John 2:12-14) found in believers.

Psalm 131 is concerned about progress or development in the religious life, and David uses the illustration of a weaned child to picture this increase in spiritual stature. His ‘weaning’ seems to have been connected to the Lord denying him a situation of great prominence which he describes in verse 1.

David describes the state of his heart and uses three pictures to illustrate it. The first picture of a lifted-up heart tells us that David did not think very much of himself.  The second picture of aspiring eyes tells us that he was not ambitious for a greater position than what God had already given him. The third picture illustrates the folly of trying to understand what we are not capable of understanding.

There are many things in the Christian life that can only be answered by deeper experience. Two such features are strong doctrine and providence. Sometimes, it takes personal experiences and spiritual maturity before we can appreciate what God is saying in some passages of his Word. Regarding providence, the fact of the matter is that we cannot know why God allows things to happen and not happen in our lives. We will never have a book in our library that will detail the significance of most things that happen to us. It is far better for us to commit all these events to God and rest content in his arms, like a weaned child.

It is important to note before whom the Psalmist is claiming this state of heart. He is speaking these words expressing his humility to the Lord. This is a reminder that we can be totally honest before him. We can speak truths about ourselves to the Lord that would be inappropriate to speak before humans, even Christians.

The Lord’s revealed will for his people is that they increase in humility. References to this are so many in the Bible that they need not be included here. The obvious benefit of such experiences is Christlikeness. The humility of Jesus is a prominent feature of his beautiful character. It becomes ours as we spend time with him and he weans us from our previous stage in the spiritual life. At times, these periods of learning come after we have been denied something by God.

When a person is developing in the spiritual life, one sign of it is that he thinks less of his own needs and more of the needs of Christ’s church. This is what David expresses in verse 3: ‘O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time forth and forevermore’ (v. 3). He says to them, ‘I have discovered that the Lord guides my life, sometimes giving me this and at other times denying me that; yet he himself comes and comforts me when I trust in him.’ This understanding only comes by experience. David, having tasted the faithfulness and the consolations of God, exhorts others to also hope in the Lord. When we find such sentiments in our hearts, we can conclude that we are being weaned.

Psalm 130 - Forgiveness

This psalm was one of the favourite psalms of Martin Luther because of its emphasis on forgiveness. He sang it on many occasions no doubt, but one well-known incident took place during a period of severe trial when he was in the castle of Coburg and had fallen into a swoon. On recovering, he asked his companions to sing this psalm in spite of the devil.

In verses 1 and 2, the psalmist says that he is in the depths, a graphic picture of a man overwhelmed by powerful waters. The verb indicates that he has been there for a while. There are several reasons why a believer could be in the depths: difficult providences in his personal life, denial of hopes that he may have anticipated, a sense of desertion by God. The psalmist’s mention of sin in verse 3 tells us what the cause of his dejection was. Nevertheless, he knows where help could be found, and it is in the God against whom he and others have sinned. Therefore, he turns to the Lord and asks for mercy.

In verse 3, the psalmist confesses the holy character of God and says that if the Lord treated him as he deserved he would have no expectation of help. Of course, it would have been foolish for the psalmist to look to the justice of God by itself. Yet he knows something wonderful about God, an aspect of his character that brings comfort from all of God’s other attributes and abilities. This aspect is God’s desire to forgive. As another psalm says, ‘The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy’ (Ps. 145:8).

It is the knowledge of this characteristic of God that makes a sinner bold and confident in the presence of the God whom he has sinned against. We only need think of David in Psalm 51. How bold he is, and yet how humble, as he confesses his sins and anticipates being restored to God’s service.

In verses 5 and 6, the psalmist likens the posture of his soul to the watchmen who stood on the walls of a city looking for the coming of daylight. There was expectancy of deliverance in the heart of the writer. The reason for his confidence was not in his earnest prayer but in the sure word of God. The reason why faith perseveres is that the believer knows that what God will give is worth waiting for. When deliverance comes, it will be marvellous.

Out of his own experience, then, the psalmist can comfort others (vv. 7-8). His words in these verses are a reminder that although each Christian has an individual path, it is a similar path to other believers. Because he has been forgiven much and rescued from great danger, he understands the needs of every other believer and he is sympathetic to them and confident about their deliverance and forgiveness as well. 

Psalm 129 - Prayer for deliverance

This psalm is a reflection on the history of Israel by those who gathered in Jerusalem for the annual feasts. As they looked back to the beginning of their history (‘youth,’ v. 20), they saw that even then those who began their nation had been afflicted – in Egypt. Since her youth in Egypt, there had been many other powerful enemies. Yet although the enemies were so many, they had not prevailed against Israel.

As the pilgrims gathered in Jerusalem, they were aware of the weakness of God’s people because the nation of Israel was no longer a world power. She had become under the control of other empires after the Babylonians – such as the Persian and the Roman empires.

What this psalm calls for is a sense of realism among God’s people. This psalm is a reminder that believers living in this world are travelling through enemy country. In verse 3, the psalmist uses the illustration of a ploughman digging a furrow repeatedly on a person’s back to describe the troubles of God’s people. Obviously it is painful, but the illustration also suggests that the troubles are malicious.

It is important to note the communal aspect stressed by the author. When his enemies attacked him, they were adding to a deep wound that he already possessed because of the spiritual link he had to previous generations of God’s people. The psalmist identified with their troubles. It should be the same with us, we should have this sense of identity with those before us who suffered for the faith. Of course, this sense of community embraces other believers who are alive today and who are suffering for their faith.

The psalmist’s comfort is that the Lord is righteous, that he will remember his covenant commitments as he did when he came to deliver Israel from Egypt, that eventually he will come to our help in a public way (although we must also remember that he has been helping each of his people to go through his or her particular difficulty).

In verses 5-8, there is a prayer for retribution. Many find fault with this kind of prayer, even although they are common in the Psalter (about 36 psalms come into this category, known as the imprecatory psalms because in them the authors call down divine judgement on their enemies). Critics suggest that they lack the spirit of love that was exemplified by Jesus when he instructed his disciples to love their enemies (Matt. 5:44-45). Of course, such sentiments are not confined to the Old Testament. Note Paul’s words in 2 Thessalonians 1:5-8.

The writer prays that the influence of evil people will be brief. He likens them to seeds of grass that are blown on to a flat rooftop and somehow take root in the small amount of ground that may also have been blown there. Fortunately for the householder, such grass soon withered away.

The people the psalmist is praying against hate Zion (v. 5) and are determined to destroy her. If God does not stop them, they will destroy Zion. It is preferable that Zion be preserved, and her enemies removed. The reason why they are going to be destroyed is not because they are sinners in general but because they sin in a specific way. If they left Zion alone, then this prayer would not have been offered. The psalmist does not want anyone to wish success to such persons (v. 8).

We see similar attempts made today by the enemies of the church (Zion). As we pray about the situation, we only have two choices: one is that God would convert them; the other is that, in one way or another, God would cause their enmity against his kingdom to cease. We should pray that their influence would be as minimal as grass growing on a housetop. When we pray earnestly for this, it is evidence that we love Zion.

Psalm 128 - The blessing of fearing the Lord

The  primary focus of the psalm is not the blessings of family life (of which some are mentioned), but the blessings that come to believers through fearing the Lord. The English word ‘blessing’ or similar terms occur four times in the psalm (vv. 1, 2, 4, 5).

It used to be common for a Christian to be described as ‘God-fearing’. Fear of God does not mean to be frightened into spiritual paralysis by the thought of God. Nor does it mean a servile fear, which is a response of a person who is trying to please God but who does not understand the meaning of grace.

How can we know that a person fears God? He will walk in God’s ways. The imagery of walking illustrates progress and a destination, and such have God as their upholder, teacher and guide along the path to heaven.

But why does a person fear the Lord? He does so out of his experience of the goodness of God. Because he has been pardoned his sin, he reverences the Lord; because he has been accepted into God’s family, he adores the Lord; because he can enjoy the Lord’s presence, he is careful about his behaviour; because he has been given the promises of God, he venerates the Lord. We could expand the list endlessly. What is important to note is that reverence arises from experiencing the goodness of God.

What blessings are given to such? When this psalm was written, the husband usually worked from home (v. 2). If he was a baker or a carpenter, the bakery or workshop was attached to his house. Even if he was a fisherman or a farmer, he was still regarded as working from home. In biblical times, one could walk past a house and see the husband working at his trade, his wife busy in the home, and the children sitting around the house. Work in the ancient world was usually done in order to provide the basics of life. The psalm promises that such will be provided to the person who fears God.

The next blessing concerns the man’s wife who is described as a fruitful vine (v. 3). The vine in Israel was regarded as a source of refreshment, shelter and fragrance. That is how the man who fears the Lord will regard his wife. And just as the vine also symbolised joy, so such a man finds great joy in what his wife brings to their home. His contribution is to work for the security of their needs, her contribution is to provide the beauty of their home.

When there is such a husband and wife, then there will be happy children. The father is likened to an old olive tree around which younger plants are growing, partaking of his wisdom and knowledge. The imagery also suggests that as the plants grow, they protect the older tree which has become weaker through age. They learn from the way their parents interact with one another, implying that they too are fearing the Lord.

Such a home is worth observing says the psalmist in verse 4. We are to behold it, to contemplate with wonder what the Lord can do in a home inhabited by sinful parents and children. A happy home is the blessing often given to those who fear the Lord.

In verses 5 and 6, the psalmist describes public blessings in addition to the private ones he mentions in the previous verses. The statements in verses 5 and 6 can be interpreted as definite promises or as prayer requests; probably both ideas are in mind because promises often are fulfilled through earnest prayer.

The psalmist also mentions that the man who fears the Lord will see his grandchildren. No doubt, there is the family joy of descendants included in this promise. Further, and probably more important for the psalmist, is the fact that the presence of grandchildren would indicate to him the continuation of family inheritance, which was very important to a devout Israelite because it indicated ongoing possession of the land God had promised.

The psalm closes with a benediction, probably originally announced by a priest in the temple. We are assured that the Great High Priest in heaven is also raising this benediction over us, ensuring that the blessings promised to those who fear God will come to us. May he say to us at this time, ‘Peace be upon Israel.’

Psalm 127 - Thoughts on divine providence

Some have noticed that the contents focus on providence in civil life. The psalm is concerned about the healthy functioning of society, and it tells how to relate to political authority, military power and family responsibilities. The political authority is described in the words of verse 1: ‘Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labour in vain.’ The military authority is described in the words of the second clause of verse 2: ‘Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.’ The watchmen were those who stayed awake while others slept in the city. The point stressed is that the mere presence of political leaders and military strength does not remove worry.

The psalm teaches that nothing happens without our contribution or without God’s contribution. In all that we do we are co-workers with God, be it in our personal spiritual growth or in our families or in any other legitimate aspect of life. There are three applications of this psalm at a personal level: (a) the Christian and work; (b) the Christian and worry; (c) the Christian and his family.

In verse 2, the writer is not saying that there is anything wrong with getting up early or staying up late. What is wrong is the assumption that such personal sacrifices will have any benefit if God is omitted from the person’s perception of life. Work has been affected by the curse given in Eden because of Adam’s rebellion and therefore much work is difficult, tedious and uncertain. This means that they should pray for divine help in their employments.

The great benefit that the Psalmist has experienced is that of sleep. Spurgeon commented that ‘sleep is the gift of God, and not a man would close his eyes, did not God put his fingers on his eyelids’. Again the psalmist is not saying that lack of sleep is always the result of sin. Yet it is the case that unnecessary worry deprives us of sleep just as much as justifiable concern. We cannot expect to have pleasant sleep in general if we do not trust in God day by day.

Verse 3 teaches that the children of believers belong to the Lord and are given by him to be prized by their parents (the word ‘reward’ does not mean that they have earned their children by right living; it means a ‘precious gift’). In Old Testament times it was essential for families to have children in order to ensure the continuation of the family inheritance.

In verse 4, children of believers are likened to arrows that believers shoot out into the world. Arrows have to be made from branches by being shaped and smoothed. Similarly, believing parents have the God-given task of shaping and smoothing the characters of their children. An arrow was not designed to look pretty in a quiver but to have an effect (defending against one’s enemies or providing food). 

Psalm 126 - Prayer for revival

In verses 1 to 3, the psalmist describes what was said when the Jews were allowed to return to their land after the collapse of the Babylonian Empire. Their return had been predicted long before the exile commenced by prophets such as Isaiah and Jeremiah. But it had all seemed so unlikely to happen from a human point of view.

So it is not surprising that those who returned to the Promised Land were overjoyed, and even other nations observed the incredible nature of it, even accepting that the restoration indicated that the God of Israel is immensely powerful. No doubt, both the Jews and the Gentiles mentioned in these verses would have anticipated further progress.

But that did not happen, as we can see from verse 4. Instead of growth, there had been decline. We can read about aspects of their situation in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, and in the prophecies of Haggai and Zechariah. The situation was so weak that only the Lord could restore them. It was not enough for them to be in the Promised Land. They needed the Lord to work on their behalf.

In what way did they want the Lord to work? We can see their expectation in the reference to streams in the Negev, the southern area of Israel which is a desert for most of the year. But in times of rain, the water descends suddenly and in copious amounts, and in a matter of hours streams and rivers form, and the consequence is flowers and plants appear. The area briefly becomes fertile. Since God can do this in the natural world, he can also bring refreshment and prosperity in the spiritual experience of his people.

The psalmist refers to farmers sowing seed in anticipation of the rain coming. Sowing in a hot climate was arduous work, and no doubt caused tears for the sowers. But they knew that joy would be experienced when the rains came and brought a harvest. If they did not sow, there would not be a harvest. The lesson for us is obvious – if we want a harvest in the future, we need to sow in the present.

One frequent problem we have is that we want the harvest without the sowing. Yet that outlook is not wise, and often is only an expression of unbelief in God’s way of providing growth. We are to sow the seed of the gospel and anticipate God’s blessing that he will send in his own time.

Psalm 125 – Praying with confidence

Mount Zion or Jerusalem looked secure because of natural defences provided by the mountains situated round the city. It seemed immovable. As the author looked out on those mountains, he saw them as a picture of the Lord who provides security for his people (vv. 1-2). They are safe because he is on their side.

Yet their sense of protection raised a couple of questions. First, is there a reason for this divine protection as far as his people are concerned? Second, what should they pray for in situations where his protection is obvious?

A reason for their divine protection was prevention of sin by them (v. 3). If an invasion occurred, there would have been the possibility of the righteous engaging in sinful practices as they sought to protect their property and inheritance. That is what other nations would have done, but they had to do so because their gods were powerless to help. In contrast, the people of God knew that he possessed a mighty sceptre, that he ruled the nations, and they could depend on him. But they are reminded here that God is also concerned about their sanctification, that he wants them to be kept from sin.

Consideration of this truth led the psalmist to pray for God to bless the good and punish the wicked. Such a prayer is an appropriate response to knowing that the Lord is the almighty protector. The travellers to the feasts could use this psalm because they wanted righteousness to increase and wickedness to be dealt with. Answers to this kind of prayer will occur in providence. But pthere is a possibility that those living in calmer times will fail to pray earnestly for such growth of righteousness and decline in wickedness.

When the Lord answered in this manner, the outcome would be peace for Israel. They would have spiritual and temporal prosperity because their circumstances were in the Lord’s hands.

This psalm is almost the opposite of the previous psalm, a reminder that the church can face different circumstances at various times. In Psalm 124, the enemy was powerful and attacking; in Psalm 125, circumstances were calmer. Yet in both kinds of situations, prayer to God and trust in him were essential.

Psalm 124 – Deliverance by God

David wrote this psalm to describe a God-given deliverance provided at some stage in his reign over Israel. The deliverance was given in unlikely circumstances because the military superiority of the enemy seemed so great and their intention to destroy Israel was very strong (as we can see from the illustrations David uses of them – they were like wild animals devouring prey or a river in flood removing all in its path). But the Lord was with his people, and he rescued them (vv. 1-5).

Therefore, David wrote this psalm to celebrate God-given deliverance. Yet he also indicates that the deliverance came at the last minute. They could see the teeth of the attackers and they were in the snare of the trappers (vv. 6-7). The Lord had waited until then to rescue them in order for all to see that he alone had done it.

His deliverance was a reminder of his covenant faithfulness as David points out when he says that their help is in the name or character of the Lord. He does not change, which is why his people were not consumed. Although he allowed trouble to come for a variety of reasons, he eventually delivered them. And his deliverance is in line with the power that he possesses as the Creator of the universe.

The travellers to Zion who used this collection of psalms lived centuries after David. Indeed, they were aware of greater deliverances that the Lord had provided from more powerful enemies than David had. Military methods had moved on and godless regimes had more sophisticated methods. But a visit to Jerusalem reminded the pilgrims that their God was still in charge and knew when to deliver his people.

This reality is even greater for us. We know the history of the church and how it has often been in great trouble. But eventually the Lord has rescued his cause, and since he is the almighty covenant God, we can expect him to do so repeatedly until Jesus returns. 

Psalm 123 – Prayer for help

In this psalm there are two prayers: that of the individual in verse 1 and that of others in the remaining verses. We can see from verses 3 and 4 that the author lived in a difficult time when God’s people were mocked by others.

The petitioner in verse 1 looks up to the sovereign God who reigns over the world. He knows that the only One who can help them is the Lord. God cannot be removed from his position and nothing on earth can change that reality. It is good to be reminded that we have a sovereign God who can help his people in their difficulties.

The petitioners in verses 2-4 also confess the sovereignty of God. They also say that they are his servants, ever ready to do what he wills, even as slaves in a household would be alert for instructions from their masters and mistresses who would use hand signs to convey their requirements.

The author takes this imagery and says that what God’s humble servants desire is God’s mercy. It is not so much mercy for their sins, although believers often ask for mercy in this sense. Rather they wanted mercy to be shown by the removal of the sources of contempt. They want God’s hands to move in the direction of dealing with those concerns.

Their prayers were simultaneously persistent and patient. This is how we show we are putting God first – we bring the matter to him and plead humbly and expectedly with him until he answers. The Lord is full of pity towards us, and he will listen sympathetically to such a cry. Eventually he will answer if we persist in our prayers.

Psalm 122 – Enjoying peace in the city of peace

Psalm 122 describes a visit by David to the house of the Lord (v. 1), to the tabernacle (the temple of Solomon was not yet built, although when the psalm was used by the returned exiles, it would be the smaller second temple that was there). What mattered was not its size, but the fact that the Lord was present in it in a special manner as the holy One who pardoned sinners through an atonement.

It was an amazing experience for God’s people to be in Jerusalem (v.2). They observed its layout, its buildings and its capability to host the people of Israel when they came at the appointed times to worship the Lord and thank him for the many blessings he had given them. The presence of the royal family was also a reminder of God’s purposes – he had chosen David as king and made a covenant with him (vv. 3-5).

How should worshippers respond to what they saw? Verses 6 and 7 tell us that they were reminded to pray for peace in the city of peace, that the residents would know security from inward and outward attacks. Clearly, there was the possibility of attack by enemies. In David’s time, the city was strong, but prayer was still needed. In the period after the exile, the city was weak, but prayer was still the expression of dependence on God.

Verses 8 and 9 detail the response of David as an individual and also as an example. Since the people of Israel were both his family and his friends on the journey of life, his words would be ones of peace. So, too, would be his actions, as he dedicated himself to promote the worship of God that was led by those who worked in his house. David himself did that by making preparations for its future development, even although he himself would not be involved in the temple of Solomon when it was built.

Today, the house of God and the city of Jerusalem are very different. Zion is a heavenly city with inhabitants in heaven and on earth. Those on earth don’t travel to the city because they are resident in it wherever they are (Heb. 12:22-24). Yet they must pray for its ongoing peace and they each must resolve to promote what makes for peace in Zion.

Psalm 121 - Travelling together

There are at least two speakers in this psalm. One person speaks in verses 1 and 2, and he hears a response from one or more people in the remaining verses. The picture is of travellers conversing together, or to put it another way they are having fellowship together as they walk to Zion for the annual feasts.

As they walk along, one of them comments about the hills and does so in a manner that causes him to want the Lord's help. Two reasons were behind this concern. One is that bandits could hide on the hills and suddenly attack the travellers. Another is that pagan temples and other signs of idolatry could be seen on the hills, a reminder to the travellers that they were going through enemy country.

The speaker is thankful that he can tell his companions that he knows that the almighty God can help them. He has revealed his power in his creation, and if such a God is for them, what does it matter who or what is against them?

As we can see from the pronouns, he receives a response in verses 3-8. Travellers would worry about the condition of the roads - there could potholes or snakes to avoid. Those going to Zion have a Companion who is concerned about their feet, and who constantly watches each footstep. 

Their Companion also is their guard from enemies - usually a band of travellers would post a guard at nightfall, but sometimes he would fall asleep. The Lord is not like that - he does not slumber but is always protecting his people. 

In addition, the Lord functions as a shade for the travellers whether from the heat at noonday or from the cold at night. The obvious conclusion to be drawn from the faithfulness of the Lord is that he will guide, guard and shield his people as they journey through life.

That was a good conversation for travellers to have. Now, what will we speak about today?

Psalm 120 - Isolation

Psalms 120 to 134 were written by different psalmists at various times. The psalms were arranged as a set suitable for travellers to use as they attended the annual feasts in Israel after the return from the exile in Babylon. 

Psalm 120 is the thoughts of a psalmist concerned by the society in which he lives. The attitudes that he sees around him are marked by lying and aggression (vv. 2, 6). He longs to be delivered from them, but he knows that such deliverance could only be provided by a powerful Warrior (vv. 3-4), which is his way of describing his great God.

The psalmist pictures himself as living in two places, each of which was far from Jerusalem (Meshech was in modern-day Turkey and Kedar was in the south of Arabia). Obviously, the psalmist could not be in both places simultaneously, but the double reference adds intensity to the feeling of isolation and unease that gripped him.

His desire was for peace, and the place where that peace would be found was the city of peace, Jerusalem. He looked forward to experiencing what was symbolised there in the sacrifices and other activities taking place in the temple. They pictured reconciliation with God and fellowship with likeminded people. 

The psalmist had prayed earnestly about the matter and the Lord had helped him with the difficulties that he encountered. But he also realised that he would be helped more if he could find another location, even if only for a brief time, such as attending one of the great gatherings in Jerusalem. Meditation on this psalm would help him anticipate the blessings found there.

Psalm 119:169-76 – Closing thoughts

In verses 169 and 170, the psalmist wants his desire to come before the Lord. He regards God as a king dealing with important matters. An earthly king would have to give a lot of time to consider his response to such things. With some of them he would recognise that he was unable to solve the matters because he did not have the resources or the power to deal with them. But the psalmist knew that God would never have such a dilemma.

The psalmist is concerned about two matters – ongoing instruction and deliverance from his enemies. Those two concerns have appeared frequently throughout the psalm, a reminder that some prayer requests are repetitive. The contents of God’s Word were the answer to both his concerns. He knew that the Lord would act according to his Word in both areas.

The outcome of understanding God’s Word for the psalmist would be torrents of praise to his God. He would discover wonderful truths about the Lord and be led regarding how to find the best quality of life in conformity to his Word. His response will be one of intense gratitude to the Lord for providing him with such blessings (vv. 171-72).

Nevertheless, he knew that he needed divine help even to perform what he had freely chosen to do. So he prayed that the Lord’s hand would always be ready to help him obey God’s precepts. The Lord’s hand is a wonderful picture of how he helps his people obey him – personal, powerful, and persistent (v. 173).

Although he had endured prolonged opposition, the psalmist was determined to follow God’s requirements. Yet he also longed for the time when such hindrances to his spiritual enjoyments would no longer be a problem (v. 174). He wanted spiritual life within him, pouring out glad praise, and one feature of such an experience was ongoing guidance found in God’s rules (v. 175).

In the last verse of the psalm, the author likens himself to two needy positions. First, he was prone to wander like a lost sheep leaving the good pastures of God’s Word. Second, he was a dependent servant, always needing divine help. Despite his wanderings, he still retained a commitment to God’s requirements, but he knew that only the Lord could ensure his progress in the spiritual life. So he prayed for divine help.

Psalm 119:161-68 - Life in the presence of God

God’s people can be opposed by all kinds of people, some of whom are powerful and can speak with authority. Usually, their words are obeyed. But those who were opposing the psalmist did not cause much effect on him because he was aware of an infinitely higher Power who had spoken in his Word. God is the ultimate sovereign, and his word is that of the King. He is not only to be obeyed, but the authority and content of his Word is to be recognised as extraordinary (v. 161).

The psalmist likens God’s Word to a location with substantial amounts of spoil in it. He had come into a palace in which were found all kinds of pleasures and treasures (v. 162). Since he did not want anything to spoil his enjoyment of God’s Word, he hated all untruths since they are the opposite of his Word. His affection for God’s law showed itself also by what he despised (v. 163).

In a previous section, he had mentioned how he prayed at evening and in the morning. Now he says that he had arranged for seven daily periods in which he would draw near to God and praise him for his Word. The frequency revealed the intensity of his gratitude (v. 164).

His experience had been that great peace had been enjoyed when he obeyed God’s commandments. He had known the peace like a river that Isaiah had said would be given to those who listened to those commandments. Another blessing that he had experienced from such a way of life was protection from stumbling (v. 165). And he knew that this would be the experience of all who did the same.

The psalmist refers to his inner commitment to the Lord. He trusted in God for deliverance, and he showed his gratitude by obeying God’s commandments. He kept those commandments from his heart because he loved them deeply (vv. 166-67). He did so because he recognised that he was living in the presence of God (v. 168). That was a great privilege, but such access also had responsibilities.

Psalm 119:153-160 – Praying to a God who is near

The psalmist prays for deliverance from his affliction. He addresses God boldly and asks him to look on his troubles. A person is more sympathetic when he sees what is wrong with a person. The psalmist is not suggesting that God has ignored him. Maybe he likens God to a physician able to deal with what he sees. He knows that God will be faithful to those who are faithful to him (v. 153).

In verse 154, he asks to be redeemed. This could be a request for God to use his power and release his servant from the kind of confinement he was enduring from his opponents. The greatest act of redemption that he would have known about was the Exodus. When referring to redemption and deliverance, he uses the greatest example as an argument for receiving a lesser rescue. His request for life was a plea for him to be given freedom to continue in God’s service.

Sometimes we learn about truth from its opposite. In verse 155, the psalmist says that salvation is far from the wicked, which means that it is near to the righteous. A wicked person does not follow God’s requirements, but a righteous person does. Since God is near to him, he can expect mercy from the Lord (v. 156). God will always follow his own revealed will, which means that the psalmist can expect divine deliverance from him.

His opponents are many, but their number does not affect him in the slightest as far as adherence to God’s ways is concerned (v. 157). He keeps on in a straight line. His avoidance is not merely external. The psalmist hates the way of the wicked, those with no faith, and their godless living disgusts him. He regards their disobedience and rejection of God’s commands as something that is rotten to the core (v. 158).

In verse 159, he asks the Lord to look at his obedient heart which is marked by love to God’s commandments. This is slightly different from what he asked in verse 153 when he asked the Lord to look at his affliction. When the Lord considered the psalmist’s good heart, he would give more life to him as a loving gift. Love responds to love.

The Lord loves truth, which is what his word is about, and which remains the case for ever (v. 160). As Spurgeon observed, ‘There is not one single mistake either in the word of God or in the providential dealings of God.’ We should note that all his commandments continue in force, which was what Jesus said when he stated that not a jot or a tittle would pass away until all had been fulfilled. We should love the least as well as the greatest of his commandments and promises.

Psalm 119:145-52 - Praying to the God who is near

The Lord had taught the psalmist how to pray. Real prayer requires whole heart involvement. Sometimes it includes loud crying accompanied by intense longing for God’s answer. Why did he pray so strongly? Because he wanted to keep God’s requirements. Doing so was his passion (vv. 145-46).

His passion for divine answers was also seen in the times when he chose to pray. Before he rose from his bed in the morning, he called for divine aid (v. 147); before he slept, he thought on God’s promises (v. 148). His prayer was helped by his knowledge of God’s Word, its promises encouraged him to pray, and its accounts and exhortations showed him how to pray.

As he prayed, he also considered who the Lord is. He is the covenant God who loves his people, he is the God who can act justly in grace towards them because they have been reconciled to him. He has given them spiritual life; therefore, he can be asked to give ongoing life in their souls (v. 149).

In his prayer, he contrasted his opponents with his God. The opponents drew near with evil intent to harm him. Even as they did, the psalmist knew that his God was already near to him, and continually near to him. The opponents drew near with sinful intentions, but God was near with gracious designs to bless his servant with ongoing understanding of his commandments (vv. 150-51).

What had he learned from God’s testimonies? No doubt, many things. Together, they revealed to him that the Lord had provided ongoing insight, guidance and blessing through them, and would continue to do so and not depart from them (v. 152).

Psalm 119:137-46 - Continuing

It is good to think about the attributes of God, even to take one of them and consider ways in which it is revealed In God’s Word. Here the psalmist thinks of the attribute of righteousness and observes that all God’s rules are also righteous (v. 137). Because that is the case, he knows that whatever the Lord requires in his Word will be righteous, and they will never express or suggest that he will be unfaithful to his Word (v. 138).

The outcome of his realisation is that the psalmist became very zealous in his obedience to God, and his determination to serve God was not diminished by the number who were against him (v. 139). He had known many experiences when God’s promises had been tested, but they had proved true, and he had discovered repeatedly that God is faithful. Therefore, he loved God’s promises (v. 140).

Neither was his commitment to God’s Word diminished by his own place in society or by the dismissive attitude of others (v. 141). Because he had meditated on God’s Word, those truths were in his mind, with the result that he did not forget what God required. He was like the man in Psalm 1 who avoided wrong paths because of his awareness of what God said in his Word.

The psalmist knew that God’s divine requirements would never be replaced by a superior system. They were not merely the best that had appeared, but which could be surpassed eventually. If that could happen, his Word would not be truth (v. 142). The psalmist’s testimony was that God’s requirements brought delight to his soul even when he was in difficult circumstances (v. 143).

The ongoing relevance of God’s Word caused the psalmist to pray that he would be given continual instruction in its requirements. He knew that he could still grow in grace, that he should still grow in grace, and that he would still grow in grace. But prayer for divine instruction is part of the process (v. 144).

Psalm 119:129-36 – Prayer for deliverance

The psalmist regards the word of God as amazing (v. 129). The commandments are so attractive that he delights to obey what the Lord requires. As he examines them and opens them up to scrutiny by meditation and use, he discovers that they deal with all kinds of situations, no matter how dark and difficult they might seem to be initially.

At the same time, they provide guidance for the unlearned and untrained (v. 130). They can be given to anyone, and anyone will be helped by them as they are practised. Indeed, the psalmist is like a person hungry for a delicious meal (v. 131). God’s word is the only food that truly satisfies his soul.

As indicated in previous sections, the psalmist was experiencing problems from other people. He therefore comes to God with the Aaronic blessing in mind when he asks for divine favour (v. 132). Such favour is the common experience of God’s people, and the psalmist is stating here that God is faithful in providing grace to those who are in a covenant relationship with him. Their love for God is evidence of that relationship, and the love is described as an appreciation of his character (revealed in his name).

The psalmist confesses that he needs the Lord’s enablement to walk correctly. He also knows that the Lord has promised to provide him with guidance regarding the path he should choose, and he realised that it was important to pray about his daily walk because it would have been easy to make a wrong decision and find himself overcome by sin and its consequences (v. 133).

The attacks of his opponents were preventing him from serving God as best as he could. Therefore, he asked the Lord to rescue him from their attempts to limit his influence (v. 134). He wanted to obey God all the time, and he desired that his obedience be uncurtailed by opposition.

This would happen if the Lord was gracious to him and continued to teach him (v. 135). He was distressed that people did not keep God’s law. His face was marked by tears, but it was a face that was pleasing to God (v. 136). It was a face from whom the Lord would not turn away his face. Therefore, the psalmist had hope.

Psalm 119:121-28 - Commitment in Difficult Times

The psalmist brings his circumstances to the attention of God. He has disciplined himself to live for God, but he knows that his behaviour will lead to strong opposition (v. 121). Therefore, he asks the Lord to give him a sign of divine favour, and the sign that he requests is that his opponents will not oppress him (v. 122). His request reveals that he recognised the sovereignty of God in the lives of his opponents, that the Lord could prevent them harming his servant.

The salvation that the psalmist desired was a visible one. He longed to see God act on his behalf. His hope was in a promise that God had given, that the Lord would come to his aid (v. 123). The promise was righteous in its content, but also righteous in its source, the living God; it would also result in righteousness, whether in the actions God took or in the blessings that the psalmist would receive,

The psalmist knew that he was God’s servant. He also knew that he had a loving, faithful Master (vv. 124-25). A good servant wants to know how to please his master. Here the psalmist comes to his Master requesting divine instruction. He knows that he can expect to be taught because he knows that the Lord is faithful to his people. This verse points to the instruction of Jesus when he told his heavy-laden disciples to take his yoke and learn from him because he is gentle and humble in heart, and he promised them that they would find rest for their souls.

The society around the psalmist was in a mess, the result of ignoring and disobeying God’s law (v. 126). Although the rejection was foolish, it was not a sign that God had been defeated. The psalmist knew that God had the power to turn it round and restore his rule. But he also knew that if God did not work, things would continue to get worse, so he prayed for the Lord to act powerfully.

Times of rejection of God’s law are not times for God’s people to reduce their commitment. Despite what others thought, the psalmist’s estimation was that God’s commandments were a great treasure to have (v. 127), more valuable than the best that earth can give. His assessment was that all of God’s commandments are right, and since that was the case, it meant that one like the psalmist who loves God’s law must hate all that is false (v. 128). It is impossible for such a believer to be indifferent about what is wrong.

Psalm 119:113-120 - Desire to serve God

What kind of things does a person say to God? No doubt, we could suggest some things. Would we include an expression of hatred? The psalmist does here when he tells the Lord that he hates the double-minded. A double-minded person is a hypocrite who tries to face both ways at the same time. Like serving God and the world simultaneously. Yet that is impossible. The psalmist was not like that because he loved God’s law. And he had the comfort of knowing that he had God as his protector whatever dangers were threatening him. He knew that God would be true to his word (vv. 113-14).

The psalmist’s position in society caused him at times to be with evildoers (v. 115). Their presence was a barrier to him as he served God. Perhaps he is referring to advisors or counsellors whose words reduced the effect of what he advocated. He preferred that they would be absent since they and he had nothing in common. He wanted to promote God’s commandments.

Such a determination carried dangers for him (vv. 116-17). Therefore, he called on the Lord for his protection, to keep him from being overwhelmed or disgraced by his opponents. If the Lord upheld him, he would be safe and could continue obeying consistently the statutes God had given his people. His prayer for preservation was connected to his desire for God’s glory.

Some of his contacts resorted to cunning. Their methods were departures from God’s statutes, although those men may have imagined that the end justified the means. God rejected that method and turned those people away. They would experience the same divine rejection that is shown to all who are wicked. God’s consistency in this regard was a stimulus to the psalmist to love the testimonies he had received (vv. 118-19).

Nevertheless, he realised that fear and dread are appropriate responses to the holy God. When he acts in judgement, it is a terrifying experience (v. 120). He knows everything about us. And he has the power to punish. Even divine chastisement of his children is unpleasant for them. When we see his judgements, we should be afraid.

Psalm 119:105-12 - Commitment

The psalmist confesses that God’s word enables him to walk according to God’s ways. He was determined to walk in such a path and had even sworn an oath to do so, perhaps confirming it by offering a sacrifice at the temple (vv. 105-06).

It was the case in ancient times that people would carry a light when they moved around in the darkness. The source of light was close to them. In our spiritual journeys, the word of God should be shining in our hearts. Obviously, we should be dedicated to him, and one help in that regard is to recall our baptism when God's name was put on us.

The psalmist had walked in this manner even although he had experienced problems. But his difficulties had not reduced his commitment to his God. Instead, he asked the Lord to give him the spiritual energy to continue (v. 107). He made this request because he knew that he would be heard and answered.

His commitment was one of personal choice and he gladly praised God for the opportunity of living such a life as the Lord had taught (v. 108). He did this even although he knew that things were precarious and that his life was uncertain (v. 109). But there was nothing, not even deadly snares laid by his enemies, that could make him move away from obedience to God (v. 110).

The psalmist desired to obey God permanently because his rules had brought him great joy already (v. 111). He dedicated himself again to a life of obedience (v. 112). This inclination was evidence that the grace of God was working in his heart and life.

This section of the psalm raises for us the reality of our commitment to God. 

Psalm 119:97-104 - Loving what we learn

In this section, the psalmist is very emotional. He begins the section by telling the Lord how much he loves the law of God; he loves it to such an extent that he meditates on it throughout the day (v. 97). Spurgeon says that ‘This was both the effect of his love to the law and the cause of that love. He meditated in God’s word because he loved it, and he loved it the more because he meditated in it. He could not have enough of it, so ardently did he love it.’

This is not an exaggeration since he says in verse 98 that the law is constantly with him and enabling him to respond correctly to whatever situation comes along. His opponents are unable to compete with his wisdom. In every situation, he has discovered that God’s way is best.

His constant focus on the law has enabled him to be wiser than his teachers (those with most knowledge) and the aged in society (those with most experience). Thinking about God’s requirements and keeping them has made him the person that he is (vv. 99-100). He has become like the person described in Psalm 1 who meditated on the law of the Lord and became like a tree under which others found shelter.

The psalmist describes his holy carefulness regarding his obedience. It was comprehensive – he did not allow himself to take one wrong step, because taking such a little step would prevent him adhering entirely to God’s precepts. He wanted to remain loyal to the Lord because he had taught him what the law was about (vv. 101-02).

In verses 103 and 104, he mentions two consequences of his constant adherence to God’s law. First, he tells God that his words were sweeter than honey. He had tasted them and discovered that was always the case. Second, having been enlightened by God’s law, he hated all false ways.

The psalmist shows us how learning, love and loyalty go together. Learning God’s ways leads to love of them and him, and love makes us want to please him.

Psalm 119:89-96 – Living for a Faithful God

The psalmist knows that nothing can remove the authority of God’s Word (v. 1). One obvious witness to this reality is the existence of the universe, whether the heavenly bodies in general or the earth in particular. Their ongoing existence is clear evidence of the faithfulness of God who maintains them where they are through his power. They are servants of God fulfilling his will, doing what he wishes (vv. 89-91).

Their service is unthinking, obviously. Humans too should be God’s servants, but instead of obeying God some disobey him and cause affliction to others. The psalmist had experienced such affliction, but in it he had discovered that God’s revealed will had been a source of delight for his soul (v. 92). Through them God had spoken to him and revived his heart (v. 93). They reminded him of divine realities, and they were powerful in their good effects.

The precepts of God also reminded him that he belonged to God (v. 94). Seeking to live by them is evidence of membership of the divine family. As a member, he could approach the Father; he could ask his Lord to use his power and deliver him from his opponents. He could use his lifestyle as an argument – he wanted to obey God whereas his opponents did not. The psalmist did not suggest that he had merited divine action on his behalf. Rather his focus was on the faithfulness of God.

He reaffirmed his determination to serve God no matter what the opponents would do (v. 95). Their thoughts were on his destruction, but his thoughts were on what God required of him. They were eager to get rid of him, but he was eager to discover how to continue pleasing God. The difference between them and the psalmist was not only seen in external activities; it was also seen in the secret wishes of their hearts.

The psalmist stresses the huge difference between the limits of human enterprise and the wideness of God’s provision (v. 96). Whatever is the product of human wisdom and skill eventually reveals its limits whereas the wisdom provided in God’s Word is boundless. Matthew Henry comments that it is a ‘poor perfection which one sees an end of!’ Those who walk in the broad fields of God’s commandments discover the wide range of his blessings. Each commandment has numerous applications and each precept is a door into endless promises.

Psalm 119:81-88 – Prayer and God’s Word

The psalmist desires strongly that God would deliver him from those who were oppressing his soul (v. 81). His hope of deliverance was not only an inner longing. It was based on what God had promised, whether a specific promise or several of them that pointed to such a deliverance. Such a promise or set of promises creates expectations, but until they are experienced, there will be a sense of dissatisfaction for lack of divine comfort (vv. 81-82).

The opposition had left its mark on him (v. 83), but it had not caused him to forget his responsibility to serve God. The Lord’s requirements were still at the forefront of his mind. Yet he desired the Lord to intervene and help him. The psalmist was not a stoic, only responding with a grin and bear it attitude. He wanted the Lord to act on his behalf (v. 84). He stated to the Lord what the opponents were doing against him – digging pitfalls – and that they did not obey God’s commandments (v. 85).

Sometimes the opposition can be physical, but often a mental assault is more draining, especially when it includes falsehoods (v. 86). The psalmist’s opponents were spreading false accusations against him, and they seemed have had some success because his life was in danger (v. 87). Yet their malice had not caused him to cease serving God, nor had the silence of heaven so far to his prayer for deliverance.

As he prayed about his demanding situation, he thought about the covenant faithfulness of his God. He knew that spiritual strength and power could be given to him. Why did he want divine help? His desire was to continue practising what the Lord had commanded (v. 88).

In this section, the author is at his lowest regarding the problems he was facing, as far as the psalm is concerned. What he desired was twofold. First, divine deliverance from his foes and, second, divine enabling to keep on serving God. The psalmist wanted them in that order, but God could choose to reverse the order.

Psalm 119:73-80 - Prayer for Progress

The psalmist knows that God was his Creator and that he had been shaped by the Lord. God had made him to be the person that he was. He had been made for a divine purpose which was that he should live for God’s glory. The way for this purpose to happen was by him obeying God’s commandments. The psalmist did not want to have a thoughtless approach to those requirements. Rather, he desired to obey them in an informed and dedicated manner. Therefore he prayed for understanding (v. 73).

Living in such a manner would bring about visible conformity to God’s rules. Other believers would see the psalmist’s style of devotion. His expressions of dedication would give them great joy. They would see clear evidence that he was aware that the best way to live is to do so according to God’s requirements (v. 74). Their reaction indicates that quality of obedience is important. A reluctant obedience would not encourage others.

The psalmist was still concerned about some affliction that he had experienced. The affliction was caused by the Lord and was in line with his righteous rules. Divine chastisement is always arranged for the benefit of God’s children, and it is always appropriate. The psalmist was not rebelling against it, but he also knew that at the same time he could ask for divine comfort because God had promised to provide it. Therefore, the psalmist asked for heavenly consolation (vv. 75-76). Providing it would be an expression of divine mercy and it would enable him to continue in the path of glad discipleship (v. 77).

Verse 78 tells us that the psalmist was under a verbal attack that was full of lies. He asked the Lord to intervene and prevent negative outcomes from their false accusations. He knew that God could judge people, and he asked the Lord to deal with those spreading falsehoods about him. There is nothing wrong with such a response. Indeed, it indicates a love of righteousness. Having done so, the psalmist continued his righteous devotion and determined to meditate on God’s revealed will.

He also knew that one method of helpful instruction was fellowship with likeminded people who feared God (v. 79). Such would help him understand aspects of commitment in which he needed help. They would encourage him as he went through the trials caused by those opposed to him. He valued the insights of others who were walking along the same road as himself. Therefore, he asked God for such meetings to take place.

His main concern was about the state of his heart (v. 80). He knew that outward conformity to God’s law, if that was all that he had, was not of much value. His desire was that his outward behaviour would come from a devout heart. So he prayed for such a heart because he knew that would prevent him from hypocrisy, of being inconsistent, and not real in his commitment to God’s ways. Such a heart can trust in divine providence to work for his good.

Psalm 119:65-72 – Looking back with gratitude

The psalmist expresses his gratitude to God for acting in providence for his benefit. This providence was a form of affliction that is not specified in detail. It may have been an illness or an injury, or it may have been an action or an attitude of hostility from opponents. The consequence was that the affliction led to the psalmist becoming devoted to keeping God’s Word (v. 67).

As he reflected on what had happened to him, the psalmist recognised that God is a good Master who had looked after his servant (v. 65). The Lord had acted according to his revealed character, a reminder that he is faithful to descriptions of him found in the Bible (v. 68). Because that is always true, the psalmist desired to be taught by the Lord (vv. 66, 68). When he asks for good judgement, he actually asks for a good taste, to choose what was good for his soul.

Even as a servant needs discernment and information regarding how to serve his master, so a believer needs to know how best to serve his God. The psalmist knew where the information was found – God’s commandments, but he also knew that he needed wisdom for how to practice them (v. 67).

In complete contrast to the goodness of God was the sinfulness of those who opposed the psalmist. They were callous liars, without normal feelings. The psalmist knew that he was also different from them, and that difference was the outcome of his devotion to keeping God’s law. His heart loved the things of God; the hearts of his opponents were against God and his ways (vv. 69-70).

Therefore, the psalmist recognised the divine favour revealed in providence. He had come through the experience of affliction with a determination to please God. The requirements of God were of much more value than financial assets. He knew that his riches were spiritual, and they gave him greater satisfaction and security than anything earthly could (vv. 71-72). God had spoken to him, and he had listened to the Lord and was determined to keep on listening to him.

Psalm 119:57-64 – Devoted to God

In this section, the psalmist mentions several ways in which he reveals his devotion to the Lord. He begins with an amazing statement when he says that ‘The Lord is my portion’ (v. 57). In saying that, he is claiming to have everything wonderful. God is his inheritance both in this life and the next. His awareness of this reality leads him to dedicate himself to obeying the Lord: ‘I promise to keep your words.’

Another effect of God being is portion is earnest prayer. Such prayer is an expression of the intensity of desire that marks the psalmist’s longing to experience the blessings that his God can give. The measure he can receive is indicated by the promises of God, and none of the blessings is ever deserved by the psalmist. He receives them because the Lord is gracious (v. 58).

One of his crucial activities is self-examination (v. 59). When he finds himself going in the wrong direction he turns away from those steps and resumes walking according to God’s requirements. His change of direction is immediate (v. 60). He reminds us that even the most devoted can go astray and therefore it is important for us to consider where we are frequently in a spiritual sense.

Sometimes, he finds himself caught in a trap of the wicked, but even then he determines to remember God’s commands (v. 61). He is prepared to do without sleep in order to praise God for giving him such benefits (v. 62). Perhaps that was one of the times when he had peace and quiet in order to praise his God.

He realises the benefit of true friendship and his friends are those who fear God. He does not discriminate between them but delights to be with all such (v. 63). No doubt, they encouraged him and he them. Companion is a word indicating being present with someone, to be in their company. Fellowship is an important activity for believers as they walk through life with God.

The last detail that he mentions in this section is that he goes through life with his eyes open (v. 64). He looks for signs of God’s goodness and sees them everywhere, whether in the natural order or at other levels of life. It is not surprising that he then asks such a good and gracious God to continue teaching him his law.

Psalm 119:49-56 – Speaking to God

What does a believer bring to God in prayer? No doubt, there are many arguments to use, but one of the most effective is God’s word itself, especially passages through which the Lord has already spoken powerfully to us (v. 49). In the psalmist’s case, he was comforted by recalling such divine promises, and they helped him when troubles came his way (v. 50). Thinking about them brought spiritual stimulation to his soul, a reminder that God’s Word is a living Word.

The troubles that he was facing came from those who derided him, likely because of his commitment to God’s ways. Their insolent contempt of him did not cause him to turn from God’s requirements. He knew that God’s rules are lasting, not like the temporary notions of humans. The Lord’s rules are like himself, permanent. 

Moreover, unlike the ideas that humans suggest, his words bring comfort to his people (vv. 51-52). Nevertheless, the wicked’s deliberate departure from the Lord raised the psalmist’s ire because of their rebellion against his God (v. 53).

His experience was that God’s statutes gave him something true and substantial to sing about, and he had enjoyed thinking about his God in the hours of darkness, perhaps when he found it possible to be alone with the Lord and meditate upon the divine attributes and character (vv. 54-55).

The psalmist had many blessings from God, but one of the choicest was that he had been enabled to keep the Lord’s commandments by God himself. He was able to walk with God and express his love to the Lord day after day (v. 56).

Psalm 119:41-48 - Continuing to speak

The psalmist was experiencing opposition. It looks as if the conflict was in connection with him advising rulers (v. 46). The person opposing him probably thought that the psalmist’s advice was ludicrous and irrelevant for a monarch because it was based on God’s law.

Yet the psalmist was not deterred by the opposition. Instead he brought the matter to God and sought for his deliverance. When the Lord would provide him with words to say, then he would have the answer to give to his opponent. Someone like Daniel seems to be described here, a person who trusts in God’s Word (vv. 41-42). The psalmist did not want to be left with nothing to say (v. 43). He knew that the answer to the dilemma was found in obeying God’s instructions and in listening to his teachings.

Basically, the psalmist personally was determined to live according to God’s law (v. 44). Living in such a manner was not restrictive; instead the opposite was the case because it opened for the psalmist great opportunities for speaking about the best way to live (v. 45), even to the powerful rulers of earth (v. 46), and he could do so knowing that he had the wisest message to convey.

The ongoing requirement that preceded his continued response to God’s law was his love for and delight in the divine commandments. Such an inner response is clear evidence of regeneration, of possessing a new heart made alive by God. Such delight and love will ensure continuation in God’s ways (v. 47).

Therefore it is not surprising that the psalmist has continuing respect for the requirements of God and an ongoing desire for more, illustrated in a physical manner by his stretching out his hands towards them. He always found them suitable and sweet matter to meditate upon (v. 48).

Psalm 119:33-40 - Instruction asked for

The psalmist prays for divine instruction in God’s requirements. His prayer is a request for lifelong transformation, or for what we would describe as progressive sanctification (v. 33). When he has such understanding, he will engage in wholehearted obedience of God’s law (v. 34). In his daily life, he will be following his divine Guide with delight (v. 35) as he moves through life.

The question arises, ‘Where and how would he receive such instruction?’ He could obtain it by attending a synagogue or the temple and listening to what he heard there. He could find it through fellowship with like-minded people. And he could grow in knowledge by personal meditation.

The alternative is a lifestyle that focuses on himself (v. 36), and such pursuits are worthless, even although they might seem attractive to look at. Such things don’t give spiritual life to a believer; therefore the psalmist wants to have nothing to do with them. He prefers to engage in what pleases God, but for that to take place he must receive spiritual life and energy from the Lord (v. 37).  

The psalmist desires that God would fulfil a promise made to him connected to his role as the Lord’s servant (v. 38). Since the fulfilment would result in others fearing God, the promise must have been connected to a position of influence that the psalmist had. He wanted to influence others for spiritual good through the role that God had given him.

One lesson from this request of the psalmist is that we should pray for the things that God has promised to give. When we think about them, we realise that there are many things that we can pray about, whether with regard to our spiritual growth or with regard to how to live daily in the world.

At the same time, the psalmist was afraid that he would be removed from his position (v. 39), and if that happened God’s rules would not be followed even although they are good and beneficial. Nevertheless he asks the Lord to consider the intensity of his longing for God’s ways, and to give him the power to practice them (v. 40). Whatever the situation, his desire and his responsibility was to obey God from the heart.

Psalm 119:25-32 - Divine deliverance

In verse 25, the psalmist says that he feels lifeless and dry. His soul is weary and exhausted. Such times are not unusual in the spiritual life. They can be caused by different reasons. Sometimes, they happen because of the personal choices of the believer; at other times, the causes can be outside of them. So he prays to the Lord for restoration.

In verse 26, he records that he had received an answer from the Lord: ‘When I told of my ways, you answered me.’ He discovered that spending time with God produces great benefits. Whatever was causing his spiritual decline was dealt with by his gracious God. The psalmist once again found himself in the place of religious liberty. The benefit of being open and frank with God is spiritual recovery.

What does a person who has been restored want? He wants to know more about the ways that please the Lord. He asks his Restorer to become his Instructor. The psalmist’s response is not finished with his petition for instruction. In verse 27, he expresses what he will do once he has been taught by the Lord. When he has been enlightened, he will meditate on God’s wondrous works. 

In verses 28-30, the psalmist describes a situation of spiritual danger that he had faced. He does not say what the precise problem was, although it was connected to what he calls false ways. Yet, as was the case in the previous problem described in verses 25-27, which the Lord had resolved, the psalmist turns again to God and asks to be strengthened according to his word.

The best way to prevent accepting what is false is by knowing what is true. This goes for beliefs and practices. We can see that there is a link between the prayer in verse 29 and the determination of the psalmist in verse 30: ‘I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your rules before me.’ Clearly, there must be resolve and deliberate choice to walk in God’s ways.

The psalmist was determined to be devoted to God’s requirements (v. 31). He affirmed that he could not bear to let any of God’s instructions fall out of his heart. He regarded them all as very precious and he valued them all very highly. His love for God’s ways revealed that he loved the God who gave them.

We can see that the psalmist was aware of the possibility of somehow being put to shame. There are two ways by which this could happen. One is that the shame could happen if he was publicly slandered because of his commitment to God’s ways. That is always a possibility for God’s people, that they will face ridicule for practicing God’s requirements. When that happens, it is not easy to bear. It is right to pray to God to prevent that kind of situation arising.

The other way is when they will be ashamed because they have not followed God’s ways and will be found out. For example, a believer might tell a lie in order to avoid a difficulty. He gets found out, and he is ashamed. Peter is an example for us to avoid when he denied that he knew his Master in the high priest’s house.

The psalmist desired to pursue obedience to the Lord. For that to happen he would need an enlarged heart (v. 32). The Lord would give him increased spiritual capacity for such an experience. Here are some examples of an enlarged heart.

In Psalm 4:7, David describes an experience he had when he says to God, ‘You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.’ That was a heart enlarged by God. Paul reminds the Romans in Romans 8:5: ‘hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.’ That is an enlarged heart.

Paul prayed for the Ephesians: ‘that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God’ (Eph. 3:17-19). That was an enlarged heart.

How do we know if we are running a good race? The answer is straightforward – we will be living lives of eager obedience to God.