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.

Psalm 119:17-24 - Wisdom is found in God's Word

This section indicates that the author was opposed by princes who did not like his source of wisdom or the paths he advocated (v. 23). Indeed verse 17 indicates that the psalmist anticipated that his life was in danger. The striking aspect is that he did not allow his adverse circumstances to diminish his interest in obeying God’s Word.

The psalmist is conscious that he needs spiritual vision (v. 18). The phrase ‘open my eyes’ reveals what he wanted when he asked God to deal bountifully with him. Thomas Manton commented on this verse by observing that ‘the saints do not complain of the obscurity of the law, but of their own blindness.’ There are some matters in the Bible that are difficult, but they are few in comparison to the matters that can be appreciated by us once we meditate upon them. Often, the problem is that we do not ask God for fresh light, for more discoveries from his Word, because he does give light to those who ask him for it.

In verses 19 and 20, the author describes himself as a spiritual sojourner. God’s sojourners have left the City of Destruction and eventually he will welcome them into the Celestial City. Moreover he will help them as they live temporarily where they now are. It is important to note that, for the psalmist, the earth is the place of sojourning. There is nowhere on earth where a believer should feel that he has arrived at his desired destination.

What does the sojourner travelling to heaven need? He needs instructions about how to live in his surroundings. Such will find themselves in locations where they initially don’t know what to do. But they can ask their Lord to reveal to them his commandments. Following those instructions will enable them to continue gladly their travels through whatever situations they find themselves in. 

The psalmist records the attitude of God towards those who refuse to pay attention to his commandments (v. 21­­. He rebukes them, and he does so in his providence which works against them. Whatever direction they go in, they never reach a good destination because there is not one on those roads. Life for such has no real meaning, although they can imagine that freedom is found by ignoring God’s requirements. But life will bring bitter lessons because providence belongs to God.

It is difficult for a righteous person to live among such rebels against God. Inevitably, such will face derision for their commitment to God’s ways. Usually the righteous are powerless to do anything about such contempt. But they can pray to God and ask him to do something about it (v. 22). The psalmist knows that God can act in providence to turn around the circumstances his servant is enduring. The psalmist has placed his case into the hands of God. 

The psalmist knew where guidance for life would be found (v. 24). The instruction was in God’s book, and the response of the psalmist was to continue meditating on what God had revealed. He was delighted with the wisdom that he found in God’s Word. In it he had found thousands of counsellors because he says that each of God’s testimonies was a counsellor to him.

Psalm 119:9-16 – Finding delight in God’s Word

This section of the psalm begins with a question and answer: ‘How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word’ (v. 9). Maybe the writer was thinking about himself because he was a young man or perhaps he was an experienced believer, a wise teacher, giving advice to young people as to how they should live? In a sense, it does not matter because the requirement on a young person is the same. Yet we can see from the question that the young man has a responsibility for his purity and that it is possible for him to attain it. So the focus here is that the inner life of the young must be marked by holiness of heart.

The author already knows the answer to his question because he provides it in the rest of the section. What is required is a true knowledge of God’s Word. The psalmist likens himself to someone who places a guard around something that is important (9b). The guard could be a fence or a wall. The pieces of the fence or the stones in the wall are the instructions and warnings and examples found in God’s Word. So how does the psalmist do this?

First, he must have an undivided heart (v. 10). A person with divided loyalties does not please anyone. How does one cease to have a divided heart? By putting God first. If anyone else or anything else is first, the heart will be divided. But if God is first, then other relationships will slot into their appropriate places. Obedience that is credible in God’s sight must be wholehearted obedience.

Second, he memorised God’s Word – he stored it up (v. 11). The word ‘stored’ indicates that we do something today that will benefit us in the future. We store in a spiritual sense by placing God’s Word into our hearts, and there is only one way to do that – by memorisation. One benefit that comes from this activity is that we are kept from sinning through ignorance. 

Third, he wanted to be a blessing to others (vv. 12-13), by passing on to them what he had learned about God’s Word. A problem with the Dead Sea is that it does not have an outflow – the Jordan flows into it and is absorbed by the chemicals there, and the result is no life. We don’t want our spiritual lives to be stagnant. In order to prevent that occurring, we must share what we know of God’s revealed will.

Fourth, his delight in God’s Word was paramount and determined (vv. 14-16). He realised that true spiritual delight does not come from what a person has, but that it comes from pleasing God.  He had discovered that there is a path through life that brings delight to the soul, and that path is the way of God’s testimonies. His delight in them would be expressed in determined meditation on them. 

A young man is in focus in verse 9. Yet the words in this section of the psalm are not only for the young; they are for all who profess to know the Lord. The only matter that is definitely for the young is the time when they should start following in the ways of God, which is in the days of their youth. But the practice of keeping God’s Word should mark all our days, whether we are young or old.

How to be blessed - Psalm 119:1-8

Psalm 119 is designed according to the Hebrew alphabet. There is a section for each letter of the alphabet, and within each section each verse begins with that letter. This is a reminder that God included literary skills in the composition of his Word. 

A variety of words, such as testimonies, ways, precepts, statutes, commandments, and rules, are used to describe the law of God and occurs in each section of the psalm. This feature is another example of the literary skills of the author.

We do not know who wrote the psalm, even although there are numerous personal references throughout it. Verse 9 could indicate that a young man composed it. But the reality is that no one knows who wrote it.

In verses 1-3, we have the way of blessedness described. The route required for obtaining a blessed spiritual state is an ongoing walk in the law of the Lord (v. 1). Law here is not limited to the ten commandments, but it includes the entirety of what God has required.

What kind of people are those who are blessed? They are blameless, keepers of God’s testimonies, seekers whose whole inner life engages in the search, people who do not practice wrong. Blameless does not mean perfection, but it does mean that no one can point the finger at them and say that they have omitted what God had required. They are consistent and not selective in their conformity to God’s requirements. Such a response means they are careful in discovering what they should be doing. 

Why did they do this? Because they want contact with their covenant Lord (v. 1) – they seek him with their whole heart (v. 2). His position as the God of the covenant is seen in the divine name used in verse 1. They can only live in this way because their God enables them to do so.

The psalmist’s longing for obedience is described in verses 4-6. In verse 4ff, the psalmist addresses God directly. He recognises that there are a variety of ways by which God’s commands could be kept to some degree, perhaps only outwardly or selectively. As far as the psalmist is concerned, God had revealed that his instructions should be kept diligently.

What does it mean to keep them diligently? Two words will explain how to do so – carefully and constantly. The psalmist does not think that is an unrealistic expectation to meet. He knows that he is a sinner, but he also knows that he should be steadfast. Therefore, he sighs about his attempts, but we can see that his sigh is actually a prayer: ‘Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes!’ (v. 5).

God’s commandments are the map to take us along the path of holiness. As we go along, we need concentration, or as the psalmist says, our eyes are ‘fixed on all your commandments’ (v. 6). We may wonder about this emphasis on all of God’s commands, but each one comes with his authority. Wholehearted obedience is the path of peace.

The outcome of obedience is described in verses 7-8. What happens to a believer as he moves along the way of obedience? He discovers that he delights in praising God. The effect of practicing God’s instructions is ongoing praise. Sometimes we find praise to be sluggish and reluctant. The reason is often a failure to be obedient to the Lord’s revealed will.

Yet the person who obeys the Lord is not marked by self-confidence (v. 8). Even although his resolve is to keep God’s law, he does not want the Lord to leave him to himself. This awareness in his heart is the result of divine teaching, not merely human assessment.

Psalm 118 - Praise for divine deliverance

This psalm is the final one of the Hallel psalms that were sung at the Passover. Probably it was the item of praise that Jesus and his disciples sang when they left the upper room where they had held the Passover and went to the Garden of Gethsemane.

In the psalm, there seems to be an individual and a group speaking, as can be observed from the singular and plural pronouns used. The three groups addressed – the nation, the priesthood, and proselytes (fearers of God) – were also addressed previously in Psalm 115. The psalm is a call to communal praise (vv. 1-4). Maybe this is the call from priests or Levites to worshippers.

Such a call raises the issue of personal contribution to the communal praise. Each participant should have their own reasons for taking part, and the psalmist outlines his reasons in verses 5-19.

He had been in great trouble because of what the surrounding nations were doing (v. 10). So this contribution is made by the king, probably David. He had called on God for help and his prayer had been heard. The psalmist now knew by experience that if the Lord was on his side, it did not matter who was against him. Indeed, because the Lord was on his side, he would be given total victory over his enemies. The obvious deduction is that ‘it is better to take refuge in the Lord than in the most powerful of men’ (vv. 5-9).

The king describes his experience of battle (vv. 10-14). He had been surrounded by foes, but the Lord had helped him and given him a great victory, a victory that seemed unlikely and which came very quickly, like a fire among thorns. The battle had been at close quarters (his opponents were like bees), yet he was enabled to defeat them. His strength was declining through his efforts, but the Lord empowered him to continue. Now he can celebrate the deliverance that he had received from the Lord.

It was not only the king who celebrated the victory. Others say that ‘The right hand of the Lord does valiantly, the right hand of the Lord exalts, the right hand of the Lord does valiantly!’ (vv. 15-16).

Yet the king had pondered why this had happened to him. It was the case that his life had been spared and he could recount how the Lord had helped him (v. 17). Nevertheless, the experience was one of divine discipline connected to his spiritual growth (v. 18). Such a response would not be expected from a victorious warrior, but David was a believer conscious of divine providence, and aware that every experience he had was and is connected to the fact that the Lord is working in his life.

In verse 19, the psalmist comes to the entrance to the place of worship and asks the doorkeepers to open the gates so that he can go in and give thanks to God. Their reply is stated in verse 20, assuring him that he can come through. Perhaps on his way, he noticed that a stone the builders had rejected had become the cornerstone of the building. So when he came to where he would give his thanks to God he mentioned this stone because its rejection and later usefulness was a picture of himself (vv. 21-22).

Verses 23-27 seem to be the response of the singers at the place of worship as they react to what they have heard from the mouth of the psalmist. They realise that the Lord had given him a marvellous victory. It was day of celebration for them as well because they participated in the benefits of the king’s victory (God’s face had shined on them in line with the Aaronic blessing). His victory was also a reason for them to have more victories, so they prayed for further success. Meanwhile, they welcomed the arrival of a king whom the Lord had obviously blessed and proceeded to make joyful sacrifices to the Lord.

The psalmist responds in verses 28 and 29. First, he once again thanks God for his faithfulness and praises him with gratitude. Second, he calls on those around him, who have heard his story, to give thanks to the Lord for his ongoing goodness through which he expresses his covenant love.

This psalm is a picture of what happened to Jesus. He is the stone that the builders rejected, but who has become the cornerstone of the church. The cornerstone is part of the foundation, and it is the stone that holds the foundation together. Jesus said he was the fulfilment of the rejected stone, and he told the Jews that they were the builders who had rejected him (Luke 20:17-18). And Paul reminds us in Ephesians 2:20 that believers are ‘built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone.’

Martin Luther found great encouragement from this psalm as he fought battles for the Lord. He had verse 17 placed as a plaque on his wall: ‘I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the Lord.’ We have heard what he did for Luther, and what the benefits have been for us.