Verse 1:

“Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord.”

Several verses come to mind when looking at this.  Psalm 1, where it speaks of not walking in the council of the ungodly, standing in the way of sinners, or sitting in the seat of the scornful, but instead delighting in the law and meditating on it day and night.  Also, the mention of ‘the way,’ brings to mind John 14:6, where Jesus is defined as ‘the way.’ So with those things in the back of our minds, let’s look at some of these words.

To be blessed causes me to think of being fulfilled, happy, and joyous.  To be favored.  So, this favoring of God that brings satisfaction and happiness, applies to the undefiled.  Those without blemish.  The pure.  And we are unblemished and pure thanks to the purifying blood of Jesus Christ.  We are “undefiled IN the Way.”  IN Jesus Christ, we find ourselves counted as pure and unblemished.  But that is just one part of this blessedness.

The other part is to “walk in His law.”  Jesus said to the Jews who believed Him, that if they ABIDED in His Word, they were His disciples in deed (John 8:31).  So this blessedness comes not only from finding yourself in His righteousness (undefiled in the way), but also from abiding in His Word (walk in His law). 

Bottom line?  If you want to be blessed (happy, satisfied, fulfilled, joyous, etc.), you must be born again (undefiled in the way) AND abiding in His Word (walking in His law).

Verse 2:

“Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.”

Here we find added blessing, or additional blessing.  And is to them that “keep His testimonies.”  I think that a lot of readers will assume that “to keep” implies “to do.”  While this may be true, I tend to see it in a different light.  I think that to “keep” is to cherish.  To hold on to, or to treasure.  That’s not to say that obedience isn’t necessary, but I tend to think that obedience is a natural byproduct of Christ in our hearts.  As we hold to, cherish, and abide in His Word, His Word produces obedience in us.  Not through will power or effort, but in a change in nature.  We have become new creatures, and the evidence of that new nature is that it is a nature that naturally obeys God.  It is a nature that cherishes obedience, so that it is not an effort on our part, it is simply who we are.  So keeping His testimonies, is to cherish, love, and hold on to His Word, and as it abides in us, it conforms us naturally to His image.

What about “seeking Him with our whole hearts?”  I’m not sure I have any insight on this.  I don’t know what it means to do something with your whole heart.  I know my own heart, and how selfish it is.  I see the dark areas that lurk inside.  So how can I seek Him with my whole heart?  I don’t know.  What I do know is that only He can help me.  I must cling to Him and ask Him to defeat me.  I must ask Him to conquer my whole heart.  To take the area’s that are still enmity against God, and to conform them to His image.  Perhaps that is what is meant by this?  I do not yet have, so I am still seeking.  If I had, I would no longer seek.  I don’t know…

Verse 3:

“They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.”

They, referring to us the blessed who keep His testimonies and seek Him with all our hearts, do no iniquity.  Tough one.  How do we deal with this verse?  For when I examine myself, I see that I DO iniquity.  What do we make of this then?  At first glance it has the tendency to suggest that perhaps I am NOT one of the blessed who keep His testimonies and seek Him, for by implication it seems to suggest that those who ARE blessed and keep His testimonies do no iniquity.  So, how do I deal with this (and I am assuming you as well, for if you are honest with yourself, you sin too).

There are two logical inferences to be made here, although I must admit that I do not have any spiritual insight on this.  In other words, I am connecting dots logically, based on other things I know of the Scriptures, but God has not revealed anything specific to me on this issue.  So, take this as my conjecture and nothing more.

1.  Perhaps this is saying that WHILE we are seeking Him with all our hearts we commit no iniquity.  But that would be a moment to moment thing.  In the times where we set our hearts on the things of this world, instead of on Him, we fall into iniquity.  And so, we ought to continually pursue Him (walk in the Spirit) and then we will not commit iniquity (walk after the flesh).  OR..,
2. We are dead to sin.  We are no longer under the law.  As born again children of God, we live in a different Kingdom, where iniquity is not counted to us.  For Christ has suffered and died once for all.  So while we do falter and grieve our Father, it is of a different sort than those who are without the Kingdom. 

I don’t know which of these, if either, is correct.  I do know that truthful self-examination reveals a man that does iniquity.  But at the same time, I believe that I am one of those who are blessed and seek Him with their whole hearts.  So how can these two seeming contradictions be reconciled?  I do not know…

I’ll put that on the “back burner” and move on to the second part of this verse.  Walking in His ways.  To walk, I think, implies to purse after.  To “seek,” or to “move towards.”  And His ways are outlined in the Scriptures.  To walk in His ways, are to diligently pursue Him in knowledge of the Scriptures.  To seek Him in the Holy pages.  To learn of Him and pursue His revelation in the Bible.

So, while the first part of this verse perplexes me and causes me to wonder why it is that I still do iniquity, the second part encourages me and causes me to love His Word, and cling to it, even more! 

Verse 4:

“Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.”

The Sovereign Lord of all creation COMMANDS us to keep His Word diligently.  It isn’t a suggestion or a plea, it is an order from the Most High.  This is something that MUST be done.  And what is His command?  That we KEEP (hold on to, treasure, etc.) His precepts (His Words) diligently (with fervor and confident desperation). 

It makes me think of the verse where the psalmists says that his soul ‘pants’ after God like a deer pants for water.  Imagine a dry-mouthed, desperate and thirsty deer seeking water.  The water is its sole focus.  I think that is what ‘diligent’ implies.  A desperate holding of His Word, as if our lives depend on it (because they do).  Man does not live by bread alone, but by every Word of God.  His Word is our spiritual meat.  We MUST have it to survive.  And so CLING to it with all desperation, loving and cherishing it’s life-giving goodness!

Verse 5:

“O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!”

And naturally, this response would be the cry of one who is desperately ‘thirsty’ for the precepts of God!  O that our ways were DIRECTED (pointed, aimed, fixed on, etc.) at keeping His Word.  This is the plea of a thirsty heart and it ought to be the plea of each of us.

The hearts motives cannot simply be changed by will power or self-determination.  We need a supernatural change of perspective, of thought, of motive, and of desire.  And He gives desires to those who fear Him!  Our plea is for HIM to direct our hearts towards keeping His statutes.  That HE would rearrange the pathways of our thoughts, and cause our hearts desires to be fixed on Him and His Word.  PLEASE God, grant to us what you command!  Grant unto us the desire and ‘thirst’ to desperately and diligently seek after Your Word!  What an amazing prayer this is!!

Verse 6:

“Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.”

And when God has granted us these new desires to be fixed on His Word, we will not be ashamed.  For His Word is never wrong.  After all, it is error, mistake, and foolishness that causes us shame, but if we are constantly in the absolute, then shame will never be a concern!  And we can see that this freedom from shame is the direct reaction to the cause, and that being respect (attention, awe, reverent obedience) unto His Word.

There is so much power in His Word.  It truly is our life source.  The air we breathe, the food we eat, the water we drink.  For the Word is a living representation of Jesus Christ (not in His fullness, but as He fully reveals Himself to us). 

Cherish and love His Word Saints.  Seek it with all your heart, and if you don’t desperately desire it, PRAY THAT YOU WOULD!  For it is better than life.

Verse 7:

“I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.”

Looking at the verse backwards, it is after the Lord has taught us His perfect and holy (righteous) Word (judgments), that we will offer praise and worship to Him with upright hearts.  So what is meant by “upright?”  I think it means sincere and pure.  Righteous and ‘real.’  It’s not forced or coerced worship/praise, but it is a natural springing up of praise that comes from learning His Word.

When we experience truths of the Scripture, it causes us to rejoice in awe and wonder.  Seeing new aspects of our King, produces in us a joyful worship.  I tend to think that this is what Heaven will be like.  Eternal new perspectives of Jesus Christ.  A never ending flood of revelation after revelation of His glorious goodness.  Which is “learning” Him.  In Heaven, it will be experienced in it’s fullness, in the meantime it is experienced in His Word. 

As we learn of His Word, He reveals (through the working of the Holy Spirit) new aspects and new truths about Himself.  And in return, our hearts overflow with awesome (full of awe) joy, and spring out into praise!

Verse 8:

“I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.”

How could this experience in verse 7 NOT spring into verse 8?  Because of these truths in 7, I will keep His Word!!  Knowing the kind of joy that it produces, and the kind of praise it stirs in our hearts, how can we not respond with a determination to KEEP His Word?!  But then, the immediate recognition is that this determinate plan to keep His Word depends on Him!  “Please don’t forsake us Lord!”

The word “utterly,” is interesting.  It brings to mind the verse in Ps. 37 where it talks about how we may slip, but we will not be utterly cast down (verse 24).  And why?  Because it is the Lord who upholds us! 

The reality of the situation is, we sometimes do slip.  God, in His infinite wisdom and goodness, allows and determines this for our own good.  He uses chastisement and “slipping” to purify us and make us holy.  But He never forsakes us.  He withholds His protection sometimes (like Job and Peter when he was sifted) in order to purify our hearts and bring us further in our sanctification. 

So the cry is not that we never slip, but that we not utterly slip.  When we are real with ourselves, and holiness is our goal, we may NEED to slip in order to rid our hearts of the wickedness within.  But we could not fall without the hope that we will not be left in that state.  Our God WILL get us to the finish line and WILL purify us!  Thank God!!

Verse 9:

“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.”

And that leads us into verse 9 here.  How is it that a young man (or woman) is cleansed and purified?  By taking heed to the Word!  It is the application of His Word that purifies us.  We are cleansed by His Word.  Sanctified by His Word.  Made Holy by His Word!

As we abide in His Word, His Word abides in us.  And His Word is alive and powerful, quickened by the Holy Spirit.  So when it is in us, it does it’s purifying work and purifies us!!  It is not religious effort and self-will, it is merely His Word doing what His Word does.  It is a natural work done in us, for we are His workmanship!

There is a beauty and simplicity in the work of God, by the power of the Holy Spirit, through His Word.  As His Word enters in, mixed with the gift of faith in His Son that He gives us, it produces a new nature with new desires in us!  And as His Word works itself out in our lives, it produces Christ-like character and obedience.  Not forced or compelled, but in joy and satisfaction, because it is WHO we’ve become!

So, how are we cleansed?  By His Word!

Verse 10:

“With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.”

Earlier we saw a cry to a blessing to those who seek Him with their whole heart, and here we see an affirmation that the Psalmist has done this very thing.  But again, the question remains how?  How does one seek the Lord with their whole heart?  It seems like an impossibility, when I know my own heart and how easily it is distracted from pursuing the Lord.

Perhaps this is discussing our inner man.  While on the surface, our hearts can often be divided and unfocused, deep down, at our inner most core, the born again man/woman’s most pressing desire is the Lord.  For it is He in us, causing us to desire Him with our whole hearts.  I think of the verse that states even when we are unfaithful, He remains faithful.  The born again “part” of us, is in reality Him.  It is Him in us, causing us to live (therefore it is no longer I who live, but Christ in me...).  He is the resurrection and the life, and the life that we now have is Him.  He is the deepest, most central part of us, and He cannot deny Himself.  He causes us to seek Him with all our hearts!  What a great mystery!

And immediately after this proclamation of determinate seeking, is a cry of complete dependence on God.  “Let me not wander.”  Let implies authority.  It is the Lord’s doing.  It is His work, and therefore, He gets the glory.  In other words, the only way in which we will not wander from His commandments, is if He “lets” it.  If He permits and causes it.  So let our cries of dependence ALWAYS remain on Him and not us.  He is our only hope, our only recourse.  Salvation, sanctification, justification, and ultimately VICTORY, all belong to Him and Him alone!

Verse 11:

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”

What a beautiful verse.  A key to defeating sin in our lives, is hiding His Word in our hearts!  So what does it mean to hide His Word in our hearts?  Psalm 1 says to meditate on His Word day and night.  We are to examine, chew over, and cherish His Word.  It has been said that like a cow chews the cud, we ought to spiritually “chew” the Word.

You see, a cow will eat the grass and it will enter the first stomach.  Then it will regurgitate the grass back up and rechew it.  It will do this through each of the cows 4 stomachs.  And so we are to do with the Word.  We “chew it” by mediating on it and considering it from each angle.  Looking at the meaning of each word, and its context within the chapter.  We also examine its context within the Book and within the Bible as a whole.  Comparing it to other Scriptures of the same topic.  We examine it in light of what we know of other Scriptures and consider it as a whole.  Then we apply it to our lives and think about it throughout the day.  In so doing, it as if we are “chewing” it over and over again.  Getting it deep into our hearts.  And by doing so, we give ourselves ammunition to use against sin, when temptation comes creeping in.

Cherish the Word of God Saints!  It is “delicious!”

Verse 12:

“Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thy statutes.”

Now the Psalmists heart rings out in praise.  Blessed are you Lord!  The Lord is favored, benefited, cherished, honored, and loved.  Why?  Because through this examination of His Word, we realize how amazing our God is and what a great gift He has given us!  And so our cry is for Him to teach us His Word.  For we can examine, meditate, and consider all we want, but unless the Lord gives us knowledge and understanding, it will be in vain.

An unsaved man can read and examine and consider and never come to an understanding of the Truth.  For spiritual things are spiritually discerned and require a spiritual nature.  And as we, the born again, read, THE Spirit (who wrote the very Words) teaches us and reveals to us His meaning and meanings (for there is a multitude of depth and truth in every jot and tittle).

The Word says we have no need of a teacher, for THE Teacher dwells in us.  As we read and consider, His Holy Spirit enlightens the eyes of our hearts and speaks His universal and eternal truths to us!  For me, this is the best part of being a Christian!  When the Lord takes a Word, opens your eyes, and reveals awe inspiring and jaw dropping Truths!!  Oh what joy and bliss!!  PLEASE LORD, teach us Your statutes!

Verse 13:

“With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.”

It seems to be a natural progression, that once a heart is settled on God’s Word, and meditating on it day and night, it will lead to praise and sharing.  Our desire, once tasting and seeing how good the Lord and His Word are, is to share that goodness with others.  To see them experience the same blessings we do.  His goodness pours forth from our lips naturally as we tell the world of Him.

Is it not our burning desire?  Do we not crave to share with others this blessing?  It is as real an evidence of the work done in us, as is a changed life.  Praising the Lord and telling of His works, simply becomes who we are.  We can’t help but tell others and speak of Him.  For from the heart, springs the words of the lips.  And if His Word is hid in our hearts, than it is His Word that will spring forth from our lips! 

^{Verse 14:}

^{“I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.”}

The joy that His Word produces is greater than riches.  We read multiple times in the Scriptures how His Word is to be treasured more than gold, silver, rubies, and precious jewels.  As a matter of fact, when we the born again consider the riches this world has to offer, they are NOTHING compared to knowing Him.  He is so far above all so called “riches.” 

In comparison to Him, we learn to despise riches.  Especially when they take the focus off of Him.  It brings to remembrance the Proverb, where the writer asked the Lord to give Him neither too little OR too much.  For great riches can often be a trap that cause us to forget to rely on the Lord.  His Word, and the WAY of His Word (the obedience it produces in us, rather than just the reading of it) should cause us to rejoice.  And that rejoicing should at least equal the rejoicing we would have if we had ALL riches.

Verse 15:

“I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.”

Here again we see an emphasis on meditating on the Word, which was previously inferred from other verses.  The psalmist is making a declarative declaration of determination to meditate on God’s Word and respect His Word.  We’ve already discussed meditating on the Word when we looked at hiding His Word in our hearts, so let’s look here at having respect for the Word of God.  What does that mean?  To have respect unto His ways?

Let us first determine what His ways are.  In the context of this chapter, His ways are His proclaimed Word.  The things that He has chosen to reveal to us in His written Word are His ways.  So what does it mean to have respect unto His Word?

To respect is to honor, to give heed to, and to place yourself in subjection to.  The first thing that comes to mind is Proverbs 3 where we are to lean not on our own understanding, but to trust in the Lord.  In other words, we are not trusting our own minds, logic and reasoning, but instead are placing ourselves in subjection (under the headship of) to His Word.  We respect His Word by trusting it, abiding in it, obeying it, and placing ourselves under it.  For He is God and we are not.  His ways are higher than ours, surely He knows more than we do in all situations and it would be the wisest thing we could do to trust in Him (respect His ways).

Verse 16:

“I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.”

Here we find two more declarative statements.  “I will,” is a definitive proclamation, and one that shouldn’t be made lightly.  For we read in another place, “let your yay be yay and your nay nay.”  In other words, do what you say you will do.  So to boldly make definitive “I will” statements is courageous (or foolish…depending on your heart…The psalmist is in the Spirit, so we can assuredly say it is the first and not the later). 

So why can the psalmist make such bold statements?  Taking from what we’ve already read, he is relying on the Lord to produce this fruit in him.  Because the Lord will give us the desires of our hearts, we can rest assured that He will cause us to delight in His Word.  Because He brings to remembrance all things He has done, we can trust that we will not forget His Word. 

His Word is alive and powerful, and so as we abide in it and meditate on it day and night, it does what living things do and produces in us.  Not of effort or will power, but because that is its nature.  That is what it does.  It produces fruit in us, including delight and persevering remembrance. 

So, knowing that we cherish His Word and knowing that His Word abides in us and we in it, we can make declarative statements based on trusting that His Word does not return void and accomplishes what He intends!  I WILL delight in His Word and I WILL remember it, for it is He that causes His Word to prosper in me!  Bold (and scary) statements.

Verse 17:

“Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word.”

This is a pretty common theme in the Psalms.  The psalmist pleads with God in a unique way.  In other Scriptures, he says “Don’t kill me,” or “Don’t let me be destroyed.”  Here, he says “Deal bountifully…that I may live.”  Same thought behind each plea.  And his reasoning is the same in each.  Why should God do these things?  So that we can live and praise Him (or in this case keep His Word).  Each time it is a plea to give us mercy, so that we can return glory to God.  In other words, “Don’t let me die God, for then how could I give you glory?”  It is an interesting way to talk to God.

“God, give me Your favor, SO THAT, I can honor/glorify you by keeping your Word.”  Let me live God, that way I can continue to cherish, honor, and abide in Your Word.  And in doing so, Lord, You get glory. 

I don’t think I am doing justice to this or expressing this clearly enough, but just think about your own life.  When you are oppressed and/or chastened of the Lord, is not your plea for selfish reasons?  Do we not reason with God this way:  “Please God relieve this burden, for it is too much for me.”  Or, “Please God, ease your chastisement, it is too hard.”  But that is not how the psalmist pleads.  His plea is for God’s sake.  Perhaps there is something to learn there?

“Please God, show us your favor and blessings so that we can praise and honor You and abide lovingly in Your Word.”  For His sake, not ours.  For His glory, not our comfort.  I hope that makes sense…

Verse 18:

“Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.”

You’ve heard the old hymn, right?  “Open the eyes of my heart Lord.  I want to see You.”  I love the plea of dependence on God.  We can do NOTHING of our own.  Not even see correctly!  It takes an act of God to OPEN our eyes and allow us to see.  That is beautiful, because it shows complete reliance on God for EVERYTHING.  If we are to see correctly, then God is going to have to do it.

And the desire is a beautiful one.  Not a desire to see for seeing sake, but so that we can behold the wondrous things in God’s Word!  It is a spiritual sight.  For the Words of God are Spirit and are spiritually discerned (seen).  We need God to open the eyes of our heart (give us spiritual discernment), and then we will be able to perceive the wondrous and amazing truths of God revealed in His holy Word!

Is there a better plea?  I pray that God open all of our eyes, so that we can see the wondrous beauty in His Word.  And when we see those amazing things, our hearts will overflow with awe and praise, which will spring forth out of our mouths with singing and worship.  And that is how God reflects His glory off of us and to the dark world!  Oh that He would open our eyes to see His beauty!

Verse 19:

“I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me.”

What an odd verse.  I am a stranger in the earth.  Why this statement?  Well, is that not how we feel?  Us, the born again, have no place in this earth.  We are “out of tune” with everyone else.  We don’t fit in.  We don’t desire and take pleasure in the same things that they do.  We find ourselves at variance with the rest of the world.  And so what do we need?  Why, a letter from home!!

Do not hide Your commandments from me Lord, for they are all I have in this world.  They are my Light, my desire, my love.  What else have I but You oh Lord, and until You come, all we have is Your Word (and His Presence in us and in our brothers/sisters)!! 

So don’t withhold Lord.  Give us Your Commandments and give them in abundance!  Fill us with Your Word Lord.  Do not deprive us of our one and only TRUE joy on this earth, namely You and Your revealed self in the Holy Word!

Verse 20:

“My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times.”

Oh to have this heart!  To be broken with a longing for God’s Word at all times!!  To cherish and love it so much, that being without it causes grief and sorrow.  That is love! 

It’s like a husband separated from his wife (or vice versa).  A passion and love that does not want to be apart for one moment.  And this is how we ought to be with His Word.  For His Word is a revelation of Himself.  It IS Jesus Christ to us (in part).  And we NEED Him.  We crave for Him.  For we are His and He is ours.  And as our bridegroom, we long for Him.  To be with Him and hear His soothing Words.  It makes one think of the Song of Solomon.  In the same way that that book was written as a reflection of marital love, Psalm 119 is a reflection of our “marriage” to the Word of God, and by proxy, THE Word of God, Jesus Christ!

Verse 21:

“Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from thy commandments.”

Here we have a switch in timbre.  We see the “flip side” of the coin, so to speak.  Those that err (stray, go wrong, abandon) from the Word of God, are rebuked and cursed.  Most terrifying!  To be rebuked by the All Mighty!?  To be cursed by the One who has all power in His tongue!?  Sobering and terrible.

But such is the case for those who abandon the Word of God.  They are referred to as “proud.”  For they do not submit to His authority, but rather determine in their own hearts, that they know best.  They will determine their path, and they make the rules.  They will follow their own commandments.  What arrogance and pride (and such were we before the grace of God came in…Thank GOD for His mercy!). 

These rebellious sort (the lost and unregenerate), proudly go their own way and JUSTLY face the wrath of God.  He has commanded and they have disregarded.  The mass insanity that lies in rebelling against the All Mighty King!  To us the born again, it is incomprehensible.  And yet we were in that place at one point in time.  But now our eyes have been opened and we can see how insane it is to rage against our Creator.  How foolish and futile it is to make war with the One who holds all things (including our lives) in His hand.  How can one rage against the merciful One who gives him/her breath?  It is asinine on the grandest scale!  “Proud” is the perfect word to describe them.

Verse 22:

“Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies.”

I don’t know if the psalmist here is asking that God remove from him his own reproach and contempt, or that coming from outside influences.  I think it is perhaps the later.  For all who desire to live Godly WILL suffer persecution.  The darkness hates the Light, and as we cling to Him, the world will seek to throw us off.

But the psalmist here is pleading with God once again.  Realizing his dependence on God and His mercy, he begs for protection BECAUSE He has kept (cherished, clung to, loved, and abided in) the Lords Word.  In other words, “Lord, because I love and trust and cling to your Word, protect me from those without.  Keep me from those who attack, ridicule, and hate.  Remove me far from them.”

Our Daddy is our protector.

Verse 23:

“Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.”

In the last verse, I wasn’t sure if the reproach and contempt were self-inflicted or coming from outside sources.  I thought that perhaps it was referring to the later, and here is added evidence to support that.  For the psalmists train of thought stays on outward affliction for the next few verses.

Not only do our contemporaries in this world hate us, but those in power do as well.  We live in a world where the devil rules and gives the kingdoms to whom he will.  He establishes his people in power, and they rage and plot against Christ and against His people.  So it is no strange thing that the “princes” of this world speak evil against us.  They want to rid the world of the Light.

Now, if we did not have an understanding of God’s providence and power, this would be a scary thought.  But God rules over them all.  He laughs at their vain imaginations. And so knowing that God is in control, we can “sit back and relax.”  And the more we are familiar with His plans,(outlined in His Word) and the more we are familiar with His character, (outlined in His Word) the more at ease we will be.

We can meditate on His Word and SEE that He is all powerful and sovereign.  We can SEE that He uses the schemes and ploys of the devil to benefit His children and bring Himself glory.  We can SEE that the futile plans of the wicked come to nothing, but the righteous shine brighter and brighter unto that day!  As we trust in His Word, we are set at ease, regardless of who is plotting and speaking against us!

Verse 24:

“Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counselors.”

YES!  This should be our hearts cry!  Our hearts should overflow with the joy/delight of the Word of God, AND we should look to it for our decision making (counselors). 

There is nothing more joyous than sitting in the glorious Light of Jesus Christ as revealed in His Word.  Every jot and tittle carries with it innumerable blessings and joy!  Every single Word from God is sweet mana from Heaven for our souls.  The natural outpouring of that joy being placed in us, is delight!  As God fills us with this joy and amazement, it will overflow out of our lives as delight.

And, on the flip side of that coin, God’s Word is our counselor.  Our guide and Shepherd.  His Word directs us in all situations in life.  As His Word is buried in our hearts, it works itself out in a life of obedience.  As we learn to trust His Word and lean on it for our decisions, we enter into His rest.  His Word directs our paths in righteousness and helps us to avoid the snares of life.  And even when we do fall into a snare, His Word guides us out.

The bottom line is this.  We have NO foresight.  We don’t know what each decision we make will do, in terms of cause and effect.  Each and every decision has multitudes of “ripple effects.”  And we have no idea which will lead to bad and which will lead to good.  We are like blind men stumbling in the dark.  BUT, His Word is a lamp.  It is our counselor, advising us in wisdom in ALL situations.  As long we follow it, we will be ok.  As long as we look to His Word for answers, we will never go wrong.  His Word is a most POWERFUL light, guiding us and directing our steps. 

Verse 25:

“My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word.”

When you’re doing a verse by verse study, it can be hard to keep things in the context of the chapter.  I’ve looked at this Psalm more like a Proverb, than a contextual thought.  That is, I’ve been looking at each individual verse as its own stand-alone ‘nugget’ of wisdom, more than as one coherent and flowing thought.  Typically, this could be a dangerous way to study the Scriptures.  We always want to keep things in the context of the paragraph, the chapter, the book, and the Bible as a whole.  But I’ve been viewing this chapter as more of wisdom poetry than as doctrinal theology.  So PLEASE, if I go beyond the parameters of what the context is suggesting, correct me.  It’s just hard to keep context in mind, when you’re looking at one individual verse at a time, with days in between.

I say that, because the tone of the psalm seems to change here.  Up until now, it seems to have been exhortation towards loving the Word of God.  But now, it seems to take on more of a desperate plea to God, which is more typical of a psalm.  In other words, it goes from the “bullet point” wisdom which is typical of a Proverb, to a prayer/plea of an afflicted individual (which is typical of a Psalm).  And when you see a drastic change like that, it causes you to reexamine how you’ve been reading/studying up until this point.  I pray that it is safe to continue on in the fashion I have been, which is wisdom.

So where is the wisdom here in this verse?  We have all felt down at points in our life.  As a matter of fact, I would suggest that it happens quite frequently.  Something happens (in this case, maybe oppression and outside persecution) that causes us to feel despondent.  Low and cast down.  Poetically speaking, “in the dust.”  What is our recourse according to this verse?  The Word of God!

The Word of God is alive (quickening) and powerful.  It has the ability to “raise” us up.  To lift our spirits out of the dust and breathe life into us.  And the psalmist recognizes this and pleads with God to grant it.  A living Word, that brings with it growth, sanctification, righteousness, holiness, peace, contentment and joy, planted within us, WILL produce these things in us and cause us to rise out of the state we are in.  

When we are down Saints, look to the Word to lift you.  Read it with spiritual eyes of discernment, and watch as it brings its quickening (life giving) power!

Verse 26:

“I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes.”

The Psalmist here is resolute.  He has made a firm declaration of his intentions, and he is confident that the Lord hears him.  We too should share in that confidence. 

As we grow in the Lord and become more and more careful at examining our hearts, we too can be more confident in our declarations to the Lord.  Our hearts are deceptive and misleading.  Sometimes our surface level thoughts (and even our secondary and tertiary thoughts) are not the real motives and intents that lie deep within.  And so we learn by the grace of the Holy Spirit in us, to deeply examine ourselves and to find what our root motives and intentions are.  And as we grow in the Lord, our base motives become more and more in line with Him and His righteousness.  This is sanctification.

And when we reach the point that our motives are pure and true (by Gods grace), then we can resolutely declare our ways to the Lord.  For it is HE that has given us the desires of our hearts, and because they are from Him, they are pure, and therefore the Lord will hear them!  And with confidence we can know that the Lord hears us and answers us!  What amazing grace!

Knowing this, our request is:  “Teach me more, Lord!  Give me MORE of your desires for me.  Purify me further.  Continue in your sanctifying process and make me even more pure!”  This is the cry a pure heart utters.  And we KNOW that this purifying work comes from the abiding of His Word in us, and we in it.  There is beauty here beyond all words.  For it is God at work in us, both causing us to act and granting us the desires of our hearts, which reflects back to Him in praise and worship, thus glorifying Him and filling us with satisfying joy!  PRAISE GOD for a God like this!!

Verse 27:

“Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.”

I always enjoy phrases like “make me.”  God’s sovereignty is my favorite attribute of God, because I love the peace that comes from knowing He is in control over every single detail.  It brings contentment in the face of adversity, and joy knowing that no matter what happens, it is designed by a loving, kind, righteous, and holy God.  And so when I see a phrase like “make me,” it brings that kind of peace and contentment to my heart.

You see, we can do nothing of our own power.  It’s not just that we can’t understand, it’s that we do not have the ability to understand unless God grants it to us.  Augustine said, “God, command what Thou willest, and grant what Thou commandest.”  In other words, whatever is good for us to do, whatever is commanded of the Lord, He must grant us the ability and desire to do it!  In this fashion, God gets all the glory for everything and we are not allowed the opportunity to steal from His glory by taking credit for things ourselves.  Not even in the slightest.  Even understanding is granted to us by God.  The beautiful thing is, that in God getting all the glory, we get filled with satisfying joy. 

Once again in this verse, we see that the natural byproduct of God granting us wisdom and understanding in His Word, is an outpouring of praise from our lips.  When God opens our eyes to see His wonders revealed in His Word, our hearts spring forth with praise and awe.  We tell others about the amazing things we’ve experienced.  I heard Pastor John Piper say that an appreciation for a thing is not complete until we share it with others in praise.  I.E. “Did you see that amazing play?!  Have you tasted how good this is?  Did you watch that movie?”  The praise is part of the joy.

And so it is, when God reveals things to us, we MUST share them with others in praise.  I think one of the biggest signs that a person is born again, is that the praises of Christ are frequently on their lips.  How can you experience the goodness of God and NOT talk about it?  It is an impossibility.  Those who say that they know Him, and yet their lips continually praise the things of this world with little to no talk of God, have simply not truly tasted of the Lord.  You CANNOT see Him and remain silent.  He will be the praise of your lips IF He has truly done a work in your heart and revealed unto you His majesty.

Verse 28:

“My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word.”

Here we have another cry of despondency.  The psalmist is wore down (melted) from the heaviness of life.  Due to the oppression and persecution he is feeling, he is cast down.  Just as we to are cast down by life, we are strengthened by the Word of God.

I think of the verse that says the joy of the Lord is our strength.  It is the joy of the Lord that picks us up and lifts our spirits.  When we are depressed and “beat up,” we lose our strength.  We mope around like the weight of the world is on us.  We don’t feel like doing anything, all motivation is lost, we feel tired and worn out.  It really does steal our strength. 

But, remembering our God, as He is revealed in the Scriptures, strengthens us.  It lifts our spirits.  We put on the garment of praise in place of the spirit of heaviness.  We are strengthened according to His Word.  According to His Word…The promises of God that show us He is for us and not against us.  He works all things for our good and is bringing us to an expected end.  We were chosen from the foundation of the world and all our steps are directed by Him in order to conform us to the image of His Son.  We are being created in His image.  These ideas and promises of God ought to lift us out of the dust and raise us on high!

Celebrate the Lord, Saints!  When you are cast down, remember His sweet and precious promises.  Lift up your heads, examine the Word and worship the Lord.  He will renew your strength and you will soar like eagles!

Verse 29:

“Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously.”

Here we find yet another request focusing on the necessity of God to provide.  “Remove,” is a statement of dependence.  We cannot do it, God needs to step in.  Praise God that He does!

The psalmist is asking to have the “way of lying” removed from him.  What does this mean?  The “way” of lying?  I see two possible answers, and one which I believe is more accurate. 

One, the “way” of lying, could be the pathway of lies.  I think of Psalm 1 where it states “blessed is the man…that stands not in the WAY of sinners.”  It is the path, or lifestyle, of sinners/liars. 

Two, and this is the one I believe to be more accurate, the psalmist is talking about the “way” of sin in himself.  The habit and continual falling into lying.  Either way, the psalmist recognizes his dependence on God to do the removing.  For if it is an external ‘way,’ then God needs to grant circumstances and favor to prevent the psalmist from going that way.  And if it is the internal ‘way,’ then it is a sin problem, which is a heart problem, and can only be resolved by the One who made (and can remake) the heart.  He is the only One that can cause us to think, and thereby act, differently.

So it is in our own lives.  Whether we are seeking protection from the outside influences of the world, or deliverance from our own personal sins, we rely completely on God.  Our will power will not fix the problem.  The Great Physician needs to do a work, and the Great Shepherd needs to guide us out of harms way.  In both cases, we need God to act.

Which then leads into the second part of this verse, which again shows utter dependence on God.  “Grant” me thy law graciously.  In other words, “Lord bless me with favor I do not deserve by giving me Your holy and precious Word (which is life unto me).”  Oh how we need God, Saints!  EVERYTHING depends on Him.

Verse 30:

“I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me.”

Here we see a resolute heart.  After proclaiming utter dependence on God, the psalmist now resolutely proclaims to choose the way of truth.  It is only by God’s grace at work in our hearts that we are able to choose anything good.  As we’ve previously seen, it is He who causes us to desire and grants to us the ability to do righteousness.  Which in this case is a determination to walk in the way of truth.  And what is that “way?”  It is a lifestyle focused on and dedicated to God’s Word.  For it is in His Word that we learn “the way” and gain the ability to walk in it.

It’s funny that both the “way” and the “truth” are mentioned here.  It causes me to think of John 14:6, where Jesus is referred to as both the “Way,” and the “Truth.”  In Jesus is the fullness of the Godhead bodily.  He is the complete revelation of God.  And in the same way, His Word is a revelation of Himself.  He AND the Word are the “way” and the “truth,” for they are one and the same!  The Word is a living revelation of Jesus Christ, just as Jesus Christ is a living revelation of the Godhead.  There is a reason Jesus is called “The Word become flesh.”  He is the way and the truth and we can absorb that way and truth by abiding in His Word.

“Thy judgments have I laid before me,” causes me to think of the verse that says His law is a lamp unto our feet.  Laying them (the judgments) before us, shows us the path of life.  His judgments reveal to us the way in which we should walk.  Without the revelation of God, we would be blind men in the dark, simply guessing which path to take to Heaven.  But because God has given us His Word, we can “lay” His Word before us (study it, absorb it, cherish it, obey it) and it will guide our path.  It will show us the way in which to walk.  Praise God for giving us His holy Word!!

Verse 31:

“I have stuck unto thy testimonies: O Lord, put me not to shame.”

I would like to consider this verse in reverse.  In other words, I would like to examine the second half first.  It is a plea for God to be faithful.  It’s like saying to God, “Because I have trusted in Your Word, and because You must show Yourself faithful, do not fail me.  Prove Your Word.”  It almost has a ring of distrust, but I think it’s just the psalmist being real with his emotions.  Like saying, “Ok God.  I trusted in You and here comes the storm.  I’m scared now that I see it coming, please don’t fail me!”

Picture yourself building a wall to protect you from the wind.  You KNOW you’ve purchased the best material.  You KNOW that it was built perfectly.  You KNOW that it has been tested by many others and has withstood the wind.  But now the day of testing has come.  The wind approaches and you brace yourself behind the wall, saying “Don’t fail me now!”  It’s really foolish on our part, but I think it is an honest exclamation of the fear/doubt that lies in us.

“Oh you of little faith,” Jesus said to the disciples when the storm scared them.  And so it is for us and the psalmist.  Let us resolutely trust in the Lord.  When the storm comes, let’s get to the point where we don’t have to exclaim, “Lord, don’t put me to shame.”  Let’s trust wholeheartedly that He will NOT put us to shame, because He has promised not to and He is trustworthy!

Verse 32:

“I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.”

There are some familiar phrases used here in this verse.  The first that jumps out is “run.”  It brings to mind when Paul said that we are “running” a race.  It is the enduring effort of faith.  Not that it is of us, but it is Him in us, causing us to “run” this race of life with enduring faith.  We know the finish line is ahead.  We know the victory that awaits.  And we also know the struggle of sin, the struggle of the world, and the struggle with the devil that stands in our way.  And so we “run,” as it were as hard as we can.  We fight and strive against ourselves, against the lusts of this world, and against the wiles of the devil, all the while aware that it is God at work in us.  It is He who gets the victory, nevertheless we ‘run’ as hard as we can.

The next word/phrase that jumps out is “the way.”  Jesus IS the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  Therefore, the “way” is His way.  The righteous way.  The holy way.  The right way.  So, not only do we run, but we run on the correct path.  We strive and struggle on the path of righteousness.  We run hard after holiness.  Striving and struggling for sanctification and purity.  And this ‘way’ is outlined in His commandments.  It is His Word that directs our path.  It is His Word that lights the race track.  It is His Word that shows us the right way to take.  And so we diligently study His Word under the guidance and shepherding of the Holy Spirit, and we run as hard as we can on the path that it shows us.

When do we run this race?  Why, it is when God enlarges our hearts.  It is when He does the work.  He is the author and finisher of our faith.  We are His workmanship.  We “work out” our salvation, for it is He that works in us.  He is the initiator of all things.  It is He who moves in us and causes us to run this race.  He grants our hearts the ability and desire to run and then causes us to do so.  In this way, though we run hard in the right way, He gets all the glory for it.  As Paul once said, “I have labored more abundantly than all, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.”

Saints, we run, and we run hard towards holiness and sanctification.  And when we have run with all we have, we recognize that it was God who actually did it in us.  All glory be to God!

Verse 33:

“Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.”

There is once more an utter dependence on God for all things.  In order to have any true knowledge, the Lord must teach us.  Nothing else we learn can be trusted.  All the so called “facts” that we absorb throughout life, are dependent on man.  Our own thoughts, logic and reasoning.  Our own senses and discernment.  These things can only be trusted so far, if at all.  Especially in light of the fact that we are fallen creatures, where EVERYTHING is tainted by sin and disobedience.  Even our thoughts, motives and logic.

As such, only what God Himself reveals to us can be trusted as absolute fact.  He is the All-Knowing One.  He is the One who never lies.  He is the One who never makes mistakes.  He is the One who communicates perfectly and Who’s motives are pure.  And so anything He says can be trusted as absolute fact.  100% reliable.  So knowing that, causes us to plead with Him to teach us.  To reveal to us His reality.  To show us what it is we need to know, and specifically in this case, to teach us His Holy Word and the path that they outline.

Dependence is the common theme among the verses of Psalm 119, but another common theme is resolution and resolve.  The psalmist is declaring that once God has taught Him His way, he will hold onto these teachings all the days of his life!  There’s an ebb and flow of God working in us, and in return we, having firm and resolute determination, BECAUSE it is God working in us.  You do it Lord and I will do it because it is You doing it through me!  Amazing.

Verse 34:

“Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.”

Here is that theme again!  You do God, and I will do because of You!  When the Lord grants unto us His blessings (in this case understanding), we reply with firm resolution to do His commandments.  For it is Him empowering and causing and He does not fail!  I will be careful to maintain good works, BECAUSE it is He doing it in me!  What a beautiful way in which God deals with us.  A commandment goes forth.  He grants us eyes to see our inability to carry out said commandment.  He then grants us repentance and ability to carry out that commandment.  He then causes us to move into said commandment (desire AND ability AND the actual movement of doing the thing).  And so we can say with resolution that it WILL be done.  And the end result is His glory and our joy!  Praise God for a God like this!

Verse 35:

“Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.”

Again, another plea of utter dependence.  I love it so much.  This Psalm may be the greatest chapter in all the Bible (at least for me…Along with Ephesians 2 J).  Not only is it a love poem to the Word of God, but it continually reiterates the sovereignty of God and our absolute dependence on Him.  Beautiful.

Here again we read of this ‘path’ of His commandments.  The path/way of righteousness and holiness.  And if we are going to go down this path (or up would be more appropriate), then it will require an act of God.  We will need His Sovereign and controlling hand to do the work for us.  For we are completely unable.  And so our plea is, MAKE me go in this path Lord.  Cause it.  Maneuver in my heart and in my circumstances to cause me to walk in Your way.  Create the desires in me, stir up the motivation, create the circumstances, direct my steps, etc.  For ONLY if you do it all Lord will I be able to do it.  For nothing of myself is capable of walking this path.

Then we read about the ‘delight’ of the psalmist.  Which makes me think of the Scripture where the Lord gives us the desires of our hearts.  Not like a genie granting wishes, but a Creator causing our hearts to think, move, and act in a certain way.  The desires that He wants us to have (good and wholesome desires), He places in our hearts.  And paramount amongst these desires, is the desire for Him and His revelation in His Word.

So, we see that God grants the desire for His Word to us.  He causes us to delight in and seek after His Word.  Then, after receiving His Word and seeing it’s righteous commandments, He grants us the motive, ability, and direction to DO said commandments.  It is all His work!!

Verse 36:

“Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.”

Incline.  Direct, steer, turn towards.  It takes the Lords regenerating and renewing work in us to cause us to turn towards His testimonies.  This is what the word “repent” signifies.  A turning away from self and sin and towards Christ, God, and righteousness.  But it is God that grants repentance, and so we beg that He turns us towards Himself and towards His Word.  For our natural inclination is to run from the pure Light of Christ.  To hide ourselves from Him, like Adam and Eve in the Garden.  The natural man flees from the face of God and hides his sin from the all holy One.

But when God grants us repentance and opens our eyes to Him, we plead that He turn us from our dark paths and steers us towards His Light.  The Light that is found in His face and in His Word.

But now a unique ‘turn’ of events.  Why the mention of ‘covetousness?’  Perhaps this is because this is the hearts natural inclination?  Perhaps the things our hearts naturally turn towards are selfish desires and pleasurable gain.  And that at the cost of others and at the cost of God!  We naturally, and most wickedly, seek our own desires.  Our hearts turn towards the things that will bring us most pleasure, and we long for them (covetousness) like an addict.  We desire and crave the things that please our flesh.  Whether that be fame and fortune, or getting high and drunk, or having sex.  Whatever it is, it is caused by the selfish desires of our hearts that our inclined to our own pleasures.  Utter wickedness.

BUT, when God steps in and makes us anew, we are given an inclination towards Him and His things.  And so we plead, “PLEASE GOD, continue to turn me from wickedness and towards You.  PLEASE continue to set my heart on You!”  This plea is the plea of a new nature!

Verse 37:

“Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.”

And now the psalmist seems to take a step back.  If the desires are where our coveting wickedness begin, our eyes are where they start to play themselves out.  For we see the things of this world (which we learn in Ecclesiastes are all vanity/empty), and the lure of the earthly sense stirs up our wicked desires.  And so the Psalmist (like Job when he declared that he would set no wicked thing before his eyes) pleads with God to guide his senses.  To forcefully turn his eyes away from the lures of the flesh.  For we have no power to do it ourselves.  Our flesh nature will win.  Only God can accomplish this feat.

That is why ‘legalism’ and ‘religion’ are pathways of death.  For they depend on will power and fleshly strength.  “Just say no” to your fleshly impulses.  And often people are tricked because they can resist…for a time.  But this self-powered effort simply will not do.  We need God to step in and TURN our eyes from the emptiness of this world.  We need Him to strengthen (or quicken) us.  To empower us with HIS power to turn our eyes from wicked things.

It is only when the Lord steps in and empowers us (quickens) that we shall be able to get ultimate victory over the flesh.  The flesh man’s desires are deep within the heart and are played out on the senses.  But if God will turn our hearts from wicked things and will give us new desires, then we shall be victorious!

Verse 38:

“Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear.”

To “stablish” is our modern word “establish.”  To set, to determine, to ensure.  So the psalmist is asking God to ensure and set in stone His Word to him.  In other words, to make it the bedrock of his faith.  To grant unto the psalmist, the steadfast and unshakeable knowledge that the Word of God IS the Word of God.  It is infallible, inerrant, without flaw, completely truthful and completely reliable.  And this is how we should view His Word. 

His Word is established forever in the Heavens, and on earth it is preserved for ever, without missing one jot or tittle, never to be changed (added to or subtracted from), and absolutely pure.  It is not something man is permitted to trifle with.  Which is the main reason ulterior “versions” should be avoided.  If we are unable to point to the Word and say, “This is it.  This is the pure, unadulterated, inerrant, and perfect Word of God,” then I do not think we have had the Word “stablished to us.”

So we trust God to preserve His Word in perfection, and to give it to us in our own language, and with that faith, we ask Him to ESTABLISH that faith.  To make it rock solid.  And when it is established, we have an unbreakable trust in it, knowing we have absolute truth that we can stand upon.

The next part of the verse is about the fear of the Lord.  It’s a submissive humility and awe.  He is basically saying, “Lord, give me Your commandments, and make me believe in them 100%, for I fear You and want to obey You.”  And so our hearts ought to be.  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom.  It is because we fear Him and fear disobeying Him, that we desperately need His whole counsel.  Every single jot and tittle that He speaks, we need to have.  Preserved and in its purity, so that we know how to obey.

Verse 39:

“Turn away my reproach which I fear: for thy judgments are good.”

(The first two paragraphs here are off base.  I left them in to show how we can be off on our thinking.  I was just plugging along with my thoughts, not taking the time to consider the verse, but instead trying to intellectually dissect it.  I think it’s wise to see how I got off and then to see the clarity that comes at the end.)

This is a tough one to discern at first glance.  How the beginning of this verse ties in with the end is at first mysterious.  We know that it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.  And we know that God is just and is not mocked.  We WILL reap what we sow.  And we know that God chastises those He loves, and is continually purifying us (often through trials), for our sanctification is His will.  So, to be reproached or chastened of the Lord is not a pleasant thing at first.  It can be fearful and somber.  And so we ask God to relent.  To let up and turn away His hot displeasure.  But how does that fit in with a declaration that His judgments are good?  Especially when prepositioned by the word “for,” or “because.”

Lord, we fear Your chastisement and reproach (that we justly deserve…hence “my” reproach), so please relent.  BECAUSE, Your judgments are good.  What is the connection there?  Wouldn’t it be, “Lord we know You are good and Your judgments are just, therefore You WILL NOT relent in Your chastisement/reproach.”

Disregard everything I said up until this point.  I think I was reading the verse wrong, but as I’m typing these, I’m working my way through them as well.  So I’m not really “teaching” on these verses, but I am exegeting them out loud in an effort to study along-side you my brethren as we wrestle these things out.  And so, my thoughts are laid out in the typing, and I think the thoughts prior to this are good and true, just not in relation to this verse.

It’s not the reproach/chastisement of God that the psalmist is talking about, it’s the reproaches of the world that are coming upon him.  The mistreatment, persecution, etc.  And so the psalmist is crying out to God to do justly and take these things away from him, BECAUSE he knows that God is good and His judgments are right.  Therefore, he knows that God will do justly and will help him.  His trust is in a just and good God.  As ours should be also.  We know that God will do right, so when evil befalls us, we can trust His judgments and rest assured that He will sovereignly act in good ways!  There is true rest in this blessed assurance!

Verse 40:

“Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.”

“Behold” is a call to attention.  As if saying, “Look,” or “pay attention,” but in a polite way.  Like, “Please give heed to this.”  So the psalmist is asking God to consider and be aware of what he is about to say.  And what he is saying is, that he has longed for (sought after, desired, desperate yearning) the Word of God.  When we tie all this together, we know that it is God who has granted this longing, and caused the psalmist to cherish the Word in his heart.  But nonetheless, the psalmist does in fact desire the Word of God.  And he is asking God to be aware of this fact.

Now, because the psalmist has longed for the Word, he is asking God to quicken him in righteousness.  And it is God’s righteousness.  So the psalmist is aware that any goodness and holiness he can possess must come from God and must BE God’s.  We are counted righteous on his behalf.  He became our sin that we might become the righteousness OF GOD.  We have no good of our own.  Nothing in us is inherently good.  But God IS good.  He is the source of all goodness and so any good must come from Him.  In this way, He retains all the glory and we get the joy and satisfaction of mercy and grace!

So, we can say, “Lord, you can see that I desperately desire Your holy and precious Word (because You granted this desire in the first place!), and so please, grant also unto me Your righteousness.  Make me holy.  Make me obedient unto Your precious Word.  All glory to You Father and we praise and magnify Your Name!”

Verse 41:

“Let thy mercies come also unto me, O Lord, even thy salvation, according to thy word.”

Is this not the plea we all offer God?  All of us, who have had our hearts awakened to our sinful state and His glorious mercy, do we not plead and beg for mercy and salvation?  We are acutely aware of our sinful hearts and His justice?  We see very clearly, how deserving of death and judgment we are.  We KNOW our wicked hearts and our dark motives, and how God is angry with the wicked every day and cannot look upon sin.  So we cry out for mercy and salvation.

This is a tender mercy of the Lord in itself.  That He has granted unto us this sensitivity and clear vision of reality.  That He has allowed us to see our sinfulness so that we will flee from its ugliness.  Oh the grace of God!  He would have been justified to leave us in our sin.  To leave us in blind ignorance.  But He has shed His light abroad in our hearts and granted unto us spiritual reality and vision.  Praise God!

And so, once this action takes place in our hearts and we see our wickedness, our natural reaction is repulsion and fear.  We flee from the sin, knowing the danger and terror of falling into the hands of the living God, and plead with God to rescue us.  To save us from ourselves.  To deliver us from our own wickedness.  And “according to thy Word,” He IS merciful, loving, kind, forgiving, and restoring.  He HAS granted us mercy in the life, death, and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ.  In Him is all mercy and salvation.  In Him we can place our trust.  In Him, we can find our forgiveness and reconciliation.

So, just like His Word says, we ask for His mercy and salvation in Jesus Christ!  Praise God for His mercy and salvation!

Verse 42:

“So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word.”

And so we see that when the reproaches of the world come against us, we have an answer.  We have a hope!  The mercy and salvation of the Lord is our defense!  Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect?  It is God that justifies.  Because we trust in the Word of the Lord, knowing the great and precious promises, we have an advocate with the Father and we have been forgiven! The world can do nothing to us.  It can lash and ridicule and mock and scourge, but we have been forgiven!  Our names are written in Heaven.  We have a place in the Lambs Book of Life, and so we can boldly proclaim “I am redeemed and I shall be justified!”

It is against the Lord alone that we have sinned.  Nothing this world brings against us counts in the long run.  God has justified us and He will come again soon to get us.  We can endure all things knowing this. 

Verse 43:

“And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments.”

What a terrifying thought.  To have the Word completely removed from us!  What hope would we have?  I often think about Nebuchadnezzar, who in pride thought that he had accomplished wonderful feats.  But in an instant, God took all wisdom and understanding from him and he crawled like an animal for 7 years!  Wisdom and knowledge, like all other things, are a gift from God, given to whom He pleases.  To have them stripped away is terrifying.

And what is the source of wisdom and knowledge by which God grants unto us these things?  It is His Word!  In His Word lie all the treasures of wisdom that we can attain while on earth, for the Word is a direct revelation of Jesus Christ, and in Him is the fullness of wisdom and knowledge (and we will spend eternity discovering these things!!  OH WHAT JOY). 

So Lord, PLEASE don’t ever take Your holy and precious Word from our lips!  It is the source of all our hope and joy (as a revelation of You).  We trust and rely on His holy Word, we cannot live without it.  For man does not live by bread alone, but by every Word of God.  It is more treasured than our necessary meat.  It is more valuable than rubies and silver and gold.  It is more precious than the air we breathe.  We MUST have it. 

Verse 44:

“So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever.”

And so, because God grants unto us His Word and does not take it from us completely, we can with confidence say that we will keep His Word forever.  For it is life and breathe and food for us.  They are the Words of life…where else would we go? 

Because God has granted us a desire for His Word, a love and passionate pursuit, we KNOW we will never leave it as long as He doesn’t take it from us, which we know He will never completely do!  Again, I am unable to disregard the beautiful ebb and flow relationship we have with God, in which He is the instigator (or author) and causer of all good things!  He is the beginning, and what He gives causes a natural outpour from us of the very things that He requires!  And so we are filled with satisfying joy, knowing we have accomplished our purposes of obedience, and He is magnified and glorified.  We can rightly say, “Lord, glorify thyself!”

Verse 45:

“And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.”

What does it mean to walk at liberty?  In freedom.  Unhindered.  But freedom and unhampering from what?  From sin!  From the bondage of sin.  Sin is the master of the flesh.  For it screams, “I must have,” and the flesh follows.  But in Christ it is no more!  We are free from the bondage of sin.  We owe our flesh NOTHING.  When the flesh cries out “give me,” we can deny the flesh and say “No.  You are no longer master over me.”

I freely admit that this is easier said than done.  I have yet to experience this great truth.  For I often give into the cries of the flesh.  Although I owe it nothing, I cave in to its cravings.  Why?  We are free from this.  To me, it is a great mystery…

But we see here that the psalmist has a strong resolution of hope to walk (to live, to move, to have his being) in this liberty.  Why?  Because he seeks the Word of the Lord!  Because his desire is the Word, he can walk in freedom.  Perhaps it is the desire for the Word that gives us the victory?

A quick testimony.  I was recently struggling with some Scriptures in Titus chapter 3.  And as a result of this struggle, I was desirous and hungry for the Word.  A hunger like I rarely (sadly) experience anymore.  But I was looking forward to sitting down and studying this issue out.  The day went by and then there was an opportunity to sin.  And the desire to “feed the flesh” came over me.  The flesh was demanding satisfaction.  But my mind was preoccupied with the desire to study Titus!  And as such, that hunger and desire for the Word overcame the desire to please the flesh and I was able to resist the sinful lusts!

So perhaps that is it Saints?  Pastor John Piper says that when we no longer crave God’s Word, it’s not because we are filled with the Word, but it’s because we’ve been nibbling too long at the things of the world and are filled with it’s desires!  Let us set aside the desires of the world, and prayerful seek the craving of the Word of God.  Perhaps then we will walk in freedom!

Verse 46:

“I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.”

This brings to mind a couple of verses from elsewhere in the Bible.  Where Jesus said that we shall be His witnesses before kings and authorities (Matt. 10:18, which was spoken to the disciples, but I believe it can apply to us as well), and where He warned us of being ashamed of Him (Luke 9:26).  In both cases (as in this verse as well), it is speaking of opportunities to witness and testify for Jesus Christ.

We cannot help but speak of what we’ve seen.  This, in my opinion, is one of (if not THE) biggest evidences of a truly born again life.  When you really encounter the Grand Sovereign of the universe, you cannot stop from talking about Him.  When He is REAL to you, and you’ve really and truly experienced Him, His Name is forevermore on your lips.  It’s the greatest discovery in all of existence.  How could you possibly see that and not talk about it?  How could you really be born again and NOT testify of it?  For the rest of your days, this discovery will be on the tip of your tongue at every second.  And so if a person claims to be His, and yet rarely speaks of Him, where is the proof of this conversion?  If Christ is not burning in your heart and escaping from your lips, how can you have really experienced Him?  You couldn’t have.  You cannot encounter the grandest force in all of existence, far exceeding even our wildest imaginations, and not tell all of Him.

But why kings? I think because of the authority that they represent, and the impact that they can have on their society.  It seems that the habits and beliefs of a king trickle down into their kingdom.  A ruler holds sway over his society.  And so to witness our faith before a ruler has the greatest potential to influence multitudes!  Imagine preaching to and seeing Barack Obama converted!  And then him coming out on live television and giving testimony to his new faith and creating laws that support that belief!  It would have a tremendous impact on our society.

So, let us be faithful witness of what we’ve experienced and pray for opportunities to testify before all men, especially those in powerful positions of influence!

Verse 47:

“ And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.”

Remember the verse that says that God will give us the desires of our hearts?  Well, one of the desires He gives us is the love for His Word.  And the following process is perhaps the most stunning and beautiful experiences in the manifold wisdom of God.

What is it that causes us to feel satisfied?  Is it not the fulfilling of a desire?  We want and crave something, and then when we get it, we are satisfied and stimulated.  So, God (in His beautiful wisdom), gives His children desires that He plans on bringing to pass.  He plants desires of holiness, righteousness, a hunger for His Word, a longing for prayer, a yearning to be in His presence, etc.  And then, through a process of sanctification, He brings these desires to pass, and thereby satisfies our desires and fills us with joy!  This causes a reaction of praise and worship which exalts and magnifies Jesus Christ! It is a most magnificent plan!

And so it is that in this verse, God has granted a desire for His Word to psalmist.  This causes Him to love the Word of God and in so doing he finds his delight in the Word!  Oh that God would grant this desire unto us!

Verse 48:

“My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.”

And here is the praise!  Pastor John Piper spoke about this process (mentioned in the previous verses commentary) of God granted desires and fulfillment leading to satisfaction, as incomplete until praise rings forth.  For in the praise of a fulfilled desire, is the completion of the joy.  For instance:  Let’s say you see an amazing play in football.  It isn’t until you express your amazement to someone else that the fulfillment fully takes place.  The praising is the completion of the joy.

So in this verse, we lift our hands (praise/worship) to His Holy Word!  We have been granted a desire for His Word, and therefore we love receiving His Word, and this springs out into praise to God for giving us His Word!  Thus, the action of fulfilled desires is brought to a culmination. 

And then we get the residual effects, which in this case is a meditating in the Word.  Sticking with the football analogy, after having a desire fulfilled, and the praise of that fulfilled desire ringing out, we then fondly think back to that moment and get “after-shocks of joy.”  This is how we should treat the Word.  When God grants us a desire and then fulfills the desire by revealing Himself in His Word, we can then meditate over and over on that Word and the way that the Spirit changed us through it.  And in so doing, our joy and satisfaction continue to persevere and our praise remains on our lips!  HALLELUJAH for the work God does in (and for) us to the praise of His glory!

Verse 49:

“Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.”

It seems almost ridiculous to ask God to remember something, as if He is capable of forgetting.  But this is a frequent proclamation in the Scriptures.  It is a plea with God, almost as if to comfort the psalmist, for God to heed His promises.  We know God won’t forget and remains faithful, so the plea itself is not an actual “reminder” to God, but a soothing balm for us.  “Please don’t forget,” reassures our minds and steadies our hearts.  It helps to ease our anxieties and fears.

So, while anxiety is a form of faithlessness, it does no good to hide this from God.  Rather we express it, like the man who said “Help me with my unbelief!”  We admit to God our frailty and weakness.  We admit, sadly, that there is a part of us that momentarily doubts.  We have trusted in God’s promises, we have fixed ourselves on His Word, and we have hoped in His proclaimed future, but at times we struggle.  And so during those struggles, we cry out!  “PLEASE God don’t forget.  I have trusted in Your Word.  PLEASE carry it out!” 

Verse 50:

“This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.”

What greater comfort can there be, then sweet and precious promises from an all powerful God who does not lie, and cannot be thwarted?  If He says something, IT IS.  There is no repentance with God.  He does not change His mind.  There are no powers that can stop Him.  There is nothing that occurs that alters or deviates Him from His purposes.  He does whatsoever He pleases.

So, when God says that He has plans to bring us to an expected end, and that all things are working together for our good, and that nothing shall snatch us out of His hand and that He will never leave or forsake us and that He remembers our sins no more and that we are counted righteous for His sake and that we are forgiven, we can rejoice like no other!!  We are comforted beyond measure.  The greatest fears, namely death and judgment, have been conquered and absorbed!  We are FREE from condemnation and death has lost its sting!  We shall be raised up incorruptible!  Oh the joy!

And it is His sweet and precious Word by which He has brought this life to us!  It is His Word that has awakened and rejuvenated us!  It is His Word that has brought us life and hope and peace!  Praise God for His Word!!

Verse 51:

“The proud have had me greatly in derision: yet have I not declined from thy law.”

We come under persecution often as born again believers.  Jesus told us it would be this way.  The world lies in darkness.  The dead children of satan rule and reign (in a temporal sense) here on earth, and they hate the Light.  And we are reflectors of the Light, therefore they hate us.  As long as we represent Him, we will be hated.  Strangers, pilgrims, and aliens, are words used to describe us, and if we aren’t being persecuted in some sense, we probably aren’t properly representing the Light.

And so it is no surprise to find the psalmist persecuted by the proud.  A quick look at synonyms of derision finds words like ‘scorn,’ ‘mockery,’ and ‘disdain.’  The very things we still find ourselves feeling from the outside world today.  BUT, the psalmist doesn’t give up.  He is like a seed sown on good soil, unlike the hearer with no depth (Matt. 13).  That hearer only maintains his ‘faith’ as long as it doesn’t cost him anything.  That hearer gives up Christ in order to gain the approval and popularity of the world.

We must ask ourselves which hearer we are?  When derision comes in the form of mockery, disdain and scorn, to we wither and fade, or do we stand fast on the Word of God?  Resolute and determined that we will stand for Him even if no one else does.  This is a true test of faith.  Is your faith real?  Will it endure the fire of persecution, or will it fade away?

Verse 52:

“I remembered thy judgments of old, O Lord; and have comforted myself.”

Remembering the faithfulness of God in the past, helps us to deal with drama in the present.  A brother of mine refers to this as “Ebenezer Stones.”  In the past, the Jews would set up piles of stones as a reminder of some historical event that had taken place.  That way, whenever they passed by those stones, they could remember the event that they represented.  And so we do as well.  We think back on key moments when God has shown has faithfulness, and by that remembering we are comforted.

By remembering these things God has done, we remind ourselves that He is working in our favor.  He is for us and not against us.  He does not fail.  He works all things together for our good.  I still remember a time when God took the verse Ephesians 3:20 (“ Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,”) and made it real to me. He showed me through events and circumstances that He was working in my favor even in tiny, little, and seemingly insignificant things.  And by doing this, whenever something traumatic occurs, I can remember His faithfulness in even the little things, and it comforts me, reminding me that He will work the big things together for my good as well.

By remembering who God is, and how He is for us and not against us, we can rest in all situations.  We can KNOW that He is present and in control.  What greater peace can there be, than to know that our loving and all powerful Father is in complete control of all circumstances and is working in EVERYTHING for our good and His glory?

Verse 53:

“Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law.”

It’s hard to understand the psalmist here because of what we as a society have done to the word “horror.”  Strong’s concordance defines it as “strong or raging heat.”  Like an emotional rage and indignation. 

Our brother Caleb has often spoken of the anger that wells up in Him in regards to the wicked.  I believe that is the same expression the psalmist is using.  I think it’s probably the same anger that Jesus showed Himself when He chased the money changers out of the temple.  It is a righteous anger.  A fury and jealousy for God’s respect and honor.  A rage that HATES the idea of God being disrespected.  And what greater disrespect is there than those that ignore and forsake the Word of God?

The Word of God are His commands and instructions to us.  It is the voice of His authority and rule.  To forsake His Word is to forsake Him.  It is ultimate rebellion.  It is shaking our fists at God and saying, “We will not be ruled!”  What utter insanity!  And so ANY deviation from His Word, whether it be in outright rebellion against, or subtle “twisting” to fit It to our preferences, ought to cause a righteous anger (horror) in us!  It ought to stir up a zealous rage and cause us to want to see God and His Word protected.  HOW DARE THE WICKED DISRESPECT AND IGNORE OUR (ours AND theirs) GOD!!

Verse 54:

“Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.”

The love of God and His Word puts a melody of joy and appreciation in our hearts, which are the temporary homes of our souls on this pilgrimage of life on our way to eternity!  We are told that these mortal bodies are temporary abodes.  Houses and tabernacles for our eternal souls to dwell in as we live this life as pilgrims and aliens on our way home.  So as we journey, His Word is like a love letter from home.  It is a joyous guarantee that our Father is coming for us and WILL bring us home.   And in the meantime, we dwell here as faithful ambassadors filled with His joy and strength.

So lift up your voices Saints!  Sing a wondrous melody to the Lord as we await His return!

Verse 55:

“I have remembered thy name, O Lord, in the night, and have kept thy law.”

Why remember the Lord’s name?  What is the significance of that?  Each of the Lord’s names has meaning behind it.  He is called the Wonderful Counselor, the Prince of Peace, The Everlasting Father, the Father of Lights, Creator, Savior, The King of Kings, The Lord of Lords, etc.  Let’s look at these.  “Wonderful Counselor.”  A counselor is an advisor, a wise help to determine what we ought to do.  And He is a wonderful counselor.  One to guide us and shepherd (another of His names) us through life and to advise us what to do in each situation.  

He is the “Prince of Peace.”  A prince is a vice-regent.  A ruler, 2^nd in charge only to His Father.  And He is the ruler of peace.  Security, contentment, and ease, are words I think of with peace.  He is the One in charge of security, contentment and peace, by decree of His Father.

He is the “Everlasting Father.”  From time eternal, there is never a time when He isn’t.  He is the always present I AM.  Never ending, never beginning Father.  A father is a caretaker, a provider, and a protector.  He takes care of us and provides for us and shields us from danger.

He is the “Creator.”  He made all things and nothing exists without Him.  He is the force and the wisdom behind everything.  All things are His.  He is the “Savior.”  Perhaps the most important title of all.  He has come to redeem us from the fall.  From the curse of death and damnation.  When all hope was lost, He saved.

So, like the Psalmist, we remember these names in our dark seasons.  When we have fallen and are down, we can remember that He is the One who can guide us and comfort us through our sorrows.  He is the One who will always provide for us and is sovereign over all things.  And He is our Savior!

Verse 56:

“This I had, because I kept thy precepts.”

What is it the psalmist “has” here?  To what is he referring?  I am not sure I know.  The immediate preceding verse is about keeping His law.  So he had a keeping of the law because he kept the law?  No, I do not think that is what this is referring to.  What about remembering the Lord’s name?  Is this what he “had?”  Perhaps. 

Nonetheless, whatever the psalmist had, and whatever good and noble things we have, come from keeping the law.  Jesus said that His true disciples “keep His Word.”  And we are “fed” by the Word, we “breathe” by the Word, we “drink” the Word, all that we have is due to the Word (both the written and the physical).  Because we hold onto His Word, we have…whatever that may be. J

Verse 57:

“Thou art my portion, O Lord: I have said that I would keep thy words.”

The Lord is our portion.  He is the ‘piece’ of life that we want and get.  Not riches or fame or power.  The Lord.  We get the Most High King of All Glory forever!!  Why would we not want to keep His Words?  They are the Words of life.  And they are OURS!  Oh amazing grace!

Verse 58:

“I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word.”

Strongs concordance defines “intreated” as “to make oneself sick.”  It is the idea of begging until overcome with grief.  It makes me think of Jesus in the garden, when He petitioned God the Father with so much fervor, that He sweat great drops of blood.  He plead and begged so strenuously that it caused His vessels to burst under the stress.  That is what the psalmist is referring to here.

There is a verse that says “we have not yet resisted to blood,” when discussing our sin and temptation.  When sin comes along, we pray for victory, for strength to resist, and for forgiveness.  But how hard to we pray?  How serious and desperate do we get?  We know that it is only through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirits power that we will be free from sin, but our prayers do not reflect that anguish and utter dependence.  We pray LIGHTLY.  We pray QUICKLY.  And we pray with little power.  Oh if we would only petition God with desperate fervor, pleading with anguish that God would show us favor and deliver us from the power of sin!  And this plea is founded in His Word.

For it is in His Word that we are told we have the victory.  It is in His Word that we are told we are no longer slaves to sin.  It is in His Word that we are told that we are more than conquerors. And so, because we trust and believe in the promises of His Word, knowing that God doesn’t lie and will accomplish what He purposes, we should beg and plead for God to SHOW us that mercy.  And when it doesn’t come, we should grow more desperate and more determined.  Like the widow who persistently petitions the wicked judge, we should come to God with all desperation and passion, begging for release from these torments.  I think when/if we would pray like that, we should except to see tremendous victories!

Verse 59:

“I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.”

With wisdom comes a thoughtful consideration of our ways.  We don’t just abruptly do things without thinking through the ramifications and consequences (at least in theory, this is how wisdom is supposed to be).  I think of the verse that says we “walk circumspectly.”  That is, we consider the path and carefully avoid the pitfalls, rather than running blindly and madly ahead like the blind and lost do.  Be doing this, we avoid all sorts of evils and tragedies.

So, as we consider our path, how do we know which decisions to make?  Which ways to turn?  Wisdom turns towards the Word of the Lord.  We should be asking ourselves in all situations, “Lord, what would You have me do?”  In EVERYTHING.  For even the most seemingly mundane events have long lasting repercussions.  Nothing happens in a vacuum.  Every decision has an impact on other events.  Even something as small as the pathway of a fly impacts innumerable other events.  The current of air and sound waves.  The meeting or not meeting with a spider web or frog’s tongue.  The feeding or not feeding of said spider or frog.  That creatures longevity and movements for that day.  And so on and so on and so on.  And so it is with us.

Each decision we make has innumerable impacts on other things.  And we have neither the knowledge, nor the oversight to see what is going to happen with each decision.  But God CAN see and DOES know.  So we should seek His wisdom in all things.  We should consider our paths and base all of our decisions on Him, mainly found out in His Word.

Verse 60:

“I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.”

There is an urgency in obedience that I am sad to say I do not possess.  I am a procrastinator by nature, and I tend to put things off as long as I can.  But the psalmist here indicates a heart that is quick to respond to the Word of God.  Oh that I had a heart like that!  I often fear that I am like the man who hears the Word of God and immediately goes away and forgets what he hears.  But God is pleased with hearts set on quick obedience.  Doers of the Word and not hearers only.  Please pray that I be like the psalmist here…

Verse 61:

“The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law.”

This immediately brings to remembrance the verse that says that it rains on the just and the unjust.  There will be times when we are cast down and injured.  Emotionally despondent and feeling in despair.  But the Spirit of God in the true believer will cause perseverance.  It is one of the greatest evidences of true faith!  Unlike the seed that immediately sprung up but then withered due to heat, because we have been given the Root, we will stand fast.  We will not fall away, for we are His workmanship and He does not fail!  The good work that HE has started WILL be completed!

And so, with the psalmist, we can proclaim an endurance.  We will NOT forget His law when hard times come.  We will NOT walk away, because we cannot!  Even when we are depressed or angry and we shun God, our inner-man CLINGS to Him and will not let go.  For He is the source of life.  Where else would we go?

This gracious mercy of perseverance is perhaps the next best thing after the cross.  Not only did God do all the work in saving us, but He does all the work in keeping us!  It is His Spirit present in us that bears witness with Himself.  He cannot, nor will He ever, deny Himself.  NOTHING can snatch us from His hand and NOTHING will ever separate us.  Like the Book of Jude says, “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” (Verses 24-25)

Verse 62:

“At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments.”

I think the psalmist is just stating that he desires to praise God all the time, even at late hours.  But one thing I’ve been thinking about lately is sacrificing sleep for the Lord.  We are to be living sacrifices, and part of our ‘life’ is sleep.  So it only makes sense that we would sacrifice this sleep for time with the Lord.  There are two things that have led to me thinking this way.

One, I have a brother who burns passionately for the Lord and serves Him with vigor.  I found out that this brother sleeps very little.  He is one of those “burning the candle at both ends” kind of guys.  And the caution to those kinds of people is that they might “burn out” quickly.  But I think contrawise to this.  A candle burning at both ends burns BRIGHTER!  His zeal for the Lord is infectious and I desire to be the same way.

Two, are the commandments in the Scriptures to ‘watch.’  Jesus told us to “watch” in regards to the end times (Mark 13:37).  Peter told us to ‘watch’ because the end was at hand (1  Peter 4:7).  And when Jesus was in the garden before His arrest, He asked His disciples to ‘watch’ with Him.  How did they fail?  They feel asleep.  And so I think that this ‘watching’ has to do with being alert and aware and awake!

The psalmist is going to sacrifice his sleep so that he can spend more time with the Lord.  I desire that for myself as well.  We are kept so busy in this world that we sadly and destructively sacrifice our time with the Lord for the pursuit of other things.  Oh that it were not so!  If we could only disregard the things of this world, including much sleep, and focus on God!  I feel we would make much progress in sanctification and holiness.

Verse 63:

“I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.”

I find great joy to be surrounded by other believers.  Sometimes you’ll encounter a fellow Christian, and without even knowing them there is an instant connection.  Our spirits are joined together, for they recognize the Spirit of Christ in each other.  It is beautiful!  And so we find that fellowship is an amazing grace.  It is sweet, and refreshing and soothing.  There is a peace and contentment to be with those that love and fear the Lord.

On the other hand, it can vex our spirits to be around those who don’t know the Lord.  Their language is hurtful, their thoughts are wicked, and we find that we have nothing in common with them.  It is hard to be with them as they blasphemy the name of the Lord and celebrate their debauchery.  There is no peace with them.

Perhaps this is a test of your own heart.  Who do you prefer to be around?  Can you stand to go long periods of time talking about vanity and the things of the world?  Or is Christ on your heart and lips all the time?  Do you crave to be with like-minded individuals, or do you just like to gossip and talk about the way the world is going?  As for me?  I, with the psalmist, will cherish every moment that I am with those who love and fear the Lord and desire to keep His Word together!!

Verse 64

“The earth, O Lord, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes.”

Mercy here is defined as “goodness, kindness, and faithfulness.”  So how is the earth itself filled with God’s goodness, kindness, and faithfulness?  It makes me think of the verse that says it rains on the just and the unjust (Matt. 5:45), as well as the multiple verses throughout Ecclesiastes that emphasize that God provides for all (wicked and righteous). 

We, as a collective people, deserve justice and wrath, and yet God provides sunshine, sustenance giving rain, food, shelter, clothing, loving companionship, etc.  Everywhere we turn, no matter how down trodden, the earth reveals the mercy of God.  He gives in all places, in multitudes of ways. And so full is an appropriate term.

But why the connection to “teach me thy statutes?”  How does the mercy of God being revealed in the earth, lead to a cry for edification in the Word of God?  Is it not that the goodness of God leads us to repentance? (Rom. 2:4)  We see the undeserved favor of God and it so impacts our hearts as to cause us to want to know Him and what He requires!  And so the Spirit filled psalmist, granted the eyes to see the goodness of God, is drawn unto that irresistible goodness and desires to know more of it, in the face of it’s Giver!

The natural conclusion is that observation of the world itself, gifted with the eyes of faith, will cause a reaction of awe and desire to know more of it’s Creator!

Verse 65:

“Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O Lord, according unto thy word.”

“According to thy word” is an interesting phrase.  For it would be one thing to say “thou hast dealt well” with me, but why the qualifying statement “according to thy word?”  I think it is because it shows the faithfulness of God.  God has stated things and then followed through on them, and He deserves praise for doing so.

I often think that it is absolutely foolish and insane to NOT trust God.  If He says something, it’s a done deal.  He is the absolute truth with no variance.  He does not and cannot lie, He does not change or deviate, and He is absolutely powerful and in control.  He is the only One who CAN fulfill everything He says, and the only One who WILL fulfill everything He says.  Think about what that means?!  Every single great and precious promise of God is GUARANTEED to occur.  No doubt, no chance it fails…absolute.  And the things He says about His chosen elect are too good to fathom! 

We have great and precious promises and they WILL come to pass!

Verse 66:

“Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.”

In a lot of the verses, we see a cause and effect that doesn’t appear to follow natural and logical thinking.  For instance, in this verse, why would the cry for good judgment and knowledge be predicated on the belief of God’s commandments?  A natural understanding instead might say, “Teach me good judgement and knowledge: for I am greatly lacking.”  Or, “Teach me good judgement and knowledge: for I see that it is good in Your sight.”  Instead, the verse says “for I have believed thy commandments.”  It doesn’t seem to go with the natural cause and effect.

All throughout this Psalm, we see the dependence of the psalmist on God.  Here is a cry that says, “Because I have believed Your Word, and see that You are the source of all goodness, I need You to teach me good judgment and knowledge.”  It makes sense to me, that when we see the commandments of God, and believe His Word, it reveals a deficiency in us that only He can fill.  In other words, His commandments reveal a lack of good judgment and knowledge on my part, and by the working of the Holy Spirit, cause me to cry out for His help.

Is that not the purpose of God’s commands (His law)?  Romans 3:19-20 “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.²⁰ Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”

His law/commands are meant to show the deficiencies and inabilities in man, and when God grants repentance and faith, it causes that man to call out for salvation.  I think the same idea is put forth in this Psalm.  God’s commands have shown the deficiencies and inabilities in the psalmist and caused him to cry out for help.  So should it be with every one of us.  As we read God’s commands, we are not to see them as “goals” to be obtained through self-righteous effort, but standards which reveal our lack, and cause us to cry out to God to be ‘fixed.’  And then we strive for perfection as we work out our own salvation with fear and trembling.

Lest we think that this is an “out” to participate in sin, let us remember what Pastor Charles Spurgeon said, “Grace is the mother and nurse of holiness, and not the apologist of sin.”

Verse 67:

“Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.”

This is one of the most interesting verses in the psalm for me, for it gives insights into the plan and wisdom of God.  The Lord chastises those He loves (Heb. 12:6), and trials produce good results in His children (James 1:2-5; Romans 5:3-5).  This verse shows the end result of that. 

The psalmist was straying from the Lord.  Then affliction came (chastisement/trials/tribulations), and the correction was received.  That purging action by the Lord caused the psalmist to diligently cling to God’s Word!!  Whenever one of us strays, God will bring correction and the end result will be a more diligent heeding of His Word.

I know that the times I am most concerned in my life and walk, are when I stray from the Lord and there is no correction!  This is a terrifying thought and most grievous!  For it is the correction of the Lord that purifies us, and He corrects His beloved children.  But the wicked are turned over to their wickedness.  They are allowed to progress down the broad road of destruction WITHOUT correction!  WOE IS US if correction does not come!  Lord PLEASE chastise and correct me when I stray!!

Verse 68:

“Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.”

Where else would you go to learn, but the very source of what you aspire to attain?  God IS good.  The only good, as Jesus said (Mark 10:18).  And all that He does is good.  Like the sun is the source of light and heat, and without it we can have neither, God is the SOURCE of goodness, without which there is none.  Therefore it is only reasonable that we turn to Him to teach us of His goodness and righteousness and holiness.  And He has chosen to do so through His holy Word.  And so we plead that He teach us, in order that we might be found worthy!

Verse 69:

“The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.”

I was listening to a sermon yesterday that pointed out how devastating rumors can be and how the devil uses them.  Once something is said about someone, it’s very hard to undo that.  Even after proving that the slander is untrue, it sometimes sticks.  The Pastor pointed out how newspapers will run a scandalous headline, and later, if proven untrue, the retraction will be buried somewhere in the back pages.  And so it is with man.  We hear something negative about someone, and it sticks.

That’s what the wicked (the proud in this case) do.  They forge (create) lies to use against the righteous.  They slander and mock and berate, knowing that most people won’t take the time to see if these things are true and won’t give the accused the benefit of the doubt, but will instead form negative opinions about the accused.  So what is the psalmists response in the face of this slander?  Keeping the Word of God with all his heart.

The Word of God is a refuge and a solace.  In It, we can lay aside all the stresses and anxieties and false accusations and rest.  Like it says in Romans, who shall bring a charge against God’s elect?  We know that it is God who is our Judge.  He does not fall for false accusations.  He cannot be persuaded by the forgeries of our enemies or the sway of popular opinion.  He knows our hearts, our actions and words, and our inner desires and motives.  He alone shall be able to bring charges against us, and in Christ, those charges have been dropped!  So we find sabbath rest in the promises of God, written down for our benefit in His most holy Word!

Verse 70:

“ Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law.”

The Scriptures often use the word “fat” to describe wickedness.  I’m not entirely sure why, but I was just thinking to myself, “Why do most people eat?”  Is it not to sustain their life?  To give them necessary energy?  But fat people eat for pleasure.  It satisfies the flesh like a drug or alcohol or sex.  It’s a source of “entertainment,” so to speak, for the flesh.  And so perhaps, this is describing how wicked men are constantly seeking sensual pleasure.  Always going about trying to please the flesh and it’s sinful desires.  I know that is how I was when I was lost.

Proverbs 18:2 says, “A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.”  The wicked has no pleasure in truth, but only in satisfying the cravings of his heart.  A deceitful, dead, and evil heart, set at enmity against God and only desiring evil continually.  That is the state of the lost man.  Dead in Adam, unable to seek God and His goodness, fully set on wickedness. 

But, the righteous (like this psalmist) find their delight in God’s Word.  Our desire IS for truth.  Sure, the cravings of Adam still remain, but our heart is set on truth.  Our desire is on Jesus Christ and His commands, for we know that in them is life and joy and peace!

Verse 71:

“It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.”

The wise loves rebuke.  For in rebuke comes life giving correction.  We know that the Lord loves those that He rebukes (Pro. 3:12; Heb. 12:6).  He leaves the wicked in their state (Rom. 1:24-28; Ps. 81:12) , and that is terrifying, for the end result is death, judgment and eternal destruction!  But for His sheep, He brings loving correction.  A correction that keeps us on the narrow path that leads to life.  Rebuke that drives us to His side to learn to right paths from Him.  Chastisement that, although painful in the moment, is most beneficial and cleansing (Heb. 12:11).  For it is the fear of the Lord that purges iniquity (Pro. 16:6).  Pray for the loving correction (and harsh if need be) of the Lord. 

Verse 72:

“The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.”

I have this verse sitting on my desk right in front of me.  I’ve had it there for months in an attempt to put it to memory.  Something I am doing a horrible job at.  Even though it sits 8 inches below my eye sight, straight in front of me, I rarely look at it throughout the day.  Oh that that weren’t the case!

Look at the treasure of this verse!  God’s Word is more valuable than THOUSANDS of gold and silver.  Gold is currently around $1200 per ounce and silver is roughly $15 per ounce.  A jewish website (jewishvirtuallibrary.org) states that: “The major weight of metal mentioned in the Bible is the shekel, as its name, which means simply "weight," testifies. Since the shekel was the definite weight, an expression such as "1,000 silver" (Genesis 20:16) can be explained as 1,000 shekels of silver, and the name of the weight is omitted since it is self-explanatory.”

So, just for fun, let’s say the psalmist is referring to shekels when he says “thousands of gold and silver.”  A shekel conversion site says that a shekel is about .4 ounces.  Two thousand shekels of gold would equal about 800 ounces or about $960,000.  And two thousand shekels of silver would equal a value of about $12,000.  Now of course this isn’t saying that the Word of God is worth $960,000+, but it is saying that in comparison to monetary gain, the Word of God is SUPREMELY more valuable!

In Proverbs 3, wisdom (found in God’s Word) is described as being more valuable than rubies and all desirable things (including gold and silver).  God’s Word is to be treasured above EVERYTHING.  I often tell people that if you knew that there was a billion dollars buried out in the yard, how hard would you search for it?  How deep would you dig?  How much time would you invest?  The King James Bible IS that field.  It is FULL of unsearchable riches and treasures, waiting for you to come and dig.  DEEP and PRECIOUS treasures.  SEEK IT with all your heart, for it is MORE valuable than ALL the gold and silver!

 Verse 73:

“Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.”

The recognition of the Creator.  He has made us with His very hands.  We are His creation and workmanship (Eph. 2:10), vessels (Rom. 9) made for His pleasure (Rev. 4:11).  As such, the psalmist declares his dependence on the Lord to give.  As Creator, it is dependent on Him to provide us with understanding.  And what is it that the psalmist needs understanding for?  To learn the Word of God!!

This life is a big circle, always coming back to God.  He creates, He grants, He gets the glory.  He is the first cause and source of all good things.  He is the ONLY one able to produce anything good, including understanding.  And so, we (like the psalmist) recognize our need for understanding (a recognition granted by Him), and cry out to Him (the ability of which is also credited to Him), to provide said understanding, so that we can learn (also granted) His commandments!  All glory TRULY belongs to Him.

Verse 74:

“They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word.”

One of the greatest pleasures and visible proofs of His work in our hearts, is the supernatural and immediate connection and love we have for brothers and sisters in Christ.  We recognize them almost intuitively, as if there is some sixth sense of spiritual “smell.”  The beautiful aroma and fragrance of Christ emanates off of them, almost as much as a spiritually perceived light proceeds off of the pages of the Holy Scriptures!  A glorious light of Christ shines forth from their eyes and we KNOW that they are kin.

That love rejoices the heart.  How sweet it is for brethren to dwell together in unity (Ps. 133).  The common bond of hope, in Christ and in His Word unites us unlike anything else.  Deeper and more real than blood.  An eternal bond of love.  And an added beauty to that, is that the world recognizes our love for each other and glorify God because of it! (John 13:35)  A pure and natural love that is produced by the Holy Spirit within all those that fear Him.  Glorious!

Verse 75:

 I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.

There is no more comforting thought, I think, than trusting in the sovereign hand of our loving Father.  I believe that is what the psalmist has in mind here.  He trusts Gods judgments, knowing that they are right.  Whatever befalls us in life, whether good or bad, pleasant or discomforting, joyous or sorrowful, we KNOW that it is designed and controlled by God, and it is therefore not only good, but what is best.

He controls the process, the manner, and the outcome of all events.  Even the ones that are emotionally or physically hard to deal with.  And knowing that, along with knowing His character (that of pure goodness, holiness, kindness, wisdom, and love), provides us with a security that says, “No matter what He decrees to happen (His judgments), it is good.”  That is why Paul can say in Romans 8:28, that ALL things work together for good to those who are called and love God.  EVERYTHING that He does is right, in the ultimate sense.  In the end, when it all ties together, Jesus Christ will be glorified, and His chosen will receive blessings and riches untold!  Knowing that, we can endure all things!

The second part of the verse ties into that.  God chastens those He loves.  Any correction, any sorrow, any injury, any sickness, any ‘disaster,” is ALSO working for our good (if you are one of the called…these promises do not apply to the reprobate).  Our afflictions are for our good.  It is the rod of correction, or the purifying fire, or the strengthening blows.  Like a tree, beat upon by the storm winds; Those very winds cause the roots to go deeper!!  Paul learned these truths, and because of them he was able to say that in whatever state he found himself he was content.  He had learned to trust the judgments of God!

Verse 76:

“Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant.”

Again we see the comfort of God here.  In addition to His sovereign hand (which wouldn’t be comforting if God were ever vengeful and menacing), we are comforted by the fact that He is merciful and kind.  His decrees and designs are done with mercy and kindness as the foundation (for those called…justice and wrath for those reprobate – a terrifying thought!).  And how do we know this?  The same way the psalmist does.  Because of God’s revealed will in His Word!

He has left us a testament to show us who He is.  He is a God who has miraculously preserved His Word for us, and so we are able to see that He is indeed merciful and kind.  And He NEVER lies.  As a matter of fact, He cannot lie.  So what we find in His preserved and pure Word is Absolute Truth!  And over and over and over again, we find that He works with kindness and love towards His Saints.  We truly ARE comforted by His revealed characteristics of mercy and kindness!

Verse 77:

“Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight.”

Tender is a beautiful word.  It is certainly a grace that we would hope to receive from Someone much mightier and larger than ourselves.  The size and grandeur of God, when we think of His might, is overwhelming!  And as such, we most certainly need Him to act in ways of tenderness with us.  Like a human being handling a small bunny or some other tiny and delicate creature.  That is how we would hope that God would act towards us.  And thank God that is how He acts!

We are such fragile creatures in His hands.  He is able to wipe us from all existence with no effort!  A terrifying thought that REQUIRES tender mercies, unless our hearts should fail from fear!  We seek from Him a gentle touch and lovingkindness.  Forgiveness and slow temper.  For if He were not merciful, we would be doomed!  We continually sin against Him in heart and deed.  Like the bunny continually biting the hand of its handler.  If it’s handler were prone to vengeance and quick temper, it would destroy the bunny post haste! 

That is how we are in the hands of God.  We require tender mercies, for our sin is a continual offense towards God, deserving of justice and wrath.  In order for us to live each moment, we need His mercy.  Every second of every day, we deserve the opposite of tender mercy, therefore we plead, like the psalmist, for His grace.

The last part of the verse is difficult for me.  For it is hard to see the connection between pleading for tender mercy and life, and loving the Word of God.  Perhaps it is similar to a frequent theme in the Scriptures, a theme that bargains with God asking for a spared life in order to issue praise.  It is often said along the lines of “Lord let me live, for if I die I cannot praise You from the grave.”  Perhaps, like that plea, this one is a plea for life in order that the psalmists love for the Scriptures may continue?  I do not know if that is what the Psalmist is getting at, but what I do know is that he is in love with the Word of God.  As we ought to be as well.

Verse 78:

“Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy precepts.”

As Christians, we are continually at odds with the unregenerate world (the proud).  And they deal “perversely” with us frequently, simply because the darkness hates the Light.  Vengeance belongs to the Lord, and therefore the psalmists plea is that God deal with these proud abusers.  We leave vengeance in the hands of God and trust that He will do righteously.  It is not for us to take revenge or to fight back against our abusers.  Instead, we are to saturate ourselves in His Word.  Meditating on His promises to provide and protect us.  He will do justly and shelter His children from the wicked!

Verse 79:

“Let those that fear thee turn unto me, and those that have known thy testimonies.”

And now the psalmist pleas for fellowship!  It is such a great gift that God has given us!  A FAMILY of believers, oozing the essence of Christ from them, they are most appealing and comforting to the soul!  There is an immediate kinship developed whenever we meet someone who shows through word and action that they fear the Lord and love His Word!  How attractive is it when we meet someone who is passionate about the Word of God has a holiness only derived from fearing our magnificent Lord!?  We enjoy being with that person and want to spend our time with them.  We must cling to that and seek it with prayer and pleading!  Please Lord increase our fellowship!

Verse 80:

“Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed.”

Strong’s concordance defines the word “sound” as complete and whole.  That which is entirely in accord with truth and fact.  The word is used elsewhere in the Scriptures telling us to use sound speech, to have a sound mind, and to hold and proclaim sound doctrine. 

Part of Christianity is a progression in knowledge.  Knowledge of who He is and knowledge of His amazing characteristics and qualities.  We do not merely “get saved,” and then go about our lives focused on ourselves.  Being born again refocuses our desires on Him.  He becomes our all in all.  Our thoughts are drawn continually towards knowing Him more and more intimately.  This knowledge creates soundness.  And from whence do we gain this knowledge?  Our imaginations?  Our hopes for what He is like?  Comparisons to ourselves?  Perish the thought!!  It comes from the only infallible and reliable source we have, His Word.

This soundness creates a reliable foundation from which we will never be proven wrong.  We will never fall into shame, for we have the belt buckle of Truth!  Namely, Him as He is, not as we pretend He is.  This is vital to true worship.  We have to know who He REALLY is, or else our worship will be shown to be false and we will fall into embarrassment.  Truth (soundness) is absolutely essential to the Christian life, and can be found nowhere else but in the Word.  A mark of true Christianity is a passionate pursuit of absolute truth in the inspired and authoritative Word of God, and a willing (and LOVING) submission to those Truths.

 Verse 81^:

“My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word.”

There are certainly times when we are so desperate for the presence of the Lord.  In those times, I feel as if my spirit/soul is in a “dry spell.”  As if it thirsts and is not being satisfied.  And what happens when we are dehydrated?  We faint.  So I think that is the sentiment the Psalmist is stating by saying that his soul fainteth for God’s salvation.  What is salvation other than Christ?  We thirst and faint for Christ when we feel distant from Him.

And it is during those times that we can definitely feel desperate.  Often, desperation can lead to despondency and depression.  But God has given us relief in His promises.  We have His Word that assures us that He never leaves us.  He never forsakes us.  In those times of desperate need, we KNOW that our separation from Him is not a reality.  At least not an eternal one.  He will always come back to those that are His.  He will always reestablish the relationship.  We are His workmanship and He WILL complete what He has started.  Our desperation is calmed by the hope that His Word assures us of!

Verse 82^:

^“Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me?”

The Psalmist continues the desperate plea for God.  We know His promises and trust in them, but at times, the timing of the Lord adds to our desperation.  We sometimes feel like we cannot endure.  That we need Him immediately, but He withholds for the time being.  In His wisdom, He not only knows what we need, but He knows EXACTLY when it is needed.  Unfortunately for us, we do not think we can go on.  We do not understand the timing.  We feel as if we need Him NOW, not later.

Verse 83^:

 ^“For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget thy statutes.”

I’m not entirely sure what this phrase “bottle in the smoke,” means.  I did hear a sermon from Pastor Charles Spurgeon one time that explained it, but I have forgotten what was said.  I think that a bottle or canister left in smoke becomes blackened.  Perhaps it is analogous to our sin blackening our hearts?  We are often weighted down by the depravity of our remaining flesh, and it also causes us to despair.  We have been redeemed, yet the fleshly desires still linger and we far too often succumb to it’s persistent cries for attention.  Sadly (and pershaps less and less as sanctification takes place), we sin and our hearts are stained black like a bottle in the smoke.

But even in the midst of this, a sure sign of a true believer, is that we remain hopeful in His Word!  We hate our failings and strive towards holiness.  We remember His promises to cleanse and save!  We continually cry out and seek for Him and His cleansing power.  We never forget that we have a Savior!  We have a Redeemer!  We have One who can rescue, and DOES rescue!  Praise God for His everlasting salvation!

Verse 84^:

^“How many are the days of thy servant? when wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me?”

I’m not sure if the Psalmist is here asking how long he must endure, or how long his life is going to last?  In either case, it is obviously still showing a heart of desperation.  First, we saw the desperation of being separated from Christ.  Then we saw the desperation of the ill affects of our own sin.  Now we see the desperation caused by the persecution of the wicked.

We know that in this life we will have tribulations.  We know that all who desire to live Godly will suffer persecution.  We know that darkness hates the light.  We know that they spitefully treated Him, so they will spitefully treat us as well.  The servant is not better than the Master.  If we are truly born-again, being driven by Christ towards righteousness and holiness, the world WILL hate us.  We will often feel alone and isolated.  We will feel their backbitings, their proud and hateful looks, their vile speech, and their wicked violence.  And as we endure, we again will sometimes feel opposed to the timing of Gods rescue.  It will sometimes feel as if it is not coming quick enough.  But we must trust.  We must endure.

Verse 85^:

^“The proud have digged pits for me, which are not after thy law.”

My first thought on this verse, is how often the sinful, lost, wicked man (enemies of our soul), is refered to as “proud.”  Is this not appropriate though?  Is this not THE defining characteristic of the lost man?  Were we not just like that when we were lost?  Does not remaining reflections of this lost state show itself in our character today (to our shame)?  Pride dominates the lost man.  Selfishness is the trait of all the lost.  Even their good deeds are tainted by a self serving motive.  Ours were.  The arrogance and haughty attitude of the lost, is most evident.  Their thoughts are on self and self improvement.  And all their actions are directed as such.  And so it is no surprise that this is the characteristic that the Bible so often uses to describe the lost man.

The second thought is that they “dig pits” for us.  This is also a reoccurring theme, not only in this Psalm, but in all the Scriptures.  The lost plot and plan and set traps for the righteous.  They attempt to ensnare us and subtilly trap us.  Perhaps we too often forget this?  In all the flattery of ‘civilized society,’ we may tend to forget that the lost man sees us as their hated enemy, and they want to see us fail.  As such, we need to be cautious in this day and age.  We need to walk circumspectly and watch carefully with all discernment.  We need to “read between the lines” of the flattering lips of sinful man and watch for traps.  Over and over the Lord tolds us to “watch.”  We need to be on guard, but not paranoid.  Paranoia is a reflection of fear and anxiety.  We are not to fear our enemy, but to be aware.  Cautious but carefree.  This only comes by trusting that the Lord is working on our behalf behind the scenes, and He will do justly.

The third part of this is perhaps the most clouded for me.  What does it mean when it says, “which are not after thy law?”  My first assumption is that it is stating that these proud men who dig pits, have no interest in following the commands of God.  They do not follow the path of righteousness.  They are not pursuing the Word of the Lord.  Whether or not this is the correct interpretation of the verse, I do not know.  But I do know that the lost man has no interest in setting their hearts and minds in the faithful pursuit of God, as found in His divine law!

   

Verse 86^:

 ^“All thy commandments are faithful: they persecute me wrongfully; help thou me.”

Perhaps the second part of this verse is drawing back on the first part?  What I mean by that, is that the Psalmist is saying, “Because Your commandments are true (faithful), and in Your commandments You promise to be my Deliverer and my Salvation, I know that I can call on You to help me from these wicked men who unjustly do evil to me!”  In other words, “I trust You Lord.  And I trust all the promises that You have declared to me.  As such, help me!  In my time of need, when these wicked men of unjustly persecuted me, I know that You will be my helper.  I know that You hear me and will deliver me!”  It gives a sense of desperation turning into hopeful and even joyous declaration!  If you were on a ship that was sinking in the middle of the cold ocean, you may be desperate and full of fear.  But if you KNEW, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that sure rescue was on it’s way and would arrive before you perished, your fear and desperation may be relieved. In fact, you would then turn your attention to the other passengers as you tried to comfort and assist them!  And this is the state that we the born-again find ourselves!

Verse 87^:

^“They had almost consumed me upon earth; but I forsook not thy precepts.”

Many times we may feel almost defeated.  We get so low, that we feel we are on the brink of destruction.  Like we couldn’t possibly handle any more.  We are almost consumed.  But even in the midst of these “near-death” (spiritually) experiences, a born-again Saint will not forsake the Lord or His Word.  In another Psalm, it speaks of how we may slip and loose our footing, but we will not be utterly cast down.  No matter how down we go, the Lord will never forsake us!  That supernatural faith that the Lord gives us, gives us the strength to endure all the way to the end.  Like the Apostles, we are left to say, “You have the Words of life!  Where else would we go?!”

Verse 88^:

“Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.”

The word “quicken” means to make alive.  It harkens to mind the born again experience.  For when we were once dead in trespasses and sins, Christ quickened us through His gracious faith and mercy!  We are made alive by His lovingkindness.  He did not leave us in our former state!  He came to seek and save that which was lost!  His compassionate and loving heart, full of goodness, mercy and kindness, drew us unto Himself and rescued us!

And when one experiences that love that makes alive and redeems and rescues, how could he not fall in love with the very words of His mouth!  They become our very heart!  They are words of life!  Our very bread, our very water, and our very breath that we breathe!  His Word becomes our everything, for they brought us life and they are His very Spirit, ministering and guiding us all the days of our lives!  Oh how we love the Words of His mouth!