FRAMEWORKS:
Psa 119: The Law of God: Part 2
PART
THREE: Stanzas 15 to 22: verses 113 to 176
PART
TWO: Stanzas 8 to 14: verses 57 to 112
8.
v.57-64 Lord, I will stick with your word, your will
9.
v.65-72 Teach me more for I have learned its value through suffering
10.
v.73-80 Lord, teach me more your wonderful word, revealing us
all
11.
v.81-88 Lord, preserve me in the face of persecution
12.
v.89-96 I am determined to stand true against opposition
13.
v.97-104 The wonder of God's word that teaches and guides
14.
105-112 Lord, even though I suffer for it, I'll keep your word
[Note:
This second part becomes a combination of reflections
on God's word and the psalmist's need of the Lord's help in understanding,
and then increasingly references to the opposition he experiences
– v.61,67,69-71,78,84-86,95,107 & 110.]
[8]
Heth
[Lord, I will stick with your
word, your will]
v.57-59
He has set his path on the word of the Lord
v.57
You
are my portion [or inheritance],
Lord;
I have promised to obey your
words.
v.58
I
have sought your face with all my heart;
be gracious to me according to your promise.
v.59
I
have considered my ways
and have turned my steps to your
statutes.
v.60,61
He determines to hold onto and obey the Lord's word
v.60
I
will hasten and not delay
to obey your commands.
v.61
Though
the
wicked bind
me with ropes,
I will not forget your law.
v.62
Whenever the situation calls for it, he will adhere to the Lord's
word
v.62
At
midnight I rise to give you thanks
for your righteous laws.
[judgments]
v.63 I
am a friend to all who fear you,
to all who follow your precepts.
v.64 The
earth is filled with your love, Lord;
teach me your decrees.
[Additional
Comments: The Law requires personal responses of us,
see in v.57-59, the greatest of which is to determine to hold
to the will of God [v.60-61]. Thus the law is before him even
in the wakefulness of the middle of the night [v.62], in unity
with other believers [v.63] and generally in response to His love
[v.64]. A stanza of personal affirmation and commitment to the
word, the law, the will of God.]
[9]
Teth
[Teach me more for I have
learned its value through suffering]
v.65,66
He calls on the Lord to bless him through teaching
v.65
Do
good to your servant
according to your word,
Lord.
v.66
Teach me knowledge and good judgment,
for I trust your commands.
v.67,68
Past transgressions are gone, now he is obedient and teachable
v.67
Before
I was
afflicted I
went astray,
but now I obey your word.
v.68
You
are good, and what you do is good;
teach me your decrees.
v.69,70
The wicked are arrogant, lying unbelievers, but he holds to God's
will
v.69
Though
the
arrogant have
smeared me with lies,
I keep your precepts
with all my heart.
v.70
Their
hearts are callous and unfeeling,
but I delight in your law.
v.71,72
He had learned through suffering to endure in God's precious word
v.71
It
was good for me to be afflicted
so that I might learn your decrees.
v.72
The
law from your mouth is more precious to me
than thousands of pieces of silver and
gold.
[Additional
Comments: The psalmist starts this stanza with a request
for the Lord's goodness to be expressed towards him in the form
of teaching [v.65,66] but then looks back and sees his past state
of affliction in disobedience, which he rejects in order to receive
the blessing of God's will through His word [v.67,68]. Yes, he
is opposed but he will cling to God's wonderful word [v.69,70].
The ‘suffering' he had experienced taught him the value of God's
precious word [v.71,72] A stanza where the value of God's word
comes through experiences.]
[10]
Yodh
[Lord, teach me more your
wonderful word, revealing us all]
v.73,74
The psalmist needs God, who is both creator & lawgiver, to
teach him
v.73
Your
hands made me and formed me;
give me understanding to learn your commands.
v.74
May
those who fear you rejoice when they see me,
for I have put my hope in your word.
v.75-77
The values that accompany God's word
v.75
I
know, Lord , that your laws are righteous,
and that in faithfulness you have
afflicted me.
v.76
May
your unfailing love be my comfort,
according to your promise
to your servant.
v.77
Let
your compassion come to me that I may live,
for your law is my
delight.
v.78-80
Desired Outcomes
v.78
May
the
arrogant be
put to shame for wronging me without cause;
but I will meditate on your precepts.
v.79
May
those who fear you turn to me,
those who understand your statutes.
v.80
May
I
wholeheartedly follow your decrees,
that I may not be put to shame.
[Additional
Comments: God the creator is the originator of all law
[v.73,74] that is seen as righteousness & demonstrates God's
faithfulness [v.75] and unfailing love seen in His promises [v.76],
that also reveals His compassion [v.77]. His response is a desire
for unbelievers to be shown up [v.78], and those who obey God's
law be united with him [v.79], finalized by a desire for his own
obedience to reveal his righteousness [v.80]. A stanza for desires
for greater understanding as he sees the wonder of God's laws,
and desires for them to reveal the world for what it is, and himself
as an obedient follower.]
[11]
Kaph
[Lord, preserve me in the
face of persecution]
v.81-83
The psalmist feels weak and down
v.81
My
soul faints with longing for your salvation,
but I have put my hope in your word.
v.82
My
eyes fail, looking for your promise;
I say, ‘When will you comfort me?'
v.83
Though
I am like a wineskin in the smoke, [shrivelled
& spoilt?]
I do not forget your decrees.
v.84-86
The cause of his feelings - persecution
v.84
How
long must your servant wait?
When will you punish my persecutors?
v.85
The
arrogant
dig
pits to trap me,
contrary to your law.
v.86
All
your commands are trustworthy;
help me, for I am being persecuted
without
cause.
v.87,88
God's love helps him cling on to his faith & obedience
v.87
They
almost wiped me from the earth,
but I have not forsaken your precepts.
v.88
In
your unfailing love preserve my life,
that I may obey the statutes
of your mouth.
[Additional
Comments: The psalmist has been receiving opposition
and feels demoralized by it, but with the help of God's love he
maintains obedience to God's word.]
[12]
Lamedh
[I am determined to stand
true against opposition]
v.89-91
God's word & His faithfulness go on and on and on
v.89
Your
word, Lord,
is eternal;
it stands firm in the heavens.
v.90
Your
faithfulness continues through all generations;
you established the earth, and it endures.
v.91
Your
laws endure to this day,
for all things serve you.
v.92,93
It has been His word that has preserved him
v.92
If
your law had not been my delight,
I would have perished in my affliction.
v.93
I
will never forget your precepts,
for by them you have preserved my life.
v.94-96
A cry for the Lord to save him against the coming adversaries
v.94
Save
me, for I am yours;
I have sought out your precepts.
v.95
The
wicked are
waiting to destroy me,
but I will ponder your statutes.
v.96
To
all perfection I see a limit,
but your commands are
boundless.
[Additional
Comments: He is still aware of opposition [v.95] in
the form of destroyers and so he trusts implicitly in God's faithfulness
and His word.]
[13]
Mem
[The wonder of God's word
that teaches and guides]
v.97
He affirms his love for God's law
v.97
Oh,
how I love your law!
I meditate on it all day long.
v.98-100
The effect of the knowledge of the Law is to elevate him above
others
v.98
Your
commands are always with me
and make me wiser than my enemies.
v.99
I
have more insight than all my teachers,
for I meditate on your statutes.
v.100
I
have more understanding than the elders,
for I obey your precepts.
v.101,102
He has maintained righteousness & obedience to God's law
v.101
I
have kept my feet from every evil path
so that I might obey your word.
v.102
I
have not departed from your laws,
for you yourself have taught me.
v.103,104
He savors God's every word that teach and guide him rightly
v.103
How
sweet are your words to my taste,
sweeter than honey to my mouth!
v.104
I
gain understanding from your precepts;
therefore I hate every wrong path.
[Additional
Comments: His focus is on the wonder of the Law on which
he meditates [v.97] every day, that has brought him wisdom, insight
& understanding more than others [v.98-100]. He has avoided
evil by obedience to what he has been taught [v.101,102] and those
words have been like a sweet taste in his mouth giving him more
and more understanding to walk the right path [v.103,104] A stanza
that thrills in God's word.]
[14]
Nun
[Lord, even though I suffer
for it, I'll keep your word]
v.105
God's word shows him the way through life
v.105
Your
word is a lamp for my feet,
a light on my path.
v.106.107
I've promised to stick with your will, preserve me when I suffer
v.106
I
have taken an oath and confirmed it,
that I will follow your righteous laws.
v.107
I
have suffered
much;
preserve my life, Lord , according to
your word.
v.108,109
Let me praise you as you teach me, even under threat I'll hold
to your will
v.108
Accept,
Lord,
the willing praise of my mouth,
and teach me your laws.
v.109
Though
I constantly take my life in my hands,
I will not forget your law.
v.110
Although the wicked try to trap me, I have held to your word
v.110
The
wicked
have
set a snare for me,
but I have not strayed from your precepts.
v.111,112
I'm going to hold to these laws throughout my life
v.111
Your
statutes are my heritage for ever;
they are the joy of my heart.
v.112
My
heart is set on keeping your decrees
to the very end.
[Additional
Comments: God's word so clearly lights his path [v.105]
that the psalmist has determined he will keep to God's word whatever
comes for he's promised that [v.106] even if he is opposed [v.107,109,110];
they are such a joy to him [v.111] so he will hang onto Gods will
to the end of his life [v.112]. Nothing is going to detract from
God's will decreed in God's word.]
PART
THREE: Stanzas 15 to 22: verses 113 to 176