Psalm 119:25-48 Devotional
by Pastor Lawrence
As in all the other sections of this great psalm, the psalmist uses a number of synonyms for the Law of God to express something of its goodness and beauty. He speaks of God’s statutes which are words written in stone to point out immovable boundaries over our conduct. He also speaks of God’s precepts which are his holy and divine directions needed for us to walk in wisdom. He refers to God’s rule which signifies a straight stick that is put on full display for man to see the ideal to which he ought to measure up and evaluate his own conduct. He also mentions God’s testimonies or words spoken to his people to confirm what is true and good and just. And lastly, he points out God’s promises showing that God’s laws are not merely commands but also divine assurances of blessings and rewards for those who keep God’s Word.
In addition to the multifaceted use of the Law of God, the psalmist also speaks of a wide variety of circumstances to which the Law is a guide and an aid. At times he speaks of his great joy in the law of the Lord, but he also hints that at other times he is even more desperate to hear God’s law when his soul clings to the dust, when his soul melts away from sorrow, and when he dreads the reproach of men. In times such as these, meditating on God’s law brings him revival, strength and courage in addition to a wise word to give in response to those who taunt and ridicule him.
But because his heart is naturally dull and slow to understand the wisdom of heaven, just as ours is, he is continually praying that the Lord would graciously teach him and make him to understand God’s precepts, that he would incline his ear to hear God’s commands, turn his eyes toward God’s Word and away from worthless things, and even keep God’s Word continually in his mouth. We often assume that we can do all of these in our own strength, but our hearts quickly grow tired and calloused, our spirits are willing but indeed our flesh is weak, so we humbly pray regularly that God would keep us in his Word.
At the same time it seems that the psalmist is also continually vowing to keep himself in God’s Word. He tells the Lord: “I’ve chosen the way of faithfulness; I cling to your testimonies. I will run in the way of your commands. I will keep your law continually forever and ever. I will lift up my hands toward your commandments which I love and I will meditate on your statutes.” For those of us who are Reformed, we often feel uncomfortable with such language acknowledging our own depravity and inability to back up such statements, but these words of the psalmist are grounded in the power and promises of God. It is with God’s help that he makes such boasts, and it is with God’s help that we can boast in the same manner, not because we trust in our own flesh but because we trust in the grace of our God who has given us the law for this very reason that we might dedicate ourselves to God’s precepts and live by God’s rules.
In the last verse of our passage this morning, the psalmist says, “I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes.” A great example of this commitment could be seen in the British politician William Wilberforce well known for his work to help abolish slavery in England. Every day after fighting with men over very weighty matters of the Law of England he would take a long walk to his home through Hyde Park reciting all of Psalm 119 from memory. Can you imagine an American politician today devoting himself to God’s law in this way? Let us pray that God would rise up such men and women. In the same vein, can you even imagine regular church members dedicating themselves to God’s Word in this way? Let us pray to the Lord that He would fill the Church with such men and woman working especially in our own hearts to know and love God’s Word.