NOTES for Psa 119:119-149
119 Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross: therefore I love thy testimonies. |
120 My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments. |
121 I have done judgment and justice: leave me not to mine oppressors. |
122 Be surety for thy servant for good: let not the proud oppress me. |
123 Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, and for the word of thy righteousness. |
124 Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes. |
125 I am thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies. |
126 It is time for thee, LORD, to work: for they have made void thy law. |
127 Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold. |
128 Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way. |
129 Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them. |
130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. |
131 I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments. |
132 Look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, as thou usest to do unto those that love thy name. |
133 Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me. |
134 Deliver me from the oppression of man: so will I keep thy precepts. |
135 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; and teach me thy statutes. |
136 Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law. |
137 Righteous art thou, O LORD, and upright are thy judgments. |
138 Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful. |
139 My zeal hath consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten thy words. |
140 Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it. |
141 I am small and despised: yet do not I forget thy precepts. |
142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth. |
143 Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: yet thy commandments are my delights. |
144 The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live. |
145 I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O LORD: I will keep thy statutes. |
146 I cried unto thee; save me, and I shall keep thy testimonies. |
147 I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word. |
148 Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word. |
149 Hear my voice according unto thy lovingkindness: O LORD, quicken me according to thy judgment. |
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Hope in God’s mercy in no way excludes the recognition that the triumph of His justice may prove severe and impartial. The psalmist fears the Lord’s judgments, but he also accepts them and acknowledges that they are just. The time to oppose evil actively comes when those whom the psalm calls enemies forget the words of God.
To us, the word “forgot” sounds mild, almost excusable: anyone may forget something, and no one is completely protected from failing memory... But on the pages of the Bible the word “forgot” very often means “consciously rejected,” and God is not mocked; therefore such “forgetfulness” must be answered for.
A person who declares that he loves the law and follows it understands that without God it is impossible to remain on the right path, and so he asks Him not to let any lawlessness gain mastery over him. Rejecting the wicked, he weeps because they do not keep the law, and we may suppose that in this weeping there mingle not only grief over the law being dishonored but also compassion for sinners who are destroying themselves and refuse to leave the path of destruction. Yet they continue in lawlessness, and therefore they must be stopped by severe means.
Readings for 19 April 2019
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