Bible Studies for Life By Jim Barnette, Ph.D.
Samford University and Brookwood Baptist Church, Mountain Brook
God’s Word Gives Courage
Psalm 119:17–24
God’s Word keeps me focused when I don’t belong. (17–20)
This section of Psalm 119 begins with petition and moves to complaint. The passage also introduces a regular feature of the prayers for help (see vv. 21–23). The psalmist prays for life, that he might have the privilege of focusing carefully on God’s Word. He asks the Lord to open his eyes so that he might observe the amazing accomplishments that are a result of God’s divine instruction. The parent verb of “commandments” means “teach” or “direct,” therefore coming from God it means both “law” and “revelation.” It can refer to a single command or to a whole body of the law, especially the Torah or Scripture as a whole.
The desire to see “wondrous things” suggests the need for deliverance, as does the psalmist’s description of his “alien” status. The alien reference might be an allusion to the plights of Abraham and Moses (see Gen. 13:4; Ex. 18:3). The psalmist asserts the transience of his time on earth and his constant yearning for God’s commandments as a justification of his request. He wants to make the most of his days to focus on the Word of God.
God’s Word keeps me focused when I face opposition. (21–22)
The psalmist is aware of God’s harsh rebuke for those who “wander” from His commandments. He has himself felt the scorn and contempt of insolent people, and he asks that it be removed from him because of his faithfulness to God’s precepts. “Take away” literally means to roll away or to get out of one’s presence. The psalmist here is praying for God to get rid of all the degradation he is facing from opponents. These arrogant persecutors are described as disobeying God’s law (vv. 126, 158), ignoring it (v. 139), wandering from it (vv. 21, 118) and forsaking it (v. 53).
In response the psalmist vows never to abandon God’s instructions, even if persons of influence should plot against him. The Lord’s precepts are his source of delight and guidance.
Describing God’s Word as “testimonies” is an allusion to the Mosaic period. Israel was told to place the book of the law beside the ark of the covenant “that it may be there as a witness against you” (Deut. 31:26). Scripture cuts to the chase with its high standards and frank warnings, but it also is dependable for our guidance.
God’s Word keeps me focused on His perspective. (23–24)
Verses 23–24 anticipate verse 46 where the psalmist dares to speak before kings because he looks to a higher authority. The challenges he faces against disdainful unbelievers, including princes and kings, would resonate with Jews who were in the exilic and post-exilic generations. However, the challenges they face are no excuse for the children of Israel becoming lax in their commitments to God’s commandments.
The psalmist delights and trusts in God’s Word much more than in the high people of this earth. “Most men covet a prince’s good word, and to be spoken ill of by a great man is a great discouragement to them,” Charles Spurgeon comments, “but the psalmist bore his trial with holy calmness. While his enemies took counsel with each other the holy man took counsel with the testimonies of God.”
The word “delight” appeared in verb form earlier in the Psalm (v. 16); now it reappears, but here it is the noun version of the word. God’s Word is the object of the psalmist’s delight, and it should be the focus of our joy as well.
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