Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

The psalmist once again identifies God as the essential and initiating source of our salvation. It does not depend on human efforts; it depends on weak humanity recognizing their need of the strength that only God can provide. Lifted by that grace, the psalmist journeys deeper into the endless heart of God’s word.

Those who stray away- “But you have rejected all who stray from your principles.” (118)

If we do not persist in listening to the word we will forget its treasures and lose its influence in our life. To stray is to wander aimlessly: “Stop listening to my instruction, my son, and you will stray form the words of knowledge.” (Prov. 19:27, NIV) The wicked- “All the wicked of the earth are the scum you skim off; no wonder I love to obey your decrees!” (119) The psalmist refers to a familiar image in the ancient world; the refining process of the silver-smith: “Son of man, the house of Israel has become dross to me; all of them are the copper, tin, iron and lead left inside a furnace. They are but the dross of silver.” (Ezek. 22:18) The wicked are likened to the com- mon metals left behind in the hot fire of the refiner’s oven. Obedience is likened to the precious metals of gold and silver.

“I tremble in fear of you; I fear your judgments.” (120)

These are the sentences of judgment that Yahweh in his perfect holiness has sent upon the wicked described in 4 of the verses of this ‘Samech’ section. ‘The “fear of God “ in Psalm 119 is not simply to be thought of as a kind of religious veneration…It is really a matter of being afraid, of shuddering in the presence of the mighty judgments of God.’ 20 ‘Of these the poet is afraid…his skin shudders and his hair stands on end.’ 21

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“Don’t leave me to the mercy of my enemies, for I have done what is just and right.” (121)

This section emphasizes the adverse tide of his wicked enemies who have no “mercy” to offer him. He has made a choice to obey God’s law: “Don’t you realize that whatever you choose to obey becomes your master? You can choose sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God and receive his approval.” (Rom. 6:16)

“Please guarantee a blessing for me. Don’t let those who are arrogant oppress me!” (122)

This is the only verse in the psalm that does not make reference to some word that represents the law. God has not only sworn that his promises are true but he has attached a ‘guarantee’ to their claims: “God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who relieved the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind” (Heb. 6:17)

“My eyes strain to see your deliverance, to see the truth of your promise fulfilled.” (123)

He does not yet see with his physical eye the spiritual promise coming to pass. The gap of time between these two entities (promises– fulfillment) must be filled with faith and hope.

“I am your servant; deal with me in unfailing love, and teach me your principles.” (124)

The request to be taught personally by God becomes a repeating chorus of this psalm: (11, 26, 33, 63, 68, 108, 135). We can never exhaust our need of God’s “unfailing love” and “teaching” as we resolve to serve him faithfully.

“Give discernment to me, your servant; then I will understand your decrees.” (125)

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