Psalm 119:127

Psalm 119:127

Therefore I love your commandments

above gold, above fine gold.

Men delight in things which break God's law. Our hearts are far too foolish and for too evil to follow God completely; it is only after total transformation that any can obey Christ. The world is full of sin (1 John 2:15-17). Men wander and are careless of God and others, and on this God must act (v. 126).

At God's righteous work, the righteous rejoice. All who know Him love Him, and all that He does and says is good. Man refuses to obey God because he views God's commandments as contemptible. But God's commandments are not burdensome (1 John 5:3). They are good. And those who follow God have greater joy by them than the world does by anything else.

Because we were made to know God, there is no greater joy than loving Him and being loved by Him. If we love Him, we will obey Him (John 14:15; 1 John 5:2), and because He loves us (Rom. 8:38-39) He will allow us to do so (2 Tim. 3:17; Eph. 2:10). This brings us great joy. God's commandments then surpass all possessions and prizes. His ways are desirable.

Psalm 119:103

Psalm 119:103

How sweet are your words to my taste,

sweeter than honey to my mouth.

This is one among many passages that exemplifies that all of life is directed Heaven-ward. God created this world and its fullness so that we would know and see Him. Our senses exist that we learn who God is and what He is like. Our smell is so that we better recognize the aroma of Christ (Eph. 5:2). We have eyes that we may see that the Lord is good (Ps. 34:8). Our ears were made so that w may hear His voice (Jer. 33:3; John 10:27). We have in our dermis the sense of touch so that we might know the texture of Christ's hand (John 10:28). And we taste that we savor the sweetness of God's word (Pss. 119:103; 34:8).

Left to himself, man has an utter distaste for spiritual things. God is to him not someone to be feared or worshiped but despised and loathed. The words of God mean nothing because to the sinner they are but a nonsense language impossible to be understood. It is an utter transformation that must take place before any of this changes, but oh when it does what a reversal it is! The gibberish becomes life; the wormwood becomes honey. That which could not be seen or tasted is now beheld and savored. The untouchable is now embraced, and joy is found. Oh! taste and see that the LORD is good - His word is like honey.

Psalm 119:81-82

Psalm 119:81-82

My soul longs for your salvation;

I hope in your word.

My eyes long for your promise;

I ask, "When will you comfort me?"

Our souls' greatest need is God. It is when we are in distress, feeling distant from Him, that we begin to realize our need of Him. When we lack of Him, we call to Him. It is for Him we long.

But on what premise can we rightly trust God? How do we know He is faithful? Our hope comes from His word. We know God stands because His truth stands; it is unbound perfection (v. 96). His word will never fall (Is. 40:8).

As Jacob persisted for a blessing (Gen. 32:26), so our prayers must also be persistent in times of adversity. Let us always be hoping in God's word and longing for His promise and comfort. May we never give up seeking Him. Rather, long for Him, for in seeking we shall find.

Psalm 119:71

Psalm 119:71

It is good for me that I was afflicted,

that I might learn your statutes.

It is at times the most difficult of circumstances that brings about the greatest rewards. When can hardship be counted as good? Only when it works together for good (Rom. 8:28). It is not the affliction itself but the result effected by the affliction. Even in David's greatest struggle, he would eventually look back and see the benefit.

It is an essential practice of our faith to never waste affliction. We have full assurance that God always works for our good. Although we may not always be able to see that good, we can always trust Yahweh because He is faithful. Through suffering we can see more of him and learn to better obey Him.

This is the center of why difficulties are good for us. If an event pulls us closer to our God and His word, the pain is worth the bearing. Knowing Christ is of surpassing value (Php. 3:8). All that we do and all we endure must be aimed at Him.

Psalm 119:64

Psalm 119:64

The earth, O LORD, is full of your steadfast love;

teach me your statutes.

Even the vilest of sinners taste the greatest thing in all of life. Every day is an undeserved blessing for God to man, and all "are without excuse" (Rom. 1:20). The love of God is inescapable; He has connected it to the world. All that we see we see only because of the love of God. Our senses exist to touch and taste and see (Ps. 34:8) and hear and smell God's love. The world exists so that this love could be placed in it.

The very placement of God's love is an incomprehensible act: the eternal has been bound with the created, the infinite has come to the finite. After Adam and Eve's rebellion, faith was necessary. But love was there in the perfection of Eden. One day faith will no longer be needed, but love will always have a place (1 Cor. 13:2, 8-13).

That God's love would be even on one part of this world is incredible, and yet His love is so great that it is everywhere. We can claim with full assurance no matter where we are, "You are there!" as David did (Ps. 139:7-12). No matter where we are, God is there, and with Him is His steadfast love.

Psalm 119:37

Psalm 119:37

Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things;

and give me life in your ways.

 

Only the life that pursues God's commandments is a life worth living. Saints are called to give up everything for the obedience of God. There is nothing in this world which has so great a value that it can be placed beside the gospel. All that is not according to the ways of God is worthless.

 

What are these worthless things? Evil things? Yes, but not only those. This world will pass away; everything worthless will burn up (2 Pet. 3:10). But treasures in Heaven will never pass away. What is done for the love of God and neighbor, for the care of orphan and widow, for the peace of enemy and friend, for the benefit of the Church - those will remain.

 

It is only walking in the ways of Yahweh that will allow us to do these things. Only by His grace can we remove our eyes from vain things and set them on Christ (Heb. 12:1-2). We are dead when left alone; God is the Giver of life. For more of Him, we must turn to Him. We must take time to turn off the TV and stop looking at our phones, and we must see Christ. And in seeing Christ, we will live.

Psalm 119:32

Psalm 119:32

I will run in the way of your commandments

when you enlarge my heart.

The aim of the life of a believer is to know God, and knowing God necessitates finding out who He is and what He wants. God's desire is that we obey Him; therefore, He gives us the resources to do so. Our obedience is dependent on His grace.

In order for us to obey God, the very core of our being must be expanded. Our knowledge and wisdom must grow. The source of our love and passion must overflow with yearning for the LORD.

A common mistake of modern Christianity is the mindset that thinking is noble and feeling is evil. What a tragic lie this is. The same God who created human thought established human emotions. He gave us taste so we would hunger for Him, joy so we would find our gladness in Him, and minds so we would think on Him.

With all that is in us, let us run after obedience to God (compare Heb. 12:1-2; 1 Cor. 9:24). All energy, all passion, and all hope are to be set on Him. He enlarges these that we may seek Him more. Let us do so. Let us run.