Psalm 119, Verses 17 to 56
The third section of this long psalm brings to view the saint of God in trial. Here the Word of God has been the guide, and the meditation of one sustained in hope. Already he has been relieved by God’s intervention, but he looks for yet fuller blessing, and connects his hopes and prayers with the Word, of which he desires to know more.
The fourth section, verses 25 to 32, carries on the thought of a saint of the coming day on earth, in trial. He is not here occupied with the judgment of the proud as in verses 17-24, but is thinking of his own failure. He looks to God for strength and for enlargement of heart, that he may live according to God’s Word.
In the fifth section (verses 33 to 40) is seen the result of trial gone through in dependence on God; the saint asks to be taught by Him, to be given understanding; he would be made to walk in the path pointed out in the Word of God. He desires to be established, and to find even more enjoyment in His Word.
The sixth section looks for mercies, so that the saint may be able to answer those that reproach him, and to testify before kings for God.
In the seventh section, verses 49 to 56, there is the sense of comfort in the Word of God giving rise to songs in the house of pilgrimage.
What gives Psalm 119 its special character is the Word of God written on the heart—the fulfillment of Hebrews 10:1616This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; (Hebrews 10:16). It is not the Christian’s position that we see in this psalm, but that of the recovered Israelite in the time of the Messiah’s showing Himself again to that nation. The heart opens out to God, and the thoughts and feelings of these faithful ones are set out as they view His statutes and judgments.
What a contrast there is between the language of Psalm 119, and the behavior of the Jews when the Lord was here 1900 years ago! (See Romans chapters 9, 10 and 11.)
ML 11/15/1931