Psalm 119:17-24
This week we continue with our study of Psalms 119.
Psa. 119:17 Deal bountifully with Your servant, that I may live and keep Your word.
Psa. 119:18 Open my eyes that I may see wondrous things from Your law.
David is asking God to deal with him in a bountiful way. The natural tendency would be to think that he is asking for God to give him more things. In Psalm 13:16, David states:
I will sing unto the Lord because He has dealt bountifully with me.
He is asking for something more than stuff. The word “bountifully” comes from a word that also means to ripen or wean. We will get a greater understanding when we realize that it takes time to wean a child or ripen fruit. You cannot force fruit to ripen. It takes time. In essence, David is asking God to keep him in the process. Too many times, we want to shorten the process that God has us in. The enemy will always offer you a shortcut, an effortless way out, because he knows that process refines and purifies. Someone that skipped the process is a novice and can not help others that might need it too.
Next, he asks that God open his eyes to see the beautiful things from God’s Word. Jesus said of Israel that they have become hard of hearing, and they have closed their eyes lest they should see and understand and turn back to God – Matt 13:15.
The very first temptation the enemy brings to man has to do with the voice of God – is it so that God said – and them being able to see like God sees – God knows that if you eat, your eyes will open up – Gen 3:5. He offered them to see it from their perspective instead. His plan is for you to have your own opinion. Question God’s motive! Freedom of speech is a value we teach our children.
Jesus also tells us that if our eyes make us stumble, pluck it out – Matt 18:9. We must see from God’s perspective, and the only way you will see it from His perspective is to see it from His Word.
Truth is everything seen from God’s perspective. Your opinion might be true, but it will never be the truth.
Psa. 119:19 I am a stranger in the earth; Do not hide Your commandments from me.
Psa. 119:20 My soul breaks with longing for Your judgments at all times.
Next, David acknowledges that our time is short. Our life is but a blip on the chart of eternity. In the short time we have, we need His commandments to keep us on track. The word for “commandments” literally means: to govern. If we are left up to our own devices, we will not just fail but get very prideful in the few times we might get it right. Anything we do in life without input from the One that created us is an act of pride, and God hates a prideful person.
Psa. 119:21 You rebuke the proud—the cursed, who stray from Your commandments.
Psa. 119:22 Remove from me reproach and contempt, for I have kept Your testimonies.
There are seven things that God hates – Prov 6:16-19. The first one mentioned is a proud look. Pride is that voice that says: “I don’t need God.” In another scripture, Solomon says: Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to God – Prov 16:5. David is even more robust by saying that God curses the proud person. Pride is the enemy’s character trait, while the children of God are known for being humble and meek. God resist a prideful person – James 4:6.
Psa. 119:23 Princes also sit and speak against me,
But Your servant meditates on Your statutes.
Psa. 119:24 Your testimonies also are my delight
And my counselors.
David chooses to be different. While others talk about him, he focuses not on what they say and do but on God’s Word. We care too much about what others say and think. While his enemies speak words against him, he chooses to hear what God is saying instead. Think how much your life can change the day you decide to ignore people’s opinions about you and exchange their words with the Word of God. You know that God will have good things to say. Why do we place more value on what people say than on what God has said?
Jer 29:11 I know the thoughts that I think towards you says God, thoughts of good and not evil.
