I know, O LORD, that your rules are righteous,and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me. Psalm 119:75 ESV The psalmist is speaking with a Job-like spirit in this verse. Of course, the premise of the book of Job is set up in the first two chapters. Satan appears with all the heavenly hosts before …
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Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice,because I have hoped in your word. Psalm 119:74 ESV I recently wrote a reflection on the first question of the New City Catechism, which asks, “What is our only hope in life and death?” The answer is a thoroughly biblical statement: “That we are not our …
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Your hands have made and fashioned me;give me understanding that I may learn your commandments. Psalm 119:73 ESV This week my daughter took for her class presentation a neckless that I brought back for her from doing some mission work in Mexico, and she explained to her classmates the great difficulty in making by hand …
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The law of your mouth is better to methan thousands of gold and silver pieces. Psalm 119:72 ESV The psalmist has already expressed a variation of this idea in verse 14, saying, "In the way of your testimonies I delight, as much as in all riches." He will also return to this theme in verse …
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It is good for me that I was afflicted,that I might learn your statutes. Psalm 119:71 ESV The psalmist here draws together and makes explicit what the first four verses of this stanza implied. Recall that he began by rejoicing that the LORD has dealt well with him in accordance with His Word. He then …
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Their heart is unfeeling like fat,but I delight in your law. Psalm 119:70 ESV This verse is a continuation of the previous verse, making the subject of the first half the insolent who smeared the psalmist with lies. Now the psalmist explains that they hurl their lies at him because of their unfeeling hearts. We …
The insolent smear me with lies,but with my whole heart I keep your precepts; Psalm 119:69 ESV The insolent in this verse are those who lord themselves over God's Word. Like scoffers, they mock and belittle the testimonies of the Most High, rejecting His authority over them as their Creator. Indeed, like the fools that …
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You are good and do good;teach me your statutes. Psalm 119:68 ESV This is a marvelous verse and a mighty confession for all of God's people to make alongside the psalmist. First, he confesses a deep truth regarding God's nature: God is good. As with all of God’s attributes, we must take care not to …
Before I was afflicted I went astray,but now I keep your word. Psalm 119:67 ESV A painful reality is expressed by the psalmist in this verse. God afflicts His people for their own good. A strain of hedonistic thought has wormed its way into the church that if God is truly good then He will …
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Teach me good judgment and knowledge,for I believe in your commandments. Psalm 119:66 ESV Having begun stanza teth by rejoicing in God’s good dealing with him, the psalmist now continues his prayer by making a petition: teach me good judgment and knowledge. This is a petition that all of God’s people ought to make alongside …
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B. C. Newton 