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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You have dealt well with your servant,O LORD, according to your word. Psalm 119:65 ESV With this verse, we now move into the ninth stanza of Psalm 119, wherein each verse begins with the ninth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, teth. This first verse very fittingly summarizes the overall theme of the stanza, namely, God’s …
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The earth, O LORD, is full of your steadfast love;teach me your statutes! Psalm 119:64 ESV Now that we come to the end of this stanza, let us briefly take one last glance at how it is structured. The first half, verses 57-60, focused on the psalmist’s resolution to obey God’s law, while the second …
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I am a companion of all who fear you,of those who keep your precepts. Psalm 119:63 ESV Given the psalmist’s previous statements that he considers how his ways deviate from God’s testimonies, hastens to obey God’s commandments, devotes himself obedience even when the wicked ensnare him, and rises at midnight to praise the LORD, we …
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At midnight I rise to praise you,because of your righteous rules. Psalm 119:62 ESV Having meditated upon his ways and resolved to keep God's law even though the cords of the wicked ensnared him, the psalmist now turns again to praising God for His righteous rules. Praise is fittingly the theme not only of this …
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Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me,I do not forget your law. Psalm 119:61 ESV We might borrow the language of the author of Hebrews and say that time would fail us if we were to recount all the lives of our brothers and sisters who displayed these words with their very lives. Of …
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B. C. Newton 