Allegiance to the Word

“I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to keep your righteous rules.” Psalm 119.106 In a helpful illustration, Charles Spurgeon likened this verse to an oath of enlistment in the military. In essence the psalmist, understanding the illuminating capacity of God’s word (105) declares his allegiance to the word. I’ll never forget the day that I swore in as …

Light in Darkness

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119.105 In a world filled with street lights, big cities, and seemingly inescapable light pollution, it may be difficult for us to understand the depth of the poet’s illustration. In the ancient world, walking at night would surely lead to stumbling without the aid of …

Divine Wisdom and Hate

“Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.” Psalm 119.104 With this verse, the psalmist brings to a close this stanza, a section that highlights the wisdom and discernment produced by meditating deeply on biblical truth. He reaffirms the truth that God’s word produces understanding. As we’ve seen throughout this stanza, this discernment exceeds everything the …

The Sweet Word

“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” Psalm 119.103 The word of God is sweet nourishment for the soul. The psalmist sings that truth in this amazing, well-known verse. But, don’t let familiarity with this verse keep you from spending a little more time dwelling on its truth. The word is sweet to …

The Source of Biblical Discernment

“I do not turn aside from your rules, for you have taught me.” Psalm 119.102 In this verse, as well as verse 101, the psalmist is extolling the value of biblical wisdom by specifically pointing to the discernment it gives. He focuses on how the word of God gives him wisdom to live uprightly in the world. Previously, he stated …

Guarding Our Feet with God’s Word

“I hold back my feet from every evil way, in order to keep your word.” Psalm 119.101 This section of Psalm 119 hails the discernment and wisdom to be found in the word of God. With this verse and the next, the psalmist shows the practical benefit of that discernment. Here, he states that benefit with a positive. The wisdom …

Divine Wisdom Over Human Experience

“I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts.” Psalm 119.100 Respect your elders! It’s one of the first precepts kids are taught—or at least, it should be. While it seems our culture is ever-abandoning respect for the aged, that’s not what the psalmist is doing here. The psalmist is not casting off the wisdom of his elders …

Divine Wisdom Over Earthly Education

“I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation.” Psalm 119.99 In the verse that we considered yesterday, the psalmist noted the supremacy of Scripture’s wisdom in contrast to that of his enemies. Here, he offers a contrast with his teachers—with the finest human educators. He’s shown the supremacy of godly wisdom to a bad …

Wisdom from the Word

“Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me.” Psalm 119.98 Proverbs tells us that “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge” (Prov. 1.7). In psalm 119, the poet aligns with this profound truth and extols the word of God for providing that fear and the wisdom that flows out of it. …

Loving the Law

“Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.” Psalm 119.97 Dwell on this verse for a minute, and simply ask yourself—is this true of me? This theme of delighting in and loving the law of God is seen throughout Psalm 119. The poet repeatedly exclaims his love or devotion to God’s word. He isn’t subtle. …