Psalm 119:73-80 – We are made by God for His delight

“Yodh” is the ninth letter of the Hebrew Alphabets, and it starts Psalm 119:73-80. The Psalmist began by affirming that God had made and fashioned us to serve Him. It is obvious that we are made for His pleasure. That’s why the Westminster Shorter Catechism said that, “The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.”  Thus we need to come to Him continually and plead for understanding to know and apply His instructions. The Psalmist’s desire was to be an inspiration to those who fear and honor the Lord. He was to be an instrument to gladden the hearts of the people who see the Words come to pass, because He obediently kept them.

Here the Psalmist let us know his confidence in God and His judgments. He knew that every tough situation and affliction could be traced to God’s faithfulness in dealing with him. He knew with assurance that God had his good in mind. The affliction would only reveal God’s faithfulness even more clearly. Undoubtedly, afflictions are often forces allowed by God for his ultimate good. When we go through an affliction, perceive the final outcome, don’t focus on the process. 

God had promised to mercifully see us through any affliction. And according to the promises made in His unfailing Word, He will bring the comfort. We can be sure of His love, grace and kindness in dealing with us. The request of the Psalmist was not for the affliction to be removed but for strength, wisdom and endurance to go through the trial and learn the intended lessons. Verse 77 seems to suggest that the Psalmist was undergoing a great trail. Knowing that God is in control, he requested for mercy so that he might come through the trial unscathed. The basis of his plead was because the Word of God was his delight. He had cultivated a friendship with God, and had delighted himself in God’s Word. He was not pleading on personal merit but on the promise of God made in His Word.

The affliction this Psalmist was going through was being taken advantage of, by people who dealt with Him deceitfully and dishonestly. He asked that they be confounded. But he refused to be overly disturbed by their mischief but would rather meditate on precepts derived from God’s Word. In verse 79, he yearned to be in the company of godly people. His desire was to associate with the godly who fear God. He wanted them as his companion in the journey of life and faith. These people would be excellent model for they had experienced and witnessed God’s working in their lives.  A principle for us to learn from here: make friends with like-minded people who love the Lord. Don’t run with the turkey and the skunks. There’s an American saying that we should take heed: If we run into a skunk, we will smell like a skunk. 

What we need is for a heart like this Psalmist. He yearns to be sincere in His relationship with God. He knows he needs to rightly harness his heart for it’s the source of our action in life. When our hearts are properly developed by sound principles of God’s Word, we will not be led astray and be disgraced. Let’s guard our hearts with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life.