Psalm 119:161-168 – Living the Word and loving it

The twenty-first letter of the Hebrew Alphabet can be pronounced as “Shin” or “Sin.”  The Psalmist launched Psalm 119:161-168 with this letter. He began by describing the persecution he was encountering. What was disheartening to him was that they persecuted him without a cause. And though they treated him unjustly, he stood fast in God’s Word and refused to be unsettled by their harsh treatment. He continued to live in reverential awe of God’s Word. In fact he stayed in the Word and found his joy. He lived in the great treasure of the Word as a person who had discovered precious valuables in his field.  

In verse 163, he expressed his hatred for lies and deception. In fact he abhorred them, for his love is the law of God. It was those part that forbade lies and falsehood that he loved. One of the seven abominations in the sight of God is lying lips and falsehood. Here the Psalmist expressed his hatred for it as well because God hates it. The seven in verse 164 is the Psalmist way of saying that he would offer perfect and complete praise to God every day. The reason he would praise God was because of God’s righteous judgments. Ye, God’s righteous judgments always deserve praise.  

People who love the Word of God find great peace and do not take offence easily. That’s because they approach life with a great sense of composure. They are not easily rocked by the unreasonableness of people. In the face of misunderstandings, they find restful mind inside the fortress of God’s peace. Here the Psalmist also declared his hope in the salvation of God because he had kept the commandment of God. He also had tasted the testimonies of God’s Word and had loved them exceedingly. The author was also aware that his whole life, and the path he would take, were ever before the Lord. Nothing was hidden form His eye. Because he had kept God’s Word, he was confident that God would find his heart pure. What a way to emulate! Living life according to God’s Word would be pleasing to His sight. Be sure to live according to His Word circumspectly!