The Psalmist used “Tau” the last
letter of the Hebrew Alphabets to start verses 169-176 of Psalm 119. In these
verses, we see his passionate plea for God’s grace and strength. He longed for
God to receive and answer his prayer. He did not just want to come before the
Lord but to come near to Him. Yearning to enjoy the promises expressed in God’s
Word, he asked to be given understanding of them. He knew that to understand
the Word and be enlightened, he would need God to provide the illumination. No
wonder when Paul in praying for the Ephesians said, “I keep asking
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of
wisdom and revelation, so that
you may know him better” (Ephesians 1:17).
Besides yearning to understand
God’s Word, the Psalmist also specifically asked to be delivered according to
what God had said in His Word. He was seeking God’s favor and grace in humble
submission to Him. He was aware that God had the power to rescue him from all
his deep troubles. The author expected God to do so because he was asking
according to God’s Word. Praise God that the integrity of His Word is utterly
upheld by His faithfulness and unchanging nature.
We are given a glimpse on what to
do when we are taught the Word of God. Verse 171 implied the right response
when we are taught the Word. Like the Psalmist, let praises flow from our lips
like water from a fountain continuously. This we can only do when God has
provided us with insight into His truth. The Psalmist wanted also to verbally
express God’s praise. The author knew that one way he could declare God’s
righteousness was through songs. And he would gladly sing them.
The word “hand,” used in verse 173
could well be an inference to the Lord Jesus Christ. This is true of the other
Psalms. Like Psalm 16 that says in HIs right hand there is joy for evermore. He
was saying that in Jesus we can find joy forever more. The truth is this: when
we choose to follow God and His Word, we can be assured of help from Jesus, who
is at the right hand of God.
True satisfaction in life can be
experienced when we are saved. And when we are assured of our salvation, the
Word of God and His instruction become our delight. Our ability to love and
enjoy the Word of God will reveal where our heart is. Remember Jesus reminded
us that “Where our treasure is, there our heart shall be.” The last two
concluding verses of Psalm 119 are the Psalmist’s expression of desiring to
experience life as God would have it. He knew that with God’s help he would be
able to make praise his habit. He would also be able to discern and come to
accurate conclusion in every circumstance.
What the author said in verse 176
shows how sin can impact our life. Sin has the influence and capacity to cause
us to stray away from God, like a sheep straying from following the shepherd.
So the Psalmist asked God to seek him whenever he strayed. He knew that in
keeping the commandment of God there would be security. Hence he chose to stay
within the confine of God’s Word. Like the Psalmist, we must also take time to
pray. When we draw near to Him we must draw near with a desire to understand,
to be taught and then to apply all the instructions He will give. But we must
come expressing our desire to be kept faithful, living according to what He has
prescribed in His Word.
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