I love to study the Bible: 4/9/17

What It Says:

Psa 119:49 ZAIN. Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.

Psa 119:50 This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.

Psa 119:51 The proud have had me greatly in derision: yet have I not declined from thy law.

Psa 119:52 I remembered thy judgments of old, O LORD; and have comforted myself.

Psa 119:53 Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law.

Psa 119:54 Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.

Psa 119:55 I have remembered thy name, O LORD, in the night, and have kept thy law.

Psa 119:56 This I had, because I kept thy precepts.

Psa 119:57 CHETH. Thou art my portion, O LORD: I have said that I would keep thy words.

Psa 119:58 I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word.

Psa 119:59 I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.

Psa 119:60 I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.

Psa 119:61 The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law.

Psa 119:62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments.

Psa 119:63 I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.

Psa 119:64 The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes.

What It Means:

Psa 119:49 ZAIN. Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.

REST AND COMFORT THROUGH THE WORD

What does the psalmist want the Lord to remember? The word unto thy servant.

What did God cause him to do? To hope.

The hope that God gave him was based on what? The word of God.

Believer’s Bible Commentary: It is not possible that God could ever forget His promise, but in the furnace of affliction, when faith has its lapses, we are permitted to pray, "Lord, remember . . ." "He cannot have taught us to trust in His name, and thus far have led us, to put us to shame."

The word that he wants to be remembered seems to have been a personal message that he received from the Lord. Sometimes the Lord speaks to us personally and individually. I remember the words that my Savior has spoken to me, personally, and they give me joy whenever I recall them, and they cause me to hope, also. When you heard God speaking to you, it could have been a particular passage in the Bible that really filled your heart with joy, or it could have been the Holy Spirit speaking inside you when you needed to hear from God. God communicates with us as He desires to and for our own good because He cares for us.

Psa 119:50 This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.

God spoke to him. God’s word caused him to hope. What did God’s word become to him? “My comfort in my affliction.” That is when we need comfort: when we are afflicted. Our psalmist has shown us that God’s word, which we have receive as our very own, becomes a comfort to us, especially in times of affliction.

Define: Affliction – distress, suffering, difficulty, burden, problem, hardship, pain, trouble, misery, misfortune

What does he say God’s word hath done for him? Thy word hath quickened me.

We have run into this word “quicken” many times so far in this Psalm. We’ve looked up the definition over and over.

Define: Quicken – make living, make strong, to revive, live, nourish up, preserve (alive), quicken, recover, repair, restore (to life), save (alive, life, lives), surely, be whole

God's word and His Holy Spirit give us life and revive us. Our Psalmist is showing us what our inner life could be like in Christ.

BBC: Those who have experienced the quickening powers of the word find it an unfailing source of comfort. The words of well-meaning men are often empty and unavailing but God's Word is always living, relevant and effective.

There is no comfort like quickening!! Quickening is a revival of the heart that God provides.

Define: Revive – recover, flourish again, revitalize, renew, perk up, breathe life into, restore, refresh, restart, stimulate, reinforce, reawaken, pick up, perk up, resume, develop, recuperate, resuscitate

Act3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

To be quickened, to be revived, to be refreshed…. These all point to God’s love for us and that He is working in us and our lives.

Rom5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Psa 119:51 The proud have had me greatly in derision: yet have I not declined from thy law.

What have the proud “had me greatly in?” Derision.

Define: Derision – mocking scorn, contempt and disdain, mockery, ridicule, contempt, disrespect (Antonym: approval)

The proud are those who have not humbled themselves under the mighty hand of God. They don’t know the Lord and so, do things their own way. They are the bullies of the world, who mock and scorn, and look down their nose at whatever they judge as “unfit.”

But what has our psalmist not done? Yet have I not declined from thy law.

He has not used the derision or mockery of others as an excuse to disobey the law of God. He has not declined from thy law. This is what Jesus taught us, too.

Rom12:17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

1Th5:15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

We call them “paybacks.” But paybacks are not how a true Christian should relate to those who do him or her wrong. We are meant to trust God in ALL circumstances. We are not to recompense evil for evil. What did Ghandi say? “An eye for an eye, and soon the whole world is blind.” We are to be good honest men and women all the time. We are to “ever follow that which is good” to all people.

This “ever follow that which is good” is sometimes easier said than done. We need a good example of how to accomplish this under stress. God has given us a prime example in the following verses about how David handled mockery from Shimei:

2Sa 16:11-14 And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him. It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day. And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hill's side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust. And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary, and refreshed themselves there.

How did David accomplish his obedience? By considering what the Lord was doing.

David was the king, yet he did not harm Shimei who cursed him, threw rocks and dust at him and his people. In a previous verse, Abishai had offered to go and cut off the head of Shimei but David, considered that God may have made the little man to do this. He did not want to go against God, and hoped that God would “look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite (repay) me good for his cursing this day.” David knew that God can make good things come from a bad situation. He did not return evil for evil, but trusted in the Lord’s goodness.

David accomplished his obedience by considering God’s point of view and remembering what he had been taught from the scripture:

Lev19:18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.

Psa 119:52 I remembered thy judgments of old, O LORD; and have comforted myself.

What has the psalmist remembered? Thy judgments of old, O Lord.

What did his memories provide for him? Comfort.

He has recalled what the Lord has done for him in the “old days” and he is once again comforted anew. Notice he says he has “comforted myself.” This too, we must do. We need the skill of comforting ourselves with our memories of what God and Jesus have done for us in the past. We can comfort ourselves with scripture and remembering God’s love for us. Remembering our trust in God, brings us comfort. We do not have to succumb to current unpleasantness, we can comfort our own selves with things that have comforted us in the past.

There is only one place from which comfort for the soul comes; and that is God. In the following scripture Jesus tells us about the Comforter (with a capital “C”).

Joh14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Joh15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

Who is the Comforter? The Holy Ghost.

Who sends Him to us? The Father.

In whose name does He come? Jesus' name.

What is His job? To teach you all things and bring all the things that Jesus said to remembrance

The Comforter is also called? The Spirit of Truth.

From whom does He proceed? The Father.

Of what does He testify? Of Jesus.

When the Holy Spirit speaks to us of Jesus, it brings comfort to our souls.

Psa 23:3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Psa 119:53 Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law.

What hath taken hold upon him? Horror.

Define: Horror – intense fear, a very strong feeling of fear, shock, or disgust; intense dislike, distress, or distaste; dismay, revulsion, shock, disgust, repulsion, dreadfulness, awfulness, terror (Antonym: delight)

He did not use the word “fear,” he used the word “horror” which is a triple dose of ordinary fear. He is shocked and disgusted!!

What caused him to have horror take hold of him? The wicked.

What had the wicked done? The wicked forsake thy law.

He was completely shocked and disgusted that the wicked people had completely forsaken or thrown out God’s law! So far in this Psalm, our author has shared many times how he respects God’s testimonies, delights in God’s precepts, and obeys God’s law. He opened our eyes to the fact that it is God who comforts us. This is a way of life for him and when his peaceful life with the Lord suddenly collides with those who have no inkling of God nor His word – those who mock him, and God at the same time -- he is horrified by the very idea!! The strangeness of their behavior is unfathomable to him.

Define: Horrified – shocked, appalled, aghast, sickened, disgusted, revolted, dismayed, horror-struck

Psa 119:54 Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.

What have “Thy statutes” been to him? My songs in the house of my pilgrimage.

BBC: Thanks to the wonderful Word of God, the pilgrim can sing in the house of his pilgrimage, or, as Knox put it, "in a land of exile." The way may be rough but it cannot be long. The night may be dark but God gives a song.

“Thy statutes” are “My songs”…. The thing that brings so much joy to his heart that he must sing praises to God are found in God’s word. He hopes, he rejoices in God’s word by singing it, and he finds comfort there in times of affliction. What a companion God has given us in His word. A companion that we can reach into and find solace, comfort, joy, praise, and hope at any time. Hallelujah!!

Psa 119:55 I have remembered thy name, O LORD, in the night, and have kept thy law.

What does he remember in the night? He remembers “thy name, O LORD.” Have you ever done the same thing? As you lay on your pillow you think of Jesus and begin to feel the joy of knowing Him. Even His name is a comfort when you recall Him and what He has done for those whom he loves -- us!!

What does he say he has kept? Thy law.

Thinking of God and Jesus gives so much more comfort and peace, when we have been obedient.

1Jn3:20-21 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.

Our confidence in God increases as we become more and more obedient and humble to Him, and loving and kind to others.

Psa 119:56 This I had, because I kept thy precepts.

What did he have? He had a song of praise and worship. He remembered the name of the Lord, and was obedient to God. He had comfort in God.

Why did he have these things? Because I kept thy precepts.

Psa 119:57 CHETH. Thou art my portion, O LORD: I have said that I would keep thy words.

PERSEVERENCE IN THE WORD

What does he say the Lord is? My Portion.

Deu32:9 For the LORD'S portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.

When our psalmist speaks of a “portion” he is speaking of his inheritance. God is the most beautiful inheritance a human can have! Notice in our example verse that it says the Lord has a portion, too.

What is the Lord’s portion? His people. Jacob is His lot, or inheritance.

Define: Lot – H2254, חבל, châbal, khaw-bal', From H2254; to wind tightly (as a rope), that is, to bind; specifically by a pledge – English: fate, fortune, outcome, end, future

A lot, as explained in Strong’s Concordance, is the twisting together of two things so they are bound together especially by a pledge. A pledge is a promise and when God makes a promise it comes to pass. What God wants is to be bound together with us; or he would not have given us promises to live by – or sent Jesus Christ to die on a cross for us. God is our lot; and we are His lot.

Jacob is God’s people, and they are the lot that fell to God, or his inheritance. So we see that it is a mutual inheritance or binding together. We inherit God, and God inherits us!! Truly this speaks of the deep relationship God desires with his children and the importance of keeping God’s words.

Rom 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

Psa 119:58 I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word.

Define: Intreated – (entreat) – plead, implore, beg, pray, beseech, ask, request

Define: Favour – (favor) – preference, sympathy, approval, esteem, kindness, support, help, aid, benefit, increase

He prayed for God’s preference with what? My whole heart.

What did he specifically pray for? Be merciful unto me.

According to what? According to thy word.

God promises to be merciful when we seek Him…. And here is our psalmist asking for God’s mercy for himself.

Psa 119:59 I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.

What did he think on? My ways.

What did he do with his feet? He turned them towards God's testimonies.

This is saying that he thought about the things he was doing and decided to turn his back on those things. Instead, he has now turned his feet in the direction of God’s testimonies. He has decided to return to God and follow Him fully!! He is talking about repentance.

Psa 119:60 I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.

Define: Haste – speed, swiftness, rapidity, rush, hurriedness, quickness, acceleration (Antonym: slowness)

He hurried to repent. He did not delay to keep God’s commandments. In verse 59 we see that he had been wandering away, but he stopped himself short and thought about what he was doing and turned once again unto God’s ways in verse 60.

Psa 119:61 The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law.

“The bands of the wicked” are like “bands of thieves” a group of the wicked (those who do not obey God’s word) have attacked and robbed him!

But what did he not forget? God's law.

Psa 119:62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments.

In the middle of the night he will get up to give thanks to God. Have you ever considered doing this? This is a good thing to do, on purpose, and even if you just wake in the night, remember to give thanks unto God!! Amen!

What reason does he give for giving thanks to God? Because of thy righteous judgments.

Psa 119:63 I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.

He declares himself to be “a companion” – one who travels the same road.

Of whom is he a companion? 1. All them that fear God, 2. All them that keep thy precepts.

We are all companions in Christ because we love the Lord and respect Him, and keep His precepts. This is why we address each other as brother or sister. We have joined the great cloud of witnesses and become traveling companions and co-participants with other believers in Christ. He says he is “a companion of ALL them that fear thee” – respect God, love God, obey God.

Gal3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

1Co1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

1Jn1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

BBC: Those who love God love His people. And those who love the Bible love all Bible-lovers. It is a worldwide fellowship that transcends national, social and racial distinctions.

Psa 119:64 The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes.

What does he say the earth is full of? God's mercy.

What does he request of the LORD? Teach me thy statutes.

He does not want to miss out on any of God’s statues which is where we learn of God’s mercy. God’s love is infinite and the earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy!! He is filled with the awe of God’s mercy and eager to learn more of Him!!

Expositions of Holy Scripture by Alexander MacLaren: Take first that thought of the rejoicing earth, full of God’s mercy as some cup is full of rich wine, or as the flowers in the morning are filled with dew. The Bible does not look at the external world, the material universe, from a scientific point of view, nor does it look at it from a poetical point of view, but from a simply religious one. Nothing that modern science has taught us to say about the world in the least affects this principle which the Psalmist lays down, that it is all full of God’s mercy. The thought is intended to exclude man and man’s ways and all connected with him, as we shall see presently, but the Psalmist looks out upon the earth and all the rest of its inhabitants, and he is sure of two things: one, that God’s direct act is at work in it all, so as that every creature that lives, and everything that is, lives and is because God is there, and working there; and next, that everything about us is the object of loving thoughts of God’s; and has, as it were, some reflection of God’s smile cast across it like the light of flowers upon the grass. Spring days with life ‘re-orient out of dust,’ and the annual miracle beginning again all round, with the birds in the trees, that even dwellers in towns can hear singing as if their hearts would burst for very mirth and hopefulness, the blossoms beginning to push above the frosty ground, and the life breaking out of the branches that were stiff and dry all through the winter, proclaim the same truth as the Psalmist was contemplating when he spoke thus. He looks all round, and everywhere sees the signature of a loving divine Hand.

The earth is full to brimming of Thy mercy. It takes faith to see that; it takes a deeper and a firmer hold of the thought of a present God than most men have, to feel that.

Read our verses once more: