Psalm 119:65-80 KJV -- Teth & Jod

What It Says:

Psa 119:65  TETH. Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O LORD, according unto thy word.
Psa 119:66  Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.
Psa 119:67  Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.
Psa 119:68  Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.
Psa 119:69  The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.
Psa 119:70  Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law.
Psa 119:71  It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.
Psa 119:72  The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.
Psa 119:73  JOD. Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.
Psa 119:74  They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word.
Psa 119:75  I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.
Psa 119:76  Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant.
Psa 119:77  Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight.
Psa 119:78  Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy precepts.
Psa 119:79  Let those that fear thee turn unto me, and those that have known thy testimonies.
Psa 119:80  Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed.

What It Means:

GOD’S WORD IS PRICELESS / COUNTING MY BLESSINGS
 
Psa 119:65  TETH. Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O LORD, according unto thy word.

Define: Dealt --  have the charge of, executed, exercised, furnished, gathered, governed, granted, hindered, held, kept, maintained, offered, prepared, provided, served, spent, bestowed, brought forth,

Our psalmist says that God has dealt well – or blessed – him. He is happy to know God. He has placed himself under the mighty hand of God, and God has cared for him, provided for him, kept him from some things, and blessed him with others. He is not specific, except to say that God promised to bless him (according unto thy word), and then accomplished it. He praised God and speaks directly to him: O LORD.

Believer’s Bible Commentary (BBC): How long is it since I have thanked the LORD for the wonderful way He has treated me according to the promise of His word? "Count your blessings: name them one by one; and it will surprise you what the Lord has done!"

Psa 119:66  Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.

What two things does he ask God to teach him? Good judgment and knowledge.

Why? for I have believed thy commandments

Pro 9:9-11  Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased

To have good judgment is to be given the ability, by the gift of God, to be able to assess a situation and prayerfully choose the best course -- which is the course that God would prefer that he take. Knowledge of God is what good judgment is based on. Knowledge of God’s word, His precepts, His laws, His instruction and testimonies, but, most of all, having knowledge of Who God Is.

What does he say he has believed? Thy commandments

He reminds God (who needs no reminders) in his prayer that he has “believed thy commandments.” He has believed that God gave the commandments, believed that God’s commandments are trustworthy, and believed enough to obey and follow them. We know this is a new venture for our psalmist because of the following verse:

Psa 119:67  Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.

What had he done before he was afflicted? He went astray

But what is he doing now?  Now have I kept thy word

He has repented from going astray or away from God’s word. Going astray brings affliction with it. But now he has changed his ways and has begun to keep God’s word.

Mar 1:14-15  Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

In Mar 1:14-15 above, Jesus is preaching in Galiliee to believers – the Israelites – and telling them that the kingdom of God is near and at hand and their response should be to repent and believe the gospel He is preaching. Which is what our psalmist has done. This is a new walk for our psalmist. He is currently still afflicted, but he has been reminded of God’s commandments and is trying to correct the situation and repair the damage that he did to his life. He has turned his life once again over to God.

Psa 119:68  Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.

What does he say about God? You are good, and You do good

Our going astray always leads to a dead end, but God, being good, can and does affect all things for good.

Rom_8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Jas_1:17  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

What does he ask to be taught? Thy statutes.

We begin to draw closer to God by the study of His word. He asks God to teach him His statutes. We know that we learn about God through the gift of His Holy Spirit, and we also gain understanding through the same gift. We can only be taught God’s statutes by Him, and then we can only live for God, in Christ, through faith and by His Spirit but we must take His book, open it, pray, and read.

Psa 119:69  The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.

What have the proud done? They have forged a lie against me.

Define: Forged – form, build, create, fashion, falsify, counterfeit, fake, copy

What shall our psalmist do in return?  But I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart

Remember the word “but” cancels out the first part and replaces it with the second. He disregards the lie forged against him in favor of regarding and keeping the precepts of the Lord with “my whole heart.” He does not let his focus on God be distracted by their outrageously bad behavior. He does not return evil for evil. He leaves everything in God’s hands.

Psa 119:70  Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law.

The heart of the proud is like what?  Fat as grease.

The hearts of the proud refuse to believe God. They “wax gross” or “grow fat” by consuming falsehoods. Our psalmist actually says “their heart is as fat as grease.” Grease is oily, which implies they have oily, or slippery hearts. When confronted with the truth, they deflect, and side step, to slip out of the grasp of truth.

But what does our psalmist do in response to the greasy hearted?  But I delight in thy law.

He does not do anything in response to the greasy hearted. He turns completely away from them and looks to God’s law with delight.

Psa 119:71  It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.

What does he say is good for him? That I have been afflicted.

He concludes that his affliction has been good for him probably because his pain has opened his eyes to the real direction of his own life and motivated him to return to the Lord.

What reason does he give? That I might learn thy statutes.

He is saying that if he had not been afflicted he might not have learned God’s statutes and he is grateful for the training from God. So, out of his affliction, he learned a good thing and asks God for the opportunity to learn His statutes!!

Psa 119:72  The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.

He is talking about value!! What does he value most?  The law of thy mouth.

What does he say God’s law is better than?  Thousands of gold and silver.

“The law of thy mouth” affects his life in far better and richer ways than mere money could ever do. God’s law gives us the proper boundaries and explains life and living in this world. Knowing God is the greatest treasure.

Mat 6:21  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

It is the state of the heart that gives us quality of life. Think about “The law of thy mouth.” God is always good and good to us. The words He speaks have power to accomplish His desires and are the law of the universe and mankind.

The Biblical Illustrator:

I. God’s Word secures a higher culture. It gives a freedom and a force to the intellect, a depth and a purity to the sympathies, a sensibility to the conscience, an invincibility to the purpose, a refinement to the tastes, a penetration to the eye, and a pinion (restraint) to the imagination, that no other appliances on this earth can furnish.

II. God’s Word invests with a higher power. Wealth cannot impart magnanimity, fortitude, courage; but the Word of God does to the highest degree. It enables the soul to glory in tribulation, and to welcome death with rapture.

III. God’s Word opens up higher enjoyments. Wealth cannot give the enjoyment of an approving conscience, a loving spirit, an ever-brightening future, and the friendship of the everlasting Father.

IV. God’s Word connects with a higher world. The gold and silver of all the earth can form no connection between us and the celestial state, can procure us no admission into the heavenly world. “Naked came we into the world,” etc. But the Word of God abides in us, goes with us as our light and our sanctuary. (Homilist.)

The Biblical Illustrator: Application –

1.    Bless God for His precious Word. Next to Jesus and the Holy Spirit His greatest gift to man.

2.    Prize and revere it. Set your hearts upon it.

3.    Seek to be greatly enriched with it. Covet much of it... Lay it up. Dig for it.

4.    Use it. Apply it to your diversity of condition. It is profitable for all seasons and circumstances.

5.    What shall be the end of those who neglect the Gospel of Christ? (J. Burns, D. D.)

Luk_8:15  But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

Col_3:16  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

1Ti_6:17  Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

INSIGHTS THROUGH THE WORD

Psa 119:73  JOD. Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.

What does he want God to give him?  Understanding.

Why? That I may learn thy commandments

Define: Understand – comprehend, be familiar with, grasp, take in, get the picture, see, absorb, appreciate, know, recognize, comprehend, realize, be aware of, value, identify with

Jas 1:5  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

We may pray for understanding of God’s word and God may reach down inside us by His Holy Spirit to give us understanding. Once we are given understanding then we can learn His commandments, and not only learn them, but by His Spirit we are enabled to obey God’s word, too. If we understand God’s word then we appreciate, and grasp it. After we absorb God’s word, we desire to live by it.

 “Thy hands have made me and fashioned me.”  With these words he acknowledges God as his creator, and humbles himself under the mighty hand of God. God created us all, but fashioned each one for his own purpose. We are not all carbon copies of each other.

Define: Fashioned – shaped, bent, twisted, formed, created, produced

Rom_9:21  Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

Psa 119:74  They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word.

Who will be glad when they see him?  They that fear thee.

Why? Because I have hoped in thy word.

Psa 130:7  Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.

He is picturing a glad reunion with his fellow believers and looks forward to giving a good report of his hope in God’s word. He has hoped in God’s word and He has walked the path of “not knowing” but now with his new resolve he has fresh hope in God who does not disappoint.

BBC: There is keen spiritual refreshment in meeting a Christian who is on fire for the Lord Jesus. Those who hope in God's Word become radioactive with the Holy Spirit.

Psa 119:75  I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.

What is the first thing he knows about the Lord? Thy judgments are right.

God never makes a wrong judgment. He sees things clearly throughout all eternity. God always says the right thing at the right time.

In what had God afflicted him? In faithfulness.

God is not only always right, he is always faithful.

Deu_7:9  Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;

Albert Barnes’, Notes on the Bible: In faithfulness to my soul; in faithfulness to my own best interest. It was not arbitrary; it was not from malice; it was not that the affliction had come by chance; it was because God loved his soul, and sought his welfare. It was because God saw that there was some good reason why it should be done; that there was some evil to be checked; some improper conduct to be corrected; some lesson which he would be the better for learning; some happy influence on his life here, and on his happiness in heaven, which would be more than a compensation for all that he would suffer.

He trusts in God’s judgment and decisions and knows that God is eternally good and trustworthy, even when he is going through a trial. God never changes!

Keil and Delitzsch, Commentary on the Old Testament: He knows that God's acts of judgment are pure righteousness, i.e., regulated by God's holiness, out of which they spring, and by the salvation of men, at which they aim; and he knows that God has humbled him ... being faithful in His intentions towards him; for it is just, in the school of affliction, that one first learns rightly to estimate the worth of His word, and comes to feel its power.

Psa 119:76  Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant.

K&D: But trouble, though sweetened by an insight into God's salutary design, is nevertheless always bitter; hence the well-justified prayer… that God's mercy may notwithstanding (apart from his affliction) be bestowed upon him for his consolation, in accordance with the promise which (has) become his

What does he pray for? That thy merciful kindness may be for my comfort. Oh, let me take comfort in thy merciful kindness.

According to what? According to thy word unto thy servant.

Who was this word given unto? Thy servant. Himself. The writer of the Psalm.

BBC: … in ourselves we are weak as dust, and we need His compassionate love to sustain us. "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Heb_4:16).

Adam Clark’s, Commentary on the Bible: Thy merciful kindness - Let me derive my comfort and happiness from a diffusion of thy love and mercy, ... thy exuberant goodness, through my soul.

Psa_23:4  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Psa_71:21  Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.

Our comfort comes from God’s merciful kindness that we find in His word, and that He fills us with by His Holy Spirit.

Psa 119:77  Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight.

What does our psalmist want to come unto him? Thy tender mercies.

Why? That I may live!!

The law is his what? Delight!

In verse 76 we see “Merciful kindness” – In verse 77 we see “Tender mercies” – synonyms for “Grace!”  We see his expectation of life everlasting because of his faith in the Lord’s mercy and grace and kindness to us!

Psa_73:26  My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

Eph 2:4-9  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Psa 119:78  Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy precepts.

Let the proud be what? Ashamed.

They (the proud princes) have dealt perversely with him and for no good honest reason (which they are incapable of because they are far from God).

Define: Perversely – defiantly, insolently, rebelliously, boldly, obstinately, stubbornly, determinedly, uncooperatively, awkwardly; (Antonym: compliantly, amenably)

The proud have sinned against him and he asks God to let them be ashamed for their perverse actions. Let them be ashamed for their non-belief in You, the Great God of Heaven!

What does our psalmist promise to do?  But I will meditate in thy precepts.

Here, again, we see an example of how to deal with perverse people in our lives. Step one: Pray for them to have their eyes opened (be ashamed) and pray for their salvation. If you don’t, who will?! Step two: meditate on God’s precepts. Recall a scripture that revives your spirit. Think about it, picture it strongly in your mind, and then praise God.

Notice that in verse 65 he talks about how God has dealt well with him and kept his promises.

Psa 119:65  TETH. Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O LORD, according unto thy word.

And in verse 78 he talks about how the proud have dealt perversely with him

Psa 119:78  Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy precepts.

In either case He simply sticks with God and His word. This is how he returns good for evil unto the perverse, and praises God for His eternal goodness.

Psa 119:79  Let those that fear thee turn unto me, and those that have known thy testimonies.

Whom does he ask to be “turned unto me?”  1. Those that fear God and 2. Those that have known God's testimonies

He seems to be asking that his fellow believers not turn their backs on him. He needs them to trust that he is still one of them even when he is going through a trial.  He is also talking about opposites: 1. the proud, and 2. those that fear God and know his testimonies. These two are in two different camps. As believers we must gather around each other and support each other, especially in times of trouble.

K&D: God humbles, but He also exalts again according to His word; for this the poet prays in order that he may be a consolatory example to the God-fearing, to the confusion of his enemies.

Psa 119:80  Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed.

He asks God to let his heart be what? Sound in thy statutes

Define: Sound – good and whole, firm, unassailable, positive, reliable, sensible, watertight, whole, healthy, unblemished, perfect, normal, fit, sturdy

If he is sound in God’s word, then he will not be what? Ashamed.

Jamieson, Faussett & Brown Commentary: Let my (heart) be sound — that is, perfect, sincere (in thy statutes). – (that I be not) ashamed — disappointed in my hope of salvation.

Tit_2:7-8  In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

2Ti_1:7  For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Matthew Henry’s, Commentary on the Whole Bible: Here is,

1.    David's prayer for sincerity, that his heart might be brought to God's statutes, and that it might be sound in them, not rotten and deceitful, that he might not rest in the form of godliness, but be acquainted with the subject (thy statues) to the power of it - that he might be hearty and constant in religion, and that his soul might be in health.

2.    His dread of the consequences of hypocrisy: That I be not ashamed. Shame is the portion of hypocrites, either here, if it be repented of, or hereafter, if it be not: “Let my heart be sound, that I fall not into scandalous sin, that I fall not quite off from the ways of God, and so shame myself. Let my heart be sound, that I may come boldly to the throne of grace, and may lift up my face without spot at the great day.”

2Ti 1:12-14  For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.

Read our verses once more:

Psa 119:65  TETH. Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O LORD, according unto thy word.
Psa 119:66  Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.
Psa 119:67  Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.
Psa 119:68  Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.
Psa 119:69  The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.
Psa 119:70  Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law.
Psa 119:71  It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.
Psa 119:72  The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.
Psa 119:73  JOD. Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.
Psa 119:74  They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word.
Psa 119:75  I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.
Psa 119:76  Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant.
Psa 119:77  Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight.
Psa 119:78  Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy precepts.
Psa 119:79  Let those that fear thee turn unto me, and those that have known thy testimonies.
Psa 119:80  Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed.