Saturday, October 7, 2017

Psalm 119:97-112 KJV -- Mem & Nun


What It Says:


Psa 119:97  MEM. O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.
Psa 119:98  Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.
Psa 119:99  I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.
Psa 119:100  I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.
Psa 119:101  I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.
Psa 119:102  I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me.
Psa 119:103  How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Psa 119:104  Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.
Psa 119:105  NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Psa 119:106  I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments.
Psa 119:107  I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O LORD, according unto thy word.
Psa 119:108  Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me thy judgments.
Psa 119:109  My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law.
Psa 119:110  The wicked have laid a snare for me: yet I erred not from thy precepts.
Psa 119:111  Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.
Psa 119:112  I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the end.


What It Means:


Psa 119:97  MEM. O how love I thy law!

WISDOM THROUGH THY WORD

What does our psalmist love?  God's law!

With an exuberant “O” to start the first sentence and an exclamation point at the end we see that our psalmist is excited and filled by “thy law” – God’s law – The Word of God. The Bible is his passion. He is an example to us. We cannot fake this passion but we can pray for it, if we lack it!

Jas1:5  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.

“Let him ask of God.” Some of us had a passion for the word when we first came to Christ. God filled us with His Holy Spirit and lead us to the reading and study of his word and the joy we felt was amazing and blissful. Perhaps some time has passed and we no longer feel that overwhelming joy and passion for God’s word that we once had, but we can take this to the Lord, too.

“Let him ask of God.” We must be aware that Satan is trying to snatch the word out of us, along with our joy over it. When we recognize where any current reluctance or procrastination to study His word comes from, let us not allow ourselves to stay there.

Jas1:21  Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

Lay aside procrastination and get into the word today! Plan a daily or weekly time, whether morning, noon, or night, to be in God’s word. Not just as a ritual, because “the implanted word” is “able to save your souls” from not only hell, but from our everyday lethargy. For me, it is the actual study of the word, the investigation of what is being said that raises my spirits like nothing else can. Through prayer and the gift of the Holy Spirit as we read, God is maintaining and encouraging our deep inner self and our faith in Him.

Mar 14:38  Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.

We can set aside our internal obstacles and the temptation to let our Bible study slide, and ask God to help us get deeply into his word once more. Just as the mature love in a marriage is different than the first throes of infatuation, our passion for God and His word can change and mature, too. What our psalmist is demonstrating is his mature love for “thy law” which can be more passionate and more sublime than our first puppy love of the Word of God ever even realized.

it is my meditation all the day.

Define: Meditation – the act of thinking about something carefully, calmly, seriously, and for some time, serious study of a topic

When does he meditate on God’s word?  All throughout the day.

All the live long day he is thinking about God’s law. It crosses his mind when he has breakfast. It twinkles through his inner self when he needs guidance during a situation. It shows up in his mind all the day long. It is nearly impossible for us to keep a constant and forced continual focus on God so I doubt that is what he is expressing. It is the Holy Spirit who will bring God’s word into our minds, moment by moment – but only if we have taken God’s word into our being and absorbed it through meditation or study. Daily meditation of God’s word is not something we can manufacture by our own efforts. This is what happens when we have been in prayer and asked God to fill us with his word and with his spirit – and then we have done our part by opening His word and beginning fresh every single time to read it and ponder it. What we are doing in these studies is a kind of meditation on God’s word. We are pondering what His word actually means so we can apply it to our own lives.

Psa 119:98  Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.

Who is he wiser than?  His enemies.

Who made him wiser?  God.

Through what did God make him wiser?  God's commandments.

What is ever with him?  God's commandments.

God’s commandments are “ever with me.” Yes, his enemies are around, but it is God’s Holy Spirit that has given him wisdom and knowledge through knowing God’s commandments. In the sentence previous he said that he meditated on God’s law all the day long – so it is obvious that it is God’s laws and commandments that keep him company – “they are ever with me.” This is what we should do, too: keep God’s commandments ever with us, simply by thinking about them.

Psa 119:99  I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.


Why does he have more understanding than all his teachers? Because he meditates on God's testimonies, himself.

With this statement he shows us that those who are our teachers can give us a certain degree of understanding but it is our own personal meditation on God’s testimonies that give us a more perfect understanding. We need teachers, and should respect and listen to them, but our own personal meditations are more important to our personal understanding of God than anyone or anything that is outside of us. He is talking about the inner man.

Eph 3:16-19  That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Our relationship with God, and His word, is a personal, intimate, inner thing. The Holy Spirit is personal and God has given us the Gift of the Holy Spirit so that he could write his laws in our hearts and in our minds.

Deu30:14  But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.

God says his word is “very nigh unto thee” – very near to thee –  in our hearts and in our minds. For what reason? “That thou mayest do it.” Have you ever done anything that was not in your mind and heart to do? We do those things that we think about and love. We are focused “to do” by our minds and hearts. We will only respond with obedience to that which we consider worthy and which we love. If we love God’s word, it is easy to obey. If we believe God’s commandments, it becomes more likely that we will follow them.

1Sa2:35  And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever.

Notice that here, God is talking about the “faithful priest” (Jesus) who will do what is in God’s heart (mine heart and in my mind).

Heb8:10  For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

God’s new covenant specifically promises to fill our individual hearts and our minds with his law -- just exactly like Jesus' was. For what purpose? So that He will be our God and we shall be his people. God’s people are given a gift to make them God’s people. The gift of the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ!

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.

Where do we find the “whatsoever” that Jesus has said unto us? In the Bible and in our hearts.

You put the Bible, the word of God, inside yourself, and God will teach you what it means, and bring it up in your memory at the perfect moment when it is needed.

Psa 119:100  I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.

Who does he understand more than?  The ancients -- his fore fathers

Why?  Because I keep thy precepts.

“The ancients” are the old Israelites; the ones who fell in the wilderness through unbelief and disobedience. Our psalmist says he “keeps God’s precepts,” which is the exact opposite of what the ancients did. His obedience is the proof that he understands God in a deeper more meaningful way.

Psa 119:101  I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.

Define: refrained – abstained, avoided doing, ceased, renounced (Antonym: persisted)

What part of his body has he “refrained?”  His feet.

From what has he refrained his feet? Every evil way.

Why? That I might keep thy word.

His feet never enter into a bar. His feet never take him near any evils ways. He does not go into the home of a harlot. His feet are faithful to walk inside the boundaries of God’s word. Our psalmist has used the metaphor of “my feet”  to talk about his life style.

Eph6:15  And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Notice in Eph 6:15, which is talking about the amour of God, our feet are to be prepared.

With what are our feet to be prepared? The gospel of peace.

Where do we get instruction about “the gospel of peace?”  The Bible.

The word of God, teaches us the gospel of peace -- through Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit -- to walk in godly ways. Ultimately it is our walk, (where our feet take us) or what we do with the gospel that decides our eternal fate. If we are living and walking with and in the Spirit, then we are saved.

Rom8:14  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Rom2:29  But he is a Jew (or Christian), which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Rom8:9  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Gal3:3  Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

Gal5:16  This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

Gal5:25  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.


Psa 119:102  I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me.

From what has he not departed? God's judgments.

Why? Because God has taught him.

He has been taught by God so he has not departed from God’s word – thy judgments. He understands how God judges things because he has been taught by God’s word. In the sentence previous he said “I have refrained my feet from every evil way” and now he restates this concept by saying, “I have not departed from thy judgments.” These two sentences mean the same thing. He is not participating in “evil ways” because he has kept God judgments.

It is important to notice the “for thou has taught me.” He did not get his teaching from teachers, he got it from God. We looked previously at the verses about “the Comforter” who both teaches us and brings to remembrance all of Jesus teachings so he is still talking about the inner man who keeps God’s word and his judgments close to his heart – it is his treasure.

Psa 119:103  How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

What is it that tastes sweet to him? God's words.

He actually uses the words “unto my taste” – which could mean his mouth or he could be illustrating his personal preference as in his personal style and taste. A person takes on a style that attracts him and lets him express himself in a visual or personal way. It makes him feel good. But… since he has also used the word “sweet” and then compared it to “honey” in his mouth, this is the proper interpretation of this passage. God’s word is as sweet to him as honey is to his mouth – even more so. He lets us know that God’s word is desirable to the soul that is feeding on it.

Psa 119:104  Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.

Through what does he get understanding?  God's precepts.

What is it that he hates? Every false way.

God’s word is truth. If he is understanding truth and it tastes sweet to him, he will quite naturally hate “every false way” because false ways oppose truth. And that is the point of this small section. That we may be able to distinguish between false ways and God's ways which are truth so we may meditate on them and follow them.

Psa 119:105  NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

GOD’S WORD IS A LIGHT AND LAMP FOR ALL OCCASIONS

What does he say God’s word is a lamp unto? His feet.

What does God’s word shed light on? His path.

If we think about feet and a path we see they are related but the focus is slightly different. A lamp will light up what the feet are doing. It will reveal our own actions to us. And a light will reveal the good path to go on. A light will let you know where the sink holes, stone boulders, and downed tree limbs are. It will also reveal where the path is smooth and level.  It makes the path clear so when you take your feet down that path, you will know where you are going – but it does not light up the end of the trail, it only lights the path for a few feet in front of you – just enough for today. God’s word is exactly the thing to use to examine both our feet (our actions) and our path (where we are going and what we are planning). Notice that the feet must be moving in order to walk down a path. If our feet are not moving, we are not walking the path.

Psa 119:106  I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments.

He has sworn an oath which he promises to perform.

What does he say he will do? I will keep thy righteous judgments.

He has a plan for his future -- to do what is right in God’s eyes. 

Psa 119:107  I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O LORD, according unto thy word.

He shares that he is still afflicted. How afflicted is he? Very much.

What does he ask of the Lord? Quicken me, O Lord.

He knows that quickening comes from the Lord from having read what?  God's word.

Define: quicken -- to become alive, to make more rapid; accelerate; hasten; to give vigor to; stimulate; to restore life to; revive:

Psa 119:108  Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD,


Define: beseech – implore, beg, request, ask, entreat, plead, press, demand

“Accept,…, the freewill offering of my mouth, O LORD” – he is genuinely asking the Lord to accept his sincere praise and worship.  He has asked for two things. First he asks that the Lord "quicken" or revive him. He wants to feel the oppression fall away because he once again feels the love of the Lord for him. He wants the Lord to restore to him his joy of the Lord. Then he asks for one more thing: He asks that the Lord accept the freewill offerings of his mouth. He asks that the Lord receive his praise of God as sincere and authentic.

Jer33:11-12  The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the LORD. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Again in this place, which is desolate without man and without beast, and in all the cities thereof, shall be an habitation of shepherds causing their flocks to lie down.

Heb13:15  By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.


and teach me thy judgments.

As he feels God's revival, that freshening from the Lord, he praises and worships the Lord. Then he asks God for a third thing?  Teach Him God's judgments.

This is a joyous request that He cannot keep from asking. He says, "Please continue to teach me Thy judgments, dear Father!" He knows that God's word is the source of his joy, so he asks for more! We know he has been in the word, and he knows we are never done learning about God. The Father is infinite meaning there is no end to Him, or to His love, or to His teaching us! When we open ourselves up to His teaching by asking for it, He fills us with His teaching by His Holy Spirit. When we know how God judges things we are better equipped to choose the path of which He approves.

Psa 119:109  My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law.

Whose hand does our psalmist say his soul is in? In his own hand.

When?  Continually.

BI: As a deeply felt need in the immediate prospect of death. “My soul is continually in my hand.” That is, my life is in constant danger: death confronts me.

BBC: When our life is constantly in danger, there is safety and security in remembering the law of the Lord. The tendency to panic, to become hysterical, and to forget God's Word must be avoided at any cost.


What does he not forget? God's law.

Notice the word “yet.” This is similar to the usage of the word “but” which cancels out the first part and replaces with the second part. So he affects the part where he is frightened by not forgetting God’s law.  When danger confronts him, he does not forget God's law.

Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary: In the midst of deadly perils and exposed to crafty enemies, his safety and guidance is in the truth and promises of God. (the phrase is drawn from the fact that what we carry in our hands may easily slip from them, Jdg12:3; 1Sa28:21; Job13:14; compare 1Sa19:5).

Think of the idea of “putting your life in your own hands.” When we must do something dangerous because of a compelling reason, either to save another’s life or to deliver ourselves from deadly threat, we may need to “put your life in your hands.” If we die doing it, it was our decision. It is in dangerous times that we should remember God’s law and trust in His goodness and power to deliver us.

Psa 119:110  The wicked have laid a snare for me: yet I erred not from thy precepts.

What have the wicked done? Laid a snare for him.

Define: snare – trap, noose, catch, capture, situation that is both alluring and dangerous

The wicked have tried to lure him into their noose-like trap.

Yet what did he do? He did not err from God's precepts.

He did not waver from following God’s precepts. He used God’s word as a guide in this perilous time and God's word enabled him to side-step their trap. God’s word is our unfailing protection and guidance in all circumstances. He did not let temptation rule his life. He let God rule his life.

Psa 119:111  Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.

What has he taken God’s testimonies to be? His heritage for ever.

Define: heritage – something one is born to, inheritance, legacy, tradition, birthright, custom

We are blessed by God’s gifts to us. His word is a tremendous gift that we cannot measure. Implied in any gift is the free use of it as we need it which will certainly cause the rejoicing of the heart to anyone of faith.

JFB: These he joyfully takes as his perpetual heritage, to perform the duties and receive the comforts they teach, evermore.


Psa 119:112  I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the end.

Define: inclined – tending, disposed, apt, liable, prone, of a mind, leaning, sloping, slanting, tilting, oriented

What has he inclined? His heart.

He leans his heart towards doing what? Performing or obeying God's statutes always.

Even unto what? The end.

The end of what? His own life.

He is stating that he will be hard pressed towards obeying God, even until the day he dies! Paul says a similar thing in the NT. We are to keep our focus on Jesus; to keep pressing towards the high calling that God has given us in Christ Jesus.

Php 3:14-15  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

Psa 119:105  NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

God has given us our heritage in Jesus Christ, let us lean into following after Him!! Let us press toward the mark. Missing the mark is sin. Pressing towards the mark is ever trying to be obedient and faithful. We were not called to be successful -- we are called to be faithful. Knowing and trusting God's word keeps us faithful and lively.

Read our verses once more:

Psa 119:97  MEM. O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.
Psa 119:98  Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.
Psa 119:99  I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.
Psa 119:100  I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.
Psa 119:101  I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.
Psa 119:102  I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me.
Psa 119:103  How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Psa 119:104  Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.
Psa 119:105  NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Psa 119:106  I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments.
Psa 119:107  I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O LORD, according unto thy word.
Psa 119:108  Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me thy judgments.
Psa 119:109  My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law.
Psa 119:110  The wicked have laid a snare for me: yet I erred not from thy precepts.
Psa 119:111  Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.
Psa 119:112  I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the end.