Psalm 119 - Love for God's Law

We are law breakers, each one of us. The lord gives us his law in our hearts and in his word so we can learn the best way to live in the world God created with the most success, the most joy, the most peace.

God's law is like a loving father taking our hand and leading us safely along a path filled with dangers. It leads us to life.

I lean towards a Davidic authorship of Psalm 119 even though there isn't a preface stating "A Psalm of David" like Psalms 37-41.

David was the "beloved" man after God's own heart, and he had a deep reverence for and relationship with our Lord, who inspired this psalm through David I believe.

Although David was far from perfect (see Psalm 51), he loved God and His law, and David truly desired to have a spiritually intimate relationship with His Lord. I certainly see the prospects of Jesus (our "Lord" from the OT, too), praying with and through David in this remarkably beautiful piece of poetry.

My post on the meanings of David and other words is saying that most times in the OT when not accounting for David/s growing up and being King of Israel, the word or name, David is referring to Jesus Yeshua.

Think about it. It. David will nev er have other than his offspring on the Throne. Who is on the Throne forever? Jesus Yeshua, in the line of King David. Jesus Yeshua is the Beloved, and our King for eternity.

The implications and revelations are wonderful and confirmation of allprophesied of our Savior. It is not the David who succeeded Saul, it is the Beloved .

Language is so confusing.

I was doing a study on aramaic/aramaic "primacy"; and while I don't believe all the conclusions of the aramaic-primacy people, there are an awful lot of them saying that "Sabacthani" does not mean to utterly forsake/abandon; rather, it means "kept/left behind for a purpose". They have two other words that mean "utterly forsake/abandon".

I'll let this awesome verse stand on its own...


Psalm 119:64

New King James Version

64 The earth, O Lord, is full of Your mercy;
Teach me Your statutes.

The ancient Israelites got too wrapped up in keeping God's law out of fear, and we know all too well how fear is only a good motivator when people are oppressed and feel like they don't have any choice but to "obey" the law.

The psalmist here puts the focus on God's true nature--love and mercy. And, it's not like this is some new revelation. We can go back to the Torah (Genesis - Deuteronomy) and find multiple revelations of God's grace being expressed. For example,


Exodus 34:5-7

New King James Version

5 Now the Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord.

6 And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth,

7 keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation.

This is our Creator, the one who made the heavens and earth and is Omniscient. Yet, He is also our Father who loves us dearly as His wayward children. God's love and mercy are boundless. I just need to bask myself in it like a warm summer day with a cool breeze flowing across my sweaty skin.

Because of my wrestling with the concepts of the Old and New Covenants, I've come to the conclusion that there are continuity and discontinuity between the two covenants. That is, Jesus' coming has done away with the Old Covenant's external form, that is, the law as Israel's commandments (the external sacrifices of animals, the clean and unclean foods, and the inheritance of the Promised Land).
Let me explain each reference. First, the bloody animal sacrifices have ended when Jesus fulfilled them by shedding his blood at his crucifixion. But we must be living sacrifices, as Paul says it in Romans 12:1.
Second, I meditated a long time about the clean and unclean foods, which are no longer valid in their external form. However, the internal principle of our need to seek God's cleansing of our lives continues on. It must be part of our prayer life.
Third, the psalm (37) says that the meek shall inherit the land, that is, Palestine, the Promised Land. However, Jesus said, "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth," referring to the new earth God will make by making this old earth new (Revelation 21:1).
As a result, Psalm 119 demonstrates the psalmist's joy in following God's commands, precepts, and guidelines. Even more, we can rejoice in following the New Covenant principles in the whole Bible.

Thank you so much for your thoughtful commentary, Bruce. The "clean and unclean foods" idea really stood out because I attended a church in my twenties where we observed that principal--no pork, shrimp, clams...(all of which I loved as a teenager!). My body definitely went through a cleansing process, and I was in excellent physical condition as a hardcore competitive softball player.

I no longer observe the unclean foods' concept to the letter of the law, however. I enjoy pepperoni on my pizza and a little ham now and then. I am not a fan of pork roasts, and I haven't touched clams and shrimp in 35+ years. And, it's not because I feel like I am breaking a statute of our God. It just doesn't appeal to me.

Brainwashed? Perhaps. But think about it. All of the unclean food listed in Leviticus is done so for a reason--creatures like lobster, shrimp, and clams are bottom feeders taking care of a lot of waste and helping to keep our oceans clean. I certainly have no problem with folks who enjoy seafood (I'm a fish fanatic myself). It's just not my thing anymore.

As much as I hate affliction, suffering and trials are a necessary part of this life, and they bring me closer to God. I'm usually complaining bitterly during hard times, and as much as I am strong in some areas, I am a wimp when it comes to trials:


Psalm 119:71

New King James Version

71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted,
That I may learn Your statutes.

When circumstances are going "well" and I am enjoying "good times", it's so easy to drift away from God. Tough times build character and keep me focused on what's important--keeping me eyes on God and relying on Jesus and the power of His Spirit to see me through the challenges I face on a daily basis that are much larger than I can tackle on my own.

The psalmist desires an intimate relationship with God and prays, "Let your tender mercies come to me that I may live; For your law is my delight" (Ps. 119: 77). He goes on to express a few verses later how "My soul faints for Your salvation, But I hope in your word" (v. 81). There is this deep longing and desire to achieve a personal relationship and bond with his Creator.

In the face of war, natural disasters, and all of the other circumstances that plague this fallen age, I put my hope in God and His Word. I want that to be delightful and hopeful where God's love and "mercies" will carry me through all dark times ahead as I await my ultimate hope, the return of Jesus Christ our Lord!

Jesus tells us about the "wars and rumors of wars" (Matt. 24:6) that we are subject to in this era, and we are certainly getting our fill of those today (this world could explode into all out war between the "superpowers" if we aren't careful--no thank you unless that's what will set the stage for our Savior's return).

And, the psalmist writes: "My soul faints for Your salvation, but I hope in Your word" (Ps. 119: 81). As I endure the pain and suffering of this life, my soul longs for God's saving power, and I am given that hope in His Word as well. It seems that's part of the program, and there aren't any shortcuts. Pain, emptiness, and heartache force me back into the hands of God, and "my soul faints for [His] salvation."

I was thinking about the way I communicate with God through prayer and meditation, and the way He communicates back with me through reading the Bible, participating in worship services (e.g. sermons, praise, and worship), and fellowship with like-minded brethren. "Forever, O lord, Your word is settled in heaven" (v. 89). Through Jesus and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in my mind, heart, and soul, His Word has also been written within me. His word is not just "settled in heaven;" it is settled in the inner most recesses of my being.

"I am Yours, save me..." (Ps. 119: 94) the psalmist crys out. That's a prayer worth repeating on a regular basis. And then, the climax of this psalm occurs for me:


Psalm 119:96-100

New King James Version

96 I have seen the consummation of all perfection,
But Your commandment is exceedingly broad.

מ MEM

97 Oh, how I love Your law!
It is my meditation all the day.
98 You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies;
For they are ever with me.
99 I have more understanding than all my teachers,
For Your testimonies are my meditation.
100 I understand more than the [a]ancients,

I love the wording, "consummation of all perfection..." (v. 96). It's like perfection is unified in the poet's eye. Perhaps, above and beyond that, there is a union or oneness experienced with YHWH by that sincere striving for His commandments, which are "exceedingly broad" (v. 96).

He has to cry out, "Oh, how I love your law!" (v. 97). This is not, oh woe is me, I have to obey or I'll be punished. No, it is true love--a foretaste of what God desires to have with all of His creation and His children in particular.

God elevates me by the power of His Word. It is sad to see how troubled our world is today, yet all we have to do is repent and cry out to our Creator for redemption and salvation. I see all the bad news at work out there, but the good news, the gospel, is there to save me. That's the piece that is missing in this world--consummation with our Creator! The hand is extended; all I have to do is embrace it.

I remember sitting in several classes enjoying commentary from brilliant professors yet also being baffled by how ignorant they were about God and His Word. It's not like I was smarter than they were by any means, but the Holy Spirit gives us "more understanding than all my teachers" (v. 99). That is from my point of view, "teachers" from a secular perspective who are brilliant scholars in their field yet clueless about the big picture. If God and His Word are not the foundation for our education and lives on the whole, it's all ultimately vanity as the preacher says in Ecclesiastes.

The Law of God is absolutely wonderful.

Don't stifle your instincts/discernment about how important it is.



God bless.

What is more important than the law?

That's a great question, and as I was thinking it through, it seems all aspects of our Christian lives circle back to the law of God/Christ in one way or another.

A direct answer to your question is our relationship with Jesus Christ is more important than the law. Yet, that relationship is based on love, grace, faith, and obedience.

Love towards God and humanity are the greatest commandments.

Grace is extended by God for our sins (sin = transgression of the law).

Faith is a gift from God that empowers us to believe in that which we cannot see and that which we have not received at this point. Our trust is in God alone (You shall have no other gods before Me). We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

Obedience means we strive to live according to the law of Christ ultimately. I like how this study into Ps. 119 has expanded my view of the law to actually have more focus on God's Word, specifically Christ's Word as the foundation for all aspects of the law (e.g. commandments, statutes, precepts).

What are your thoughts on this question, Cameron?

Amen. The challenge is once we start talking about God's law, red flags start going up about the threat of legalism and compromising grace.

That's not what the law is about. Once we see the law from Jesus' perspective, there is protection, consistency, and liberation ultimately. The law (Christ's Word) sums up how I should live as a Christian, and it's impossible to fulfill by my own strength. Jesus and the Holy Spirit make the law a part of our entire being. We live according to the law because that's the nature God develops within us (a slow and painstaking process within my stubborn heart for sure!...).

Do you believe there are any New Testament works from Jesus Christ which are absolutely unnecessary and, if so, which ones?

Wow, I will have to give that one some thought!

My initial response is no. The New Testament is the covenant we are living under as Christians. Jesus set the standard, and that's the "true north" we are headed towards.

One of my past pastors summed it up well for me. The New Testament is all about developing the character of Christ--that's the purpose of my Christian life--becoming like Christ.

Do you have any "works from Jesus Christ" you were questioning in particular?

Hey brother. Hope you are well. I asked the question because of the recent influx of Judaizers who would have us to believe that living by a failed methodology was somehow what Jesus came to bring.
Before I begin let me state emphatically that the law is awesome and obedience should always be the Christian's goal. The problem lies in sinful flesh.
Romans 7 lays all this out. The motions of sin are agitated by the law to bring forth sin and death. Jesus provides us a far superior way. Rather than focusing on the law, which will inevitably produce sin in us, we are to focus on Christ...seeking His kingdom and His RIGHTEOUSNESS. Hereby we live, yet not us; Christ lives in us. Rather than trying to do our best, Jesus can live His best in and through us.
So while the law is awesome, CHRIST IS AWESOMER.

I believe all New Testament Works by Jesus Christ are absolutely necessary.