PSALM 119: 129-136 [The Ministry of The Word Series]
GOD'S WONDER WORKING WORD
[Numbers 25:24–26]
In this section [Pe, the 17th letter in the Hebrew alphabet] the psalmist continues to fight against the power of evil, which tries to subvert him from the Living God. It is God's Word which delivers him from evil and establishes him in the right. Thus he declared his delight for God's Wonder Working Word which gives life and light (vv.129-131; 105). He prays that the Lord would turn to him and establish him by directing, redeeming, blessing, and teaching him (vv. 132-135). Knowing what God's Word has done for him, he concludes the stanza by weeping over those in rebellion against God's Word (v. 136). In the midst of the rebellion of this world there is God's Divine Revelation which works wonders (CIT).
I. God's Word Causes Spiritual Life, 129-131.
II. God's Word Causes Supplications, 132-135.
III. God's Word Causes Compassion for the Lost, 136.
The verses in this stanza seem to cause a chain reaction. Acting on a verse's content leads one to added realization and then to acting on the next verse. The psalmist opens this section with the confession that God's Words are life changing in verse 129. "Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul observes them."
God's words are wonderful [plural in Hebrew] in that they evoke a sense of awe and wonder because of the God who acts through them. Wonderful means full of astonishing revelations, commands and promises. Their wonder is seen in their being free from all error, and in their overwhelming demonstration of their truthfulness. God's Word as it instructs, elevates, strengthens, and comforts the soul. Those who know them best wonder at them most. It is wonderful that God should bear testimony to sinful men, and even more wonderful that His testimony should be so clear, so full, so gracious, so mighty to save.
With the sense of God's wonder working power before him, he confesses that it is the reason he keeps [‘observes '] them. Their wonder working power so impressed itself upon his mind that he kept them in his memory. Their life-giving excellence so captivated his heart that he observed them or lived them out.
Some men wonder at the words of God and use them for their speculation, but not David. The more he wondered about the Word the more the Word work its wonders in him. His devotion was soul work. He did simply he keep the testimonies in his head, but in his soul, in his eternal being, he held fast to them. [Spurgeon, Charles. The Treasury of David. Vol. 3. McLean, VA: MacDonald Publishing. p. 378.]
The general wonder working of God' Word becomes specific in verse 130. "The unfolding of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple."
The psalmist acknowledges that, "The entrance of Your words gives light." The unfolding [lit. "opening"(to me)] of God's Word indicates its revelation, its exposition, its entrance into the heart. This explosion of light in our minds because of the revelation of God is an awesome reality. When spirit lead teachers and preachers open-up the Word (Lk. 24:32) the light of God's truth shines forth offering spiritual transformation.
Often in studying the Scriptures I have received dramatic illumination. We realize that there is a power here beyond our natural reason. It's like of rewiring an old house with the electricity still left on.
The simple are not dumb. They have simply reached the end of themselves and recognized that, in order to know God, God must speak to them and make Himself known.
The Word wasn't written to make us intellectual giants or mystical guru but to make us wise or understanding about how we should live life. God has called us out of darkness to live in His light. To live in His marvelous light we must be taught by His Word.
Sanduk Ruit is a Nepalese doctor who has used his scalpel, microscope, and simplified CATARACT SURGERY technique to 70,000 people over the past 23 years. The poorest patients who visit his nonprofit eye center in Katmandu pay with just their gratitude.
Our Lord Jesus Christ healed many of physical blindness during His time on earth. But of greater concern to Him were the spiritually blind. Many of the religious authorities who investigated the healing of the blind man refused to believe that Jesus was not a sinner (John 9:13-34). This caused Jesus to say, "For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind" (v.39).
The apostle Paul wrote of this spiritual blindness when he said, "If our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them" (2 Cor. 4:3-4).
A world in darkness needs the Light of Jesus. The psalmist said, "The entrance of Your words gives light." God's Word is what opens our eyes and cures our spiritual blindness. Be sure you let it enter into you heart and mind.
Because of the wonder of God's revelation, the psalmist desire to receive God's Word in verse 131. "I opened my mouth wide and panted, for I longed for Your commandments."
He portrays himself as a thirsty animal, dying for water in the desert. As God feeds us from His Word, He also increases our thirst after Him. He both fills our hunger and leaves us thirsting for more of Him at the same time.
II. God's Word Causes Supplications, 132-135.
With his need pressing, the psalmist prays for God to see his need in verse 132. "Turn to me and be gracious to me, after Your manner with those who love Your name."
God's presence turned toward him is a sign of His divine favor. He prayer is, "Turn around toward me from whom You have diverted Your gaze. His plea is for grace. Only divine grace [and mercy] will satisfy the longing of his soul.
Matter [mishpat] is an indirect reference to God's Word or promises. He reminds God that such grace [mercy] is His "promise toward those who love" His "name." God will respond to our love. To love God's name is to love Him as a person and to enter into relationship with Him (Ps. 5:11). That relationship is sustained and strength by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. He will send His grace to those who love His Word. For the believer experiences the love of God through the Word of God (Jn. 14:21-24).
Verse 133 teaches that God's Word provides guidance and freedom. "Establish my footsteps in Your Word, and do not let any iniquity have dominion over me."
Grace [or mercy] recieved (v. 132) leads to obedience. So the psalmist prays, Direct order, or "establish my steps in Your Word. Establish is to make firm, cause me to walk safely. He wants his steps to be guided by God.
He also ask that "no iniquity," or straying from God's path, "have dominion over" him. He will be controlled by God rather than by sin or the devil if only God will establish him in His Word.
During the era of great SEA EXPLORATION in the 15th and 16th centuries, sailing ships traversed vast hazardous oceans and navigated dangerous coastlines. Pilots used various navigation techniques-including a book called a "rutter" (not the "rudder," the ship's steering device). This was a log of events kept by earlier voyagers who chronicled their encounters with previous unknown and difficult waters. By reading the sailing details in a rutter, captains could avoid hazards and make it through difficult waters.
In many ways, the Christian life is like a voyage, and the believer needs help navigating life's perilous seas. We have that help because God has given us His Word as a "spiritual rutter." Often when we reflect on a meaningful passage, we can recall God's faithfulness through trying circumstances. As the psalmist indicates, perils are found not only in life situations but also in our inner tendency toward sin. Because of these dual concerns, he prayed, "let no iniquity have dominion over me."
As you reflect on the teaching in the Bible, you'll be reminded of God's past care, assured of the Lord's guidance in trying circumstances, and warned against sinfulness. That's the advantage of having a "spiritual rutter." [Dennis Fisher. Our Daily Bread. Radio Bible Class]
Only with God's Word as your map and His Spirit as your compass, will you stay on course for heaven..
In verse 134 he prays again (119:121-122) to be delivered from those seeking to knock him down. "Redeem me from the oppression of man, that I may keep Your precepts."
Like Israel in Egypt, he prays to be bought out of man's bondage by God's out stretched arm of power (Ex. 15:12–13). Redeem me is a synonym for deliver me. To oppress is to seek to lay low. He wants to be unrestrained in his service to God. Thus the result of his deliverance will be obedience; he will keep God's precepts. The Godly pay even greater attention to the Word when circumstances grant greater liberty to do so.
Verse 135 is a prayer for blessing. "Make Your face shine upon Your servant, and teach me Your statutes."
The psalmist asks for a full, open relationship with God. God making His face shine is to bestow His favor (Pss. 4:6; 31:16;44:3; 67:1; 80:3,7,9). To seek God's face is to seek His presence.
This request recalls the benediction of Aaron and his sons: "The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace" (Num. 25:24–26). As God reveals His face to the psalmist, so He instructs him in His moral "statutes."
Dan Ariely, an economic professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, conducted some experiment on human behavior. In one experiment, the participants took an examination in which they would receive money for each correct answer. The participants didn't know, however, that Ariely was not testing their knowledge but whether they would cheat. He set up the test so that the groups thought it would be easy to get away with cheating.
Prior to taking the exam, one group was asked to write down as many of the Ten Commandments as they could remember. To Ariely astonishment, none from this group cheated! But all the other groups did have those who cheated. Recalling a moral benchmark made the difference.
Centuries ago, the psalmist understood the need for a moral benchmark and asked for divine aid in following it. He prayed to the Lord, "Teach me Your statute."
Ariel's "cheat test" experiment illustrates our need for moral guidance. The Lord has given us His Word to direct us in our moral choices.
III. God's Word Causes Compassion for the Lost, 136.
The writer's longing reminds him of those who reject God's Word. Thus he concludes by crying for them in verse 136. "My eyes shed streams of water, because they do not keep Your law."
Man's spiritual blindness and rebellion causes him to weep. The more I read the Word, the more compassion I feel for those who don't know the Word because they're missing out on God's wisdom and guidance, God's insight and comfort. [2 Timothy 3 speaks of those who have ignored the commandments of God and in so doing have opposed themselves.]
Just like Jesus weep over the lostness of Jerusalem, so should we have a burden for the lost. When was the last time you shed tears because of the lostness of someone?
IN CLOSING
A young boy noticed a large, DUST-COVERED BOOK on a high shelf in his home. His curiosity was aroused, so he asked his mother about it. Embarrassed, she hastily explained, O that's God's Book." He thought for a moment then said, "Well, Mom, if that's God's Book, why don't we give it back to Him? Nobody around here uses it."
In many homes the Bible is seldom opened. In fact; it's hardly noticed or even thought about.
How long since you've picked up your Bible and studied it? Yes, it is God's Book, but He doesn't want it back. He wants you to keep it, to ponder it, to understand it, to believe it, and to obey its message. Don't let the Bible become the forgotten Book in your home. If your Bible is in good shape; your soul probably isn't.
God's Word works wonders. It gives light. It dispels the darkness. Moreover, it comes from the God who makes His face to shine upon us. It is light from the very countenance of God Himself shining upon those who seek the wonders of His Word. If we have found them, we will join the psalmist in weeping for those who prefer to live in the darkness.
Come to the Light, ‘tis shining for thee! Sweetly the Light has dawned upon me;
Once I was blind, but now I can see, The Light of the world is Jesus- Bliss
