Psalm 119: Shin

Have you ever opened the bible to read a passage, and nothing seems to “jump out at you?”  I feel this as I read and write today.  So, what then do we do?  Do we just shrug it off as a “bad day,” close the book and move on with our lives?  I propose instead we lean in and dig deep just to see what God is trying to reveal to us.

In my practice of Lectio Divina (divine reading), I usually give each passage one or two readings to see what jumps out. Then I start to extrapolate my thoughts and type, the result of which are these very devotionals.  Most times it flows easily.  Sometimes I get a huge revelation that when I finish, I am amazed at what God revealed.  Other times, it appears nothing profound or exciting is happening.  So, I think this is a good time not only to extrapolate meanings out of the scriptures, but also to show a technique of how to do what I do.  Hopefully, this becomes educational of how to read God’s Word better.  It is appropriate, given this psalm is all about meditating and studying it!  Buckle up, because this is going to be a long one…

161 Princes persecute me without cause, but my heart trembles because of your word.

Depending upon your translation, this could also say “my heart is in awe”. Notice how rulers persecute the psalmist, but he isn’t afraid of them because something more powerful keeps his attention: God’s Word.

162 I am rejoicing over your word, like one who finds great spoil.

He sees God’s Word like an overwhelming treasure.  Imagine finding a random box somewhere with 5,000 dollars in it!  You might even say it’s an answer to prayer.

163 I hate and abhor falsehood; I love your law.

It’s generally a good thing to hate falsehood, lies, and trickery.  Here we see a comparison, demonstrating that God’s Law is true.

164 I praise you seven times in the day for your righteous ordinances.

This verse challenges me a bit. Do I continuously praise God for His ordinances?  I could shrug it off as a poetic statement or use it to evaluate my own orientation towards God and His words.

165 Great peace is for those who love your law, and they do not have a cause for stumbling.

Ahh, peace!  We all strive for peace, don’t we?  Here, the psalmist reveals a key for us: to love God’s Law is a pathway to peace in our hearts.  But do we love God’s Law?  If we do, we follow it, right?  Again, my own unrighteousness is exposed, and I am challenged with an equation.  Love God’s Law to find peace and to prevent myself from stumbling.  How so I do that?  What is preventing me in this process in my search for peace?

166 I hope for your salvation, O Yahweh, and do your commands.

This small statement is thick with theology.  Knowing this is from the Old Testament, the word “salvation” takes a bit of thinking to put into context.  Is he talking about the type of salvation that Christ offers us from the cross?  Or, is he just asking for help from his enemies (previously, he mentioned persecution from princes).  In hoping, he follows God’s commands.  Is this a works-based salvation, or is it a trusting in God and obeying Him with hope that he will be saved?  Again, the temptation is to gloss over this and consider it inapplicable to today but instead, let’s use some tools to understand it more.  Two commentaries I have access to explain this verse accordingly:

As they keep God’s law from motives of love for it, and are free from slavish fear, they are ready to subject their lives to His inspection.

Jamieson, Robert, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown. Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997.

I hope The verb savar, a less common word for “to hope” in Psa 119 (compare yichal; see v. 43 and note), is used here because it fits the pattern of the acrostic for Stanza 21—it starts with the right letter. Compare v. 116.

-Barry, John D., Douglas Mangum, Derek R. Brown, Michael S. Heiser, Miles Custis, Elliot Ritzema, Matthew M. Whitehead, Michael R. Grigoni, and David Bomar. Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016.

Let’s compare them with his comments on Psalm 119:116, shall we?

my hope The word sever comes from the word meaning “to test” or “to wait,” and has a sense of expectation.
your salvation Describes deliverance from real hazards and problems.

-Barry, John D., Douglas Mangum, Derek R. Brown, Michael S. Heiser, Miles Custis, Elliot Ritzema, Matthew M. Whitehead, Michael R. Grigoni, and David Bomar. Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016.

By using study tools like Logos Bible Study software (I have the free version, so don’t think it’s just for pastors who have a good reason to pay money for it), we can dig into the original meaning of the text and understand it better. Sometimes, a profound realization is shown as to a misconception about what a verse or word means.  Other times, it helps us confirm that we truly understand what is written and understood.  It also gives us good cross references to get a more global understanding of how the words are used in different contexts so we can learn what the psalmist is trying to communicate.

117 Uphold me, that I may be delivered, and have regard for your statutes continually.

An interesting statement here, the psalmist asks for God’s help to keep His Word!  Maybe this is a prayer we can add to our personal list of petitions to God.  “Help me keep Your Word and regard Your statutes continually.”

118 You reject all who stray from your statutes, for their deceit is a breach of faith.

The psalmist states what he has learned about God’s character.  While we could easily see this as a condemnation against the unrighteous, it is more edifying for us to learn from it for our own good.  While God is gracious and loving, when we are deceitful, we breach our own faith and communion with God.  By straying from His statutes, we submit ourselves to His rejection.  Surely, He will take us back when we repent (which means to turn away from evil and back to God), but His presence is not evident amidst our own sinfulness because God’s perfection and sin cannot coexist!

119 You remove all the wicked of the earth like dross, therefore I love your testimonies.

Dross, if you haven’t heard that word before, is the impurities that rise to the surface when purifying metal.  It’s the black stuff that coagulates at the top of molten metal and is driven out so the metal can be untainted.  In this analogy, the psalmist is comparing God’s Word to a burning fire that purifies the world, and of course, our hearts.  This is why it is so important to study the Scriptures, to help purify our hearts!

120 My flesh trembles for fear of you, and I am afraid of your judgments.

The realization of God’s burning fire is worth trembling over!  We see multiple times throughout God’s story that when an angel appears, who reflects God’s glory, humans fall on their faces in fear!  God continually has to communicate “do not fear,” because He is so awesome, just a reflection of Him causes us to tremble.  This is a good thing!  If God weren’t this awesome, would He really be God?  We should fear Him!  Yet, He is kind, loving, patient, and generous.  In light of Him being all powerful, we can appreciate His grace in that Jesus’ sacrifice allows us to coexist in his presence, as we read in Hebrews 4:

14 Therefore, because we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is not able to sympathize with our weaknesses, but who has been tempted in all things in the same way, without sin. 16 Therefore let us approach with confidence to the throne of grace, in order that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

This is the gospel!  The good news of Jesus Christ allows us to commune with the One True God.  See?  The gospel is woven throughout the scriptures if we pay attention.  The final stanza, which we will read next time, highlights this. Despite trembling in God’s presence, there is hope for us yet!

I hope this different type of post was helpful. I felt it was appropriate to walk you through my process so that you could see how I come to the conclusions I write in these devotionals.  Really, they are just conversations I have with God and how He speaks to me as I read the bible in an attempt to learn from Him.  It’s not about my own acumen or wisdom, but rather what I find as I dig deep.

In the comments, I would encourage you to share how God taught you or challenged you in this passage.  Maybe something will jump out for you that I didn’t see!  I would love to read your thoughts.