Psalm 119 vs 129-160 - Long Ago

Read: Psalm 119 vs 129-160

Verse 129 of Psalm 119 expresses the Psalmist’s deep affection for God’s word and all that it commands: ‘Your statutes are wonderful; therefore I obey them.’

This is how the writer of this Psalm genuinely feels, and it is what they believe. However not everyone shares their outlook, in fact the sense of this Psalm is that the majority of people do not, in any way, feel this way. 

Sometimes we imagine that a disregard for God’s word, or a non-interest in His laws is a modern thing, a recent change in ‘our society’. This is not true. Picture the world that the Psalmist knows and describes in vs 136: ‘Streams of tears flow from my eyes, for your law is not obeyed.’

Christians swim against the flow, from the Old Testament call to be ‘holy’ (Leviticus 11:45), to Jesus’ words ‘follow Me’ (Matthew 4:19) God calls His people at all times and in all generations to be different from those around them. This can be a tough call and a tough way to live. It’s not easy to live one way and watch everyone else living a different way. Seeing other people ignore God’s word when it is precious to you can (in the words of vs 139) leave you feeling worn out. 

From the break of day to the ‘watches of the night’ the writer of these words keeps placing their affections on what God has set out in His word (vs 145-152). Throughout the Psalms there’s a real sense of loving God’s word not just because of how we find it, but because of how it has been found by those who have come before us. We trust in promises that ‘have been thoroughly tested’, servants of God’s from long ago have loved these words and have not been disappointed. In a world of much unbelieving a great ‘cloud of witnesses’ (Hebrews 12:1) surrounds us giving strength and encouragement to all have set their hearts on keeping God’s laws now and to the end. 

Prayer: Father You always call Your people to be different, different from ‘the world’ around them. Help me to find encouragement in Your word, and in all your faithful people who have gone before, as I seek to follow You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.