It’s Monday morning and time for a new stanza of Ps. 119. We’re on 49-55. After reading through it several times, two things stand out. These eight verses are easiest to comprehend when looking at them in two-verse increments. And second, David presents his case for comfort. He was going through significant trials, and he encouraged himself in God by thinking on God’s word.
This group of eight verses provides an excellent example of how to make it through affliction, and particularly, people trials.
Also, in the last two verses, I see a hint of David wearing the armor of God. It might be a great study to go through the armor of God in Eph. 6 and look at David as an example of wearing and using each piece.
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Ps 119:49 Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope. (50) This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me. |
I love that here David reminds God of the secret verse that came to his rescue when he needed it. I don’t know what David’s verse is, but I have a few secret verses, depending on the circumstances at the time, and I get hope. And those verses are my comfort in my affliction. Those secret verses raise my heart. Circumstances might be distressing, but those verses come to my emotional and spiritual rescue. |
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(51) The proud have had me greatly in derision: yet have I not declined from thy law. (52) I remembered thy judgments of old, O LORD; and have comforted myself. |
No doubt, Saul was the proud person that had David greatly in derision (scorning him). But David kept God’s law. And how did he handle it emotionally? He remembered God’s judgments in other cases—the way God handled other adversaries of the cause. In that, he found comfort. May I gather strength like that from the lessons the Bible teaches me. |
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(53) Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law. (54) Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage. |
I can picture David hiding in the cave as Saul pursues him to kill him. David feels horror. But, he’s a master at encouraging himself in God by turning to God’s word, in this case, God’s statutes or prescribed actions. He turns them into songs, which he takes with him on his journey. |
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(55) I have remembered thy name, O LORD, in the night, and have kept thy law. (56) This I had, because I kept thy precepts.
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When David goes to sleep, what’s on his mind? The terror of his enemy? He remembers God’s name, and the fact that he hasn’t failed God’s law or his precepts. David is very conscientious in his obedience to the Lord. He’s a particularly good example of what a life looks like that wears the armor of God, and especially the breastplate of righteousness here. |
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