Psalm
119:17-24 is the third stanza of this psalm, and every line or verse begins
with the third letter of the Hebrew alphabet in the Hebrew Bible. If ever we
feel we can ignore our daily time with God in His Word, then this is the
Scripture to read. We need the Word because we are servants, a word that
the psalmist uses often in this chapter, (vv. 17, 23, 38, 49, 65, 76, 84, 122,
124, 125, 135, 140, 176). It is in His Word, that our Master gives us
directions for the work He wants us to do.
It appears
that most people view God as a “Jack-in-the-box”. They put in their quarter
each Sunday, turn the handle and expect God to jump out and do their bidding.
But the truth is that we are His servants and should have our eyes on Him
seeking what He wants us to do. The Apostle Paul acknowledged in every epistle
he wrote that he was a “bondservant”, a slave of the Lord Jesus Christ and so
should we. Everything in creation serves the Lord (v. 91), and we who are His
redeemed people ought to join them. He always deals bountifully with His
servants and provides for them adequately (13:6; 116:7; 142:7; Luke 22:35; Phil
4:19).
Not only
are we servants, but we are also students (v. 18), and our basic manual
is the Word of God. However, unless God opens our eyes, we will never see the
wonderful things hidden in its pages (Eph. 1:17-18). God's Word is wonderful
(v. 129), His works are wonderful (107:8, 15, 21, 24, 31), and His love is
wonderful (31:21), and we must meditate on the wonder of His Person, His truth,
and His mighty works. The eyes have an appetite (vv. 82, 123; 1 John 2:16) and
we must be careful where we focus them (v. 37). Eyes that feast on the vanities
of this world will never see the wonders in God's Word.
Like the
patriarchs of old, we are also strangers in this world (vv. 19-20;
39:12; 105:12, 23; Gen. 23:4; Ex. 2:22; Lev. 25:23; Heb. 11:8-9, 13-16; 1 Peter
1:1; 2:11), and we need the Lord's guidance as we walk the pilgrim path. The
laws for driving in Great Britain are different from the laws in the United
States and it is dangerous to confuse the two. God's people are being led on
the narrow road that leads to life, while the people of the world are on the
broad road that leads to judgment (Matt. 7:13-14). Just as the cloud and fiery
pillar led Israel in their wilderness journey (Num. 9:15-23), so the Scriptures
lead us (v. 105). The psalmist felt a crushing burden to read and ponder God's
ordinances, and unlike many travelers today, he was not afraid to ask the Lord
for directions. If we take time to meditate on the Word and seek the Lord, He
will show us the path of life (16:11).
Because we
serve a different Master, obey a different set of laws, and have our
citizenship in a different country (Phil. 3:20), we are different from the lost
people whom Jesus called "the children of this world" (Luke 16:8). We
will not conform to the world (Rom. 12:2), and the world opposes and persecutes
us because of this. Therefore, we are sufferers who bear reproach for
Jesus Christ (vv. 21-14; Matt. 13:20-21; Heb. 13:13). The psalmist called these
persecutors "the arrogant [proud]" (v. 21). This opposition was in
high places among the rulers (vv. 23, 161), which would mean the nobles and
officers of the land. The psalmist wanted God to remove the reproach they had
put on him like a garment (v. 22).
The writer
needed wisdom to know how to handle these difficult situations and he found
counsel in God's Word (v. 24). Instead of listening to the enemy's slander, he
meditated on God's truth.
This is a
good way for us to keep our mind clean and confident too (Phil. 4:4-7)!
God bless!
