Psalm 119:57-64

Submitted by admin on Wed, 2008-02-27 11:48.

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Each verse starts with the Hebrew letter heth.

On account of having a relationship with him and finding delight in serving him, the psalmist referred to YHWH as his share. Concerned about maintaining an approved relationship with the Most High, he promised to keep God’s words or to observe the commands set forth in the law.

With all his heart or his inner self involved, the psalmist entreated the “face” of YHWH, wanting his “face” to be favorably inclined toward him. The psalmist pleaded that God would be gracious to him or, according to the Septuagint, would show him mercy. He based his appeal on YHWH’s word or the promise the Most High had made to help his servants.

The psalmist thought about his own ways or the manner in which he conducted himself. According to the Septuagint, he considered God’s ways. In his walk or conduct, the psalmist directed his feet to God’s testimonies, letting the divine solemn charges guide his actions. Possibly his reflecting on his own ways may have made him aware of areas where he needed to make adjustments, and this may have prompted him to “turn back” his feet to God’s testimonies, altering his course to be in harmony with them.

Indicative of his eagerness to conduct himself aright, the psalmist spoke of himself as hastening and not delaying to keep God’s commandments. This may indicate that whenever he recognized any straying on his part, he did not hesitate to correct his course.

It appears that wicked persons (“sinners,” LXX) were bent on entangling the psalmist to bring about his ruin, surrounding him as with cords. Nevertheless, he did not forget God’s law but always endeavored to live up to it.

At midnight, while others would be sleeping, the psalmist would get up and praise or appreciatively acknowledge YHWH for his righteous judgments. He highly valued all divine direction.

The psalmist chose as his companions those who had a wholesome fear of or reverential regard for YHWH and who observed his precepts. Association with them would have resulted in mutual encouragement to persist in maintaining upright conduct.

As he looked around, the psalmist could see that the earth or the land was filled with the evidence of God’s abiding love, compassionate care, or “mercy” (LXX). This would have included YHWH’s generous provisions for life and his compassionately responding to the appeals of his servants for help in their time of need. A recognition of the greatness of God’s compassionate concern appears to have engendered within the psalmist a desire to know his statutes fully in order to act in harmony with them. His prayer was, “Teach me your statutes.”