Tag Archives: Word of God

06/22/2026

On Psalm 119.161-168 (Sin/Shin)

By Phillip Powers

161 Princes have persecuted me without cause,
but my heart fears only your word.
162 I rejoice over your promise
like one who finds vast treasure.
163 I hate and abhor falsehood,
but I love your instruction.
164 I praise you seven times a day
for your righteous judgments.
165 Abundant peace belongs to those
who love your instruction;
nothing makes them stumble.
166 Lord, I hope for your salvation
and carry out your commands.
167 I obey your decrees
and love them greatly.
168 I obey your precepts and decrees,
for all my ways are before you.

The twenty-first stanza (ש/sin or shin, depending on the placement of the dot) continues the theme of suffering that we have encountered throughout the last several stanzas. Our psalmist opens with the observation, “Princes have persecuted me without cause.” Once again, we are not given all the details of his circumstances, but it is clear that his troubles originate from those who possess power and authority. It is often the case that the righteous suffer not because they have done anything wrong, but simply because they belong to God. Our psalmist finds himself opposed by the powers that be without just cause. Of course, this pattern runs throughout the history of God’s people and finds its fullest expression in the suffering of Jesus Christ, who “left you an example, that you should follow in his steps” (1 Pet. 2.21). As Jesus himself warned, “A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you” (John 15.20). Yet in the face of this persecution, our psalmist does not surrender to fear, bitterness, or despair. Rather, he declares, “My heart fears only your word.” The princes may possess earthly authority, but God’s Word possesses ultimate authority. The defining feature of this stanza, therefore, is not the persecution itself, but the psalmist’s response to it. Instead of allowing his circumstances to govern his heart, he finds comfort, stability, and confidence in the promises of God.

This is perhaps why he says, “I rejoice over your promise like one who finds vast treasure.” The image is striking. Imagine the excitement of stumbling upon a fortune beyond anything you could have imagined. That is how our psalmist views the Word of God. He recognizes that true and lasting value is found not in possessions, accomplishments, status, or worldly comforts, but in the promises of God. Indeed, no earthly treasure can compare with the life-giving riches that are found in God’s Word. And this is cause for great joy, because no matter what difficulties may arise, we always have God’s promises to uphold and sustain us. This is an important lesson for us as well, namely that the value we assign to God’s Word reveals much about the orientation of our hearts. Are our hearts consumed by anxiety, fear, and uncertainty about the future, or are they resting in the promises of the one true and living God? Do we rejoice in God’s Word even when circumstances are difficult and answers seem far away? Our psalmist’s joy is not rooted in changing circumstances but in the unchanging faithfulness of God revealed through his Word.

And it is this treasuring of God’s Word that leads our psalmist to say in verse 163, “I hate and abhor falsehood, but I love your instruction.” This is strong language, but compared to the surpassing value of God’s truth, all falsehood must appear by contrast as hateful and abhorrent. Of course, this is not the language of emotional volatility or personal animosity. Rather, it is the language of covenant loyalty and moral commitment. Our psalmist’s love for God and his Word has shaped his affections in such a way that he delights in what is true and rejects what is false. Covenant love for God necessarily produces opposition to anything that contradicts his character and his revelation. Yet modern notions of love often seek to separate love from truth. Many assume that to love someone means affirming whatever they believe or shielding them from difficult truths. But the Scriptures know nothing of such a separation. Genuine love rejoices in the truth because truth ultimately leads us to God himself. For this reason, our psalmist refuses to separate love from truthfulness. To love God is to love what is true, right, good, and beautiful, and to reject whatever stands opposed to it.

Of course, this kind of love should stand at the very center of our worship, as our psalmist writes, “I praise you seven times a day for your righteous judgments.” In other words, our psalmist’s heart is so filled with covenant love and loyalty that he cannot help but burst forth in praise. The reference to “seven times a day” likely signifies more than a literal number. Throughout Scripture, the number seven often conveys the idea of fullness or completeness. The point, then, is that praise has become the regular habit of his soul. Worship is not an occasional activity reserved for certain moments or certain days of the week. Rather, it permeates the very fabric of his life. And we might be tempted to ask how such continual praise is possible in the face of unjust persecution and suffering. The answer is simple: God’s righteous judgments are continually before him. His mind is saturated with the truth of God’s Word, and his heart responds with worship. The more deeply Scripture shapes our thinking and affections, the more naturally praise emerges from our lives. This is because the ultimate goal of Scripture is not merely information but worship, not merely knowledge about God but joyful devotion to the God who has revealed himself in his Word.

Now, the result of this life of covenant loyalty, delight in God’s Word, and continual worship is what our psalmist describes in verse 165: “Abundant peace belongs to those who love your instruction; nothing makes them stumble.” This is perhaps the central affirmation of the entire stanza. However, we must be careful to understand what kind of peace the psalmist has in mind. He is not speaking of ease, comfort, or the absence of hardship. After all, he has already told us that he is being persecuted by princes without cause. His circumstances have not changed. The opposition remains. The suffering continues. Yet he possesses peace. This is because biblical peace is not primarily the absence of conflict but the presence of stability, wholeness, and confidence in God. It is the settled assurance that God remains faithful to his promises regardless of what may be happening around us. This is why peace belongs specifically to those who love God’s instruction. The Word of God anchors the believer amid the storms of life. It provides a sure foundation when everything else seems uncertain and unstable. As we have seen in the previous stanzas, our circumstances may remain difficult, our prayers may seem unanswered, and our suffering may continue for a season. Yet the foundation remains secure because God’s Word remains true. Peace, therefore, does not flow from our ability to control our circumstances but from our confidence in the God who governs them. The more deeply we trust his Word, the more firmly our hearts are established in peace.

Our psalmist concludes the stanza by reminding us why all of this is possible: “I obey your precepts and decrees, for all my ways are before you.” Though he is persecuted, pressured, and opposed by powerful enemies, he continues to rejoice in God’s Word, to praise God continually, and to walk in faithful obedience. More remarkably still, he enjoys a peace that transcends his circumstances. The reason for this confidence is that he lives Coram Deo, that is to say, before the face of God. His life is not hidden from the Lord. His sufferings are known. His prayers are heard. His obedience is seen. The God who gave these promises is the same God who remains present with his people and faithful to his covenant. This is why the stability of the believer is ultimately grounded not in favorable circumstances but in the enduring truth of God’s Word. Though the people of God may face opposition from every side, they possess a peace the world cannot give because their lives are anchored in the truth, presence, and faithfulness of the God who speaks.

For further study:
Introduction
Psalm 119.1-8
Psalm 119.9-16
Psalm 119.17-24
Psalm 119.25-32
Psalm 119.33-40
Psalm 119.41-48
Psalm 119.49-56
Psalm 119.57-64
Psalm 119.65-72
Psalm 119.73-80
Psalm 119.81-88
Psalm 119.89-96
Psalm 119.97-104
Psalm 119.105-112
Psalm 119.113-120
Psalm 119.121-128
Psalm 119.129-136
Psalm 119.137-144
Psalm 119.145-152
Psalm 119.153-160

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05/25/2026

On Psalm 119. 153-160 (Resh)

By Phillip Powers

153 Consider my affliction and rescue me,
for I have not forgotten your instruction.
154 Champion my cause and redeem me;
give me life as you promised.
155 Salvation is far from the wicked
because they do not study your statutes.
156 Your compassions are many, Lord;
give me life according to your judgments.
157 My persecutors and foes are many.
I have not turned from your decrees.
158 I have seen the disloyal and feel disgust
because they do not keep your word.
159 Consider how I love your precepts;
Lord, give me life according to your faithful love.
160 The entirety of your word is truth,
each of your righteous judgments endures forever.

We now come to the twentieth stanza of Psalm 119 (ר/resh, pronounced raysh), and many of the thoughts and themes are a continuation from the previous stanza (qoph). Our psalmist begins by asking God to “consider my affliction and rescue me.“ Clearly, our psalmist is experiencing some measure of personal suffering and sorrow. And we must affirm that suffering and difficulty are a regular part of the life of faith. The Christian life is not lived apart from suffering, but through it. The question is not whether we will suffer and face difficulties, but how we will suffer and face difficulties. Our psalmist’s suffering drives him toward God, not away from him, as he says, “for I have not forgotten your instruction.” In other words, in the midst of his suffering and troubles, our psalmist clings to God’s Word, because he believes that God is fundamentally faithful to his promises. His suffering may be real, but so too is the steadfast faithfulness of the God who speaks.

This is why he goes on to pray in verse 154, “Champion my cause and redeem me; give me life as your promised.” Notice that the psalmist appeals not to his own personal merits, but to God’s covenant mercy. He understands that he cannot ultimately save himself and that he depends entirely upon God’s intervention. And this is exactly the point, namely that our affliction and difficulties are meant to expose our weaknesses and our inabilities to sustain ourselves apart from God. Yet the psalmist does not collapse into despair or hopelessness. Rather, he cultivates a posture of active dependence upon the Lord. His suffering does not destroy his faith; it drives him more deeply into dependence upon God and his promises. He prays, he cries out, he seeks the Lord, and he clings to the certainty of God’s covenant faithfulness. This is what true dependence looks like. It is not passive resignation, but persevering trust that continues to hold firmly to the faithfulness of God even in the face of suffering and uncertainty.

Of course, this is not true for those who stand outside of covenant relationship with God. Verse 155 reads, “Salvation is far from the wicked because they do not study your statutes.” This is not merely a rejection of moral instruction in an abstract sense; rather, it is a wholesale covenant repudiation. The wicked are described as those whose lives are fundamentally oriented away from God and his Word. By contrast, the righteous cling to God’s promises and seek refuge in his instruction. This distinction is incredibly important because the psalmist understands that salvation and deliverance cannot be separated from relationship with God himself. Life, truth, obedience, and salvation all belong together. This stands in direct contrast to the instincts of our fallen nature. So often, we desire comfort, peace, and deliverance while resisting submission to God and his Word. We want the blessings of covenant without the God of the covenant. But the psalmist refuses to separate these realities. To reject the Word of God is ultimately to reject the God who gives life, because his Word is the very means through which he reveals himself, sustains his people, and leads them into salvation and truth.

The God of the Bible is the only one who can truly give life, as our psalmist prays, “Your compassions are many, Lord; give me life according to your judgments.” Of course, our psalmist is not merely praying for physical preservation, though that is certainly included within his request. The “life” he prays for is spiritual, covenantal, and relational; it is grounded in the Lord’s many compassions. This is why he repeatedly prays for God to revive him according to his steadfast love, his judgments, and his Word. True and abundant life, a life that is full and flourishing, flows from the character of God as he reveals himself through his Word and remains faithful to his covenant promises. In other words, the Word of God is not abstract information, bare command, or mere doctrine; it is life-giving revelation. And this notion stands in direct contrast to the instincts of our modern world. We often seek life and renewal through changing circumstances, distractions, self-help strategies, or emotional experiences, but none of these things can truly sustain the soul. The psalmist understands that real life can only be found in God and in his Word. Scripture does not merely inform the people of God; it sustains, revives, and gives them life.

And so, our psalmist concludes in verse 160, “The entirety of your word is truth, each of your righteous judgments endures forever.” In many ways, this is the theological climax of the stanza. The psalmist’s confidence ultimately rests not in changing circumstances, nor even in the immediate easing of his affliction, but in the enduring truthfulness of God’s Word. As we saw in the previous stanza, the details and circumstances of human experience change constantly, sometimes day by day, even moment by moment. Our emotions fluctuate, our trials intensify, and the uncertainties of life often leave us feeling unstable and weary. But the truthfulness of God does not change. His Word remains fixed, enduring, and eternally true. This is why the stability of the Christian life ultimately depends upon the stability of divine revelation rather than the instability of human experience. Like the psalmist, then, we are able to persevere through every season of suffering and uncertainty because the God who speaks remains faithful and true, and his Word endures forever.

In the end, then, the Resh stanza of Psalm 119 teaches us what it means to seek life through the Word of God in the midst of suffering and affliction. The psalmist cries out, waits, longs for deliverance, and pleads for God to revive him, and yet throughout the stanza he continually turns back to the certainty of God’s promises and covenant faithfulness. Affliction does not sever his relationship with God; rather, suffering becomes the very context in which his dependence upon God deepens. And the same is true for the people of God today. We continue to seek life not in changing circumstances or fleeting comforts, but in the enduring faithfulness of the God who speaks. Though affliction surrounds the people of God, true life is found in the God who speaks, whose Word remains forever true and whose covenant faithfulness never fails.

For further study:
Introduction
Psalm 119.1-8
Psalm 119.9-16
Psalm 119.17-24
Psalm 119.25-32
Psalm 119.33-40
Psalm 119.41-48
Psalm 119.49-56
Psalm 119.57-64
Psalm 119.65-72
Psalm 119.73-80
Psalm 119.81-88
Psalm 119.89-96
Psalm 119.97-104
Psalm 119.105-112
Psalm 119.113-120
Psalm 119.121-128
Psalm 119.129-136
Psalm 119.137-144
Psalm 119.145-152

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05/23/2026

On Thinking Theologically (Weekend Vlog)

By Phillip Powers

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05/18/2026

On Psalm 119.145-152 (Qoph)

By Phillip Powers

145 I call with all my heart; answer me, Lord.
I will obey your statutes.
146 I call to you; save me,
and I will keep your decrees.
147 I rise before dawn and cry out for help;
I put my hope in your word.
148 I am awake through each watch of the night
to meditate on your promise.
149 In keeping with your faithful love, hear my voice.
Lord, give me life in keeping with your justice.
150 Those who pursue evil plans come near;
they are far from your instruction.
151 You are near, Lord,
and all your commands are true.
152 Long ago I learned from your decrees
that you have established them forever.

It has been a while since I have continued my work through Psalm 119, but we now come to the nineteenth stanza (ק/Qoph). Immediately in the opening verses, we are met with the heartfelt cry of the psalmist. He rises before the dawn and cries out; he watches through the night and longs for deliverance. There is a desperation and urgency in his prayers that is all too familiar to the people of God. And yet, what grounds the psalmist in the midst of his anxieties is a profound confidence in God and in his Word. In other words, even amid the uncertainties of his circumstances, there remains a quiet confidence, a sure and certain foundation upon which he can stand, namely the faithfulness of God to his promises. Even as he waits for God to intervene in his particular situation, he does so with the expectation that God will do what he has said he will do. He will keep his promises; he will remain true to his Word.

This is perhaps why the psalmist’s prayers are so heartfelt and sincere. He cries out “with all my heart.” This is not empty emotionalism or emotion for emotion’s sake; rather, it is the full orientation of the whole self toward God in utter dependence upon him and his promises. It is only from this posture of dependence that we are truly able to express our deepest fears, longings, and vulnerabilities before God. This is one of the great comforts of covenant relationship with him, namely that we can entrust even our most personal anxieties and desperations into his hands because he hears the cries of his people. At the same time, the psalmist balances his cries for deliverance with his own commitment to walk in obedience and faithfulness. This is not a kind of tit-for-tat arrangement in which obedience earns God’s favor. Rather, it is the logic of covenant itself. God has promised to remain faithful to his word, and the psalmist responds with trust expressed through obedience. In other words, true dependence upon God does not produce passivity, but faithful perseverance. It is a radical dependence that issues forth in both trust and obedience.

It is this covenant relationship that also strengthens the psalmist’s perseverance; he rises before the dawn and watches through the night. These actions express hopeful expectation even in the midst of waiting. The fact of the matter is that we simply do not know how long the psalmist has been observing these rhythms of prayer and longing. Perhaps he has been crying out for deliverance for a very long time. And yet he persists in the offering because he remains confident that God will one day answer his prayers. Of course, waiting is a common season in the Christian life. We have all experienced moments in which we long for God’s intervention and yet it does not seem to be forthcoming. It is precisely this kind of hopeful expectation that provides the strength necessary to persevere through such seasons. Indeed, this is how waiting itself can be transformed into worship, namely when it is sustained by confidence in the promises of God. The dawn has not yet come, but hope keeps the people of God awake in the darkness.

Because, let’s face it, we do live in the midst of pervasive darkness. The psalmist puts it this way in verse 150: “Those who pursue evil plans come near; they are far from your instruction.” And yet, in the very next line, he says, “You are near, Lord.” This is one of the great comforts of covenant relationship with God, namely that the nearness of affliction does not negate the nearness of God himself. The psalmist appears to be experiencing real oppression. He is pursued by those who would do him harm and likely lives under the constant threat of suffering and hostility. And yet, his confidence does not rest in the immediate resolution of his circumstances, but in the character and presence of God. This is an incredibly important insight because we are often tempted to interpret suffering as evidence of divine distance or absence. But Scripture repeatedly teaches us otherwise. Indeed, it is often in our deepest pains and afflictions that the nearness of God becomes most precious to his people. The psalmist knows this because his confidence is grounded not in changing circumstances, but in the sure and steadfast promises of God. The darkness may draw near, but the Lord is nearer still.

The psalmist knows this truth because, as he says in verse 152, “Long ago I learned from your decrees that you have established them forever.” This is an important statement because, in the midst of a stanza filled with emotional weight and longing, the psalmist ultimately grounds his confidence in the objective certainty of God’s Word. He is not led by his emotions, nor is he controlled by the instability of his circumstances. Rather, he is anchored in the enduring faithfulness of God and his promises. This is because God’s Word is not only true, but eternally true. In the midst of the shifting seasons of life, the highs and lows of our emotions, and the ever-changing nature of our trials and afflictions, the promises of God remain fixed and unchanging. The Lord himself is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and therefore his faithfulness does not fluctuate with the changing tides of human experience. This is why the people of God are able to persevere with expectant hope, because our confidence ultimately rests not in ourselves or our circumstances, but in the unchanging certainty of the Word of God.

In the end, then, the Qoph stanza of Psalm 119 teaches us what it means to persevere in hopeful dependence upon God. The psalmist cries out, waits, watches, suffers, and longs for deliverance, and yet the dominant note throughout the stanza is not despair, but confidence. Though darkness surrounds him and affliction draws near, he remains convinced that the Lord is nearer still. This is often the shape of the Christian life as well. We pray before the dawn; we wait through long nights of uncertainty; we trust God before deliverance finally comes. And yet, in all of these seasons, the people of God continue to hope because our confidence rests not in ourselves or in the stability of our circumstances, but in the unchanging faithfulness of God and his Word. The darkness may linger through the night, but the people of God continue to hope because the God who speaks remains near, and his word remains forever true.

For further study:
Introduction
Psalm 119.1-8
Psalm 119.9-16
Psalm 119.17-24
Psalm 119.25-32
Psalm 119.33-40
Psalm 119.41-48
Psalm 119.49-56
Psalm 119.57-64
Psalm 119.65-72
Psalm 119.73-80
Psalm 119.81-88
Psalm 119.89-96
Psalm 119.97-104
Psalm 119.105-112
Psalm 119.113-120
Psalm 119.121-128
Psalm 119.129-136
Psalm 119.137-144

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06/05/2024

On Psalm 119.121-128 (Ayin)

By Phillip Powers

121 I have done what is just and right;
do not leave me to my oppressors.
122 Guarantee your servant’s well-being;
do not let the arrogant oppress me.
123 My eyes grow weary looking for your salvation
and for your righteous promise.
124 Deal with your servant based on your faithful love;
teach me your statutes.
125 I am your servant; give me understanding
so that I may know your decrees.
126 It is time for the Lord to act,
for they have violated your instruction.
127 Since I love your commands
more than gold, even the purest gold,
128 I carefully follow all your precepts
and hate every false way.

The sixteenth stanza of Psalm 119 (ע/ayin) deals with the age old dilemma of faith; it is a question that the people of God have been asking for four millenia. “How long, O Lord?” How long will the wicked prosper? How long will sin and evil endure? How long until you come again to judge the wicked and vindicate the righteous, O Lord? Is it all worth it? Is my obedience and my faithfulness and my suffering worthwhile in the grand scheme of your eternal plan, O Lord? These are the perennial questions of faith. In the face of ever growing evil and the ongoing glorification of sin and wickedness, we are left to wonder if our struggles to walk in faith and obedience are worth it? If we are honest with ourselves, these are questions that even the most faithful of Christians have asked themselves at some point or another. Our psalmist puts it this way: “My eyes grow weary looking for your salvation and for your righteous promise.” (Verse 123)

This is perhaps what is most refreshing about the Word of God, especially in the Psalms but equally so throughout the canon of Scripture, namely that it is real and honest about the human predicament. The Scriptures do not whitewash the ugly and painful realities of human experience; rather, they acknowledge them with an honesty that is both brutal and refreshing. Moreover, they speak to the complexities of maintaining faith and hope in the face of such realities that would otherwise drive us to depression and despair. This is why our psalmist can say, “It is time for the Lord to act, for they have violated your instruction.” (Verse 126) Even though he feels the weariness and the temptations to despair, our psalmist holds on to his hope that God will act, that He will judge those who have violated His instruction. Our psalmist sees this hope as both good and right; it is both good and right that the wicked should finally be punished.

And it is this hope that drives our psalmist to maintain his faith in steadfast obedience to God and His word. He says, “I have done what is just and right; do not leave me to my oppressors,” (Verse 121) and he says, “I carefully follow all your precepts and hate every false way.” (Verse 128) His hope in God and his justice drives his perseverance in faith and obedience. He is convinced that his obedience is not meaningless, that the persecution and suffering that he has endured in not random or without purpose. No, our every effort to walk by faith and obedience, our every difficulty and heartache for the sake of God and His Word, will be ultimately vindicated and rewarded. We look forward to those gracious words of our Lord Jesus, when He will say, “Well done, good and faithful servant! Enter into your master’s joy.” This is why our psalmist can pray, “Deal with your servant based on your faithful love; teach me your statutes.” (Verse 124)

The word here translated “faithful love” is a central and primary concept in the Old Testament’s conception of God. It’s closest New Testament equivalent is the word “grace.” This attribute of God’s character is enshrined in the covenantal formula,

The Lord—the Lord is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth, maintaining faithful love to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But he will not leave the guilty unpunished, bringing the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity on the children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generation. (Exodus 34:6-7)

This covenantal formula is the basis for all of the Old Testament’s theology, and it forms the foundation of our psalmist’s faith in this stanza of Psalm 119. The God of the Bible is a God who is longsuffering and gracious toward those who submit to Him in faith, but He is just and holy toward those who reject His sovereign rule over their lives.

And it is this faith that leads him to pray, “Guarantee your servant’s well-being; do not let the arrogant oppress me.” (Verse 122) Literally translated, the line reads, “Be surety for your servant for good.” The idea is that God himself is the surety, the earnest money, the down payment, of good for his servant. In other words, our good, our blessing, our prosperity and human flourishing flows only from God and His promises. This is why we must trust in Him and walk in His ways. As our psalmist puts it, “Since I love your commands more than gold, even the purest gold, I carefully follow all your precepts.” Our fulfillment, our purpose, our joy and happiness is only available when we submit ourselves to God Word, when we walk in God’s ways, even if when it feels like everyone is going in the other direction. Christian perseverance is driven by a faith full of hope. When and only when we walk in this hope will we experience genuine human flourishing and fulfillment.

For further study:
Introduction
Psalm 119.1-8
Psalm 119.9-16
Psalm 119.17-24
Psalm 119.25-32
Psalm 119.33-40
Psalm 119.41-48
Psalm 119.49-56
Psalm 119.57-64
Psalm 119.65-72
Psalm 119.73-80
Psalm 119.81-88
Psalm 119.89-96
Psalm 119.97-104
Psalm 119.105-112
Psalm 119.113-120

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05/06/2024

On Psalm 119.105-112 (Nun)

By Phillip Powers

105 Your word is a lamp for my feet
and a light on my path.
106 I have solemnly sworn
to keep your righteous judgments.
107 I am severely afflicted;
Lord, give me life according to your word.
108 Lord, please accept my freewill offerings of praise,
and teach me your judgments.
109 My life is constantly in danger,
yet I do not forget your instruction.
110 The wicked have set a trap for me,
but I have not wandered from your precepts.
111 I have your decrees as a heritage forever;
indeed, they are the joy of my heart.
112 I am resolved to obey your statutes
to the very end.

The fourteenth stanza of Psalm 119 starts with the letter נ (nun/pronounced like noon). Yes, that is right; the fourteenth stanza out of twenty-two. Remember, Psalm 119 is an acrostic psalm in which every stanza starts with the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet. It truly is a wonder of our psalmist could write 22 stanzas, 186 verses, extolling the perfections of God’s Word. There is no repetition, no redundancies; no, every stanza addresses some new or different aspect of God’s Law than the one before. His heart was clearly enamored – no, that’s not right – it was consumed with love, affection, devotion for the precepts of God. They were his very life, the only nourishment that could satisfy the pangs of his soul. This attitude should challenge and convict us. Modern Christians struggle to devote 15 minutes of their day to reading the bible; I know, because I am one of them. Why do our souls not hunger and thirst for the nourishment, the soul satisfying pleasures of the Word of God? This is the question that Psalm 119 is asking us.

In this stanza, our psalmist begins with those famous words, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (verse 105, KJV). If you were raised in church like I was, then you probably just sang the lyrics to yourself. The fact that someone set these words to music captures the right sentiment, I think. The Psalms were originally prayers and songs that were meant for Israel’s corporate worship, so in singing them, we are no doubt emulating the practice of our psalmist. However, the connection between song and lyric and the affections of the heart is one that is often so underappreciated in modern worship services. Music has a way of touching us, of forming us, in the most vulnerable recesses of our hearts. What we sing, what we shout, these are the things that are planted in the memory of our hearts. This is why we should sing songs that are biblically faithful. As our psalmist goes on to write here, “I have solemnly sworn to keep your righteous judgments.” (verse 106). He is clear in these verses that his greatest affection, his first and foremost guiding principle for life, is the revelation of God in his Word.

And it would appear that he is in particular need of this guidance, as he goes on to write, “I am severely afflicted” (verses 107), and again, “My life is constantly in danger” (verse 109). And in the next verse, “The wicked have set a trap for me” (verse 110). Of course, we do not know the nature of this particular psalmists troubles; we have no narrative of his life to appeal to for background information. But it would appear that he is deeply troubled; he is facing some kind of opposition, some kind of persecution or threat, possibly even up to and including his very life. There are several occasions in the Book of Psalms where David faces similar circumstances, so we may reasonably infer that this was no light or temporary concern for our psalmist. And yet, in the midst of this trail, he continues to affirm his allegiance to the commands and ordinances of God. “I do not forget your instruction” (verse 109); “I have not wandered from your precepts” (verse 110). In fact, he goes on to say in the last verse of the stanza, “I am resolved to obey your statutes to the very end” (verse 112). Here again, we don’t know if the persecution he was facing was directly caused by his commitment to the God and His Word, but we do know that he was resolved, committed, and steadfast in keeping that Word until the very end, no matter what opposition he may face.

Where does a person find this kind of strength, this kind of steadfast loyalty to keeping the Word of God? I think we have our psalmists answer in verse 111, “I have your decrees as a heritage forever; indeed, they are the joy of my heart.” The word “heritage,” or perhaps “possession,” implies the idea of an inheritance; it is a surety of future prosperity. It is the reward that awaits the firstborn. And for our psalmist, the inheritance that he is anticipating is nothing less than the promises of the Word of God. It is the words of Lord Jesus, when he says, “Well done good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your master.” It is a certainty, a sure and firm hope, of future glories, even in the midst of present difficulties and hardships. The Word of God is our hope, and it is the joy of our hearts. Hope and joy; two out of three of the great triad of Christian virtues. These are the defining characteristics of those who trust in God’s word – unshakable hope, indomitable joy. Clearly, our psalmist had these in his heart, and no matter what troubles or heartaches may come, he was able to persevere because of he found his hope and his joy in the abiding Words of the living God.

This stanza, nay this entire psalm for that matter, is a wonder to me. It challenges and convicts my soul in ways that I am still trying to define even after writing on these first fourteen stanzas. I wonder why God would put a psalm like this one in the Bible; it seems somewhat self-congratulatory – 186 verses on the soul satisfying perfections of His own Word. But perhaps, he put it here because he know that in it he has provided the salve for every every need of the human heart. So often, we look for our comfort, our peace, our security, our hop, our joy in all the wrong places. This is sin. But if we could learn to emulate the attitude and affections of our psalmist, if we would truly begin to hide his Word in our hearts, then we might be able say with the psalmist, “I have not wandered from your precepts.” In His goodness, God has provided the solution to every problem, the cure for every heartache, the peace and comfort for every trial. It is Him, God himself; He is the only one who can answer the deepest longings of our souls. And he has done this in His Word. May we learn to emulate the conviction of our psalmist and find our peace, our hope, and our comfort in His Word.

For further study:
Introduction
Psalm 119.1-8
Psalm 119.9-16
Psalm 119.17-24
Psalm 119.25-32
Psalm 119.33-40
Psalm 119.41-48
Psalm 119.49-56
Psalm 119.57-64
Psalm 119.65-72
Psalm 119.73-80
Psalm 119.81-88
Psalm 119.89-96
Psalm 119.97-104

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04/18/2024

On Psalm 119.97-104 (Mem)

By Phillip Powers

97 How I love your instruction!
It is my meditation all day long.
98 Your command makes me wiser than my enemies,
for it is always with me.
99 I have more insight than all my teachers
because your decrees are my meditation.
100 I understand more than the elders
because I obey your precepts.
101 I have kept my feet from every evil path
to follow your word.
102 I have not turned from your judgments,
for you yourself have instructed me.
103 How sweet your word is to my taste—
sweeter than honey in my mouth.
104 I gain understanding from your precepts;
therefore I hate every false way.

The question of the Law and its relevance for New Testament believers is a question that has boggled the minds of Christians ever since the first disciples. As New Covenent believers, we understand that Christ has fulfilled the Law, and this in every way. No part of the Law has been left unfulfilled by Christ. Paul even says that the Law has been “abolished” in the work of Christ (Eph 2.15). And yet, we also understand that the Law, as part of the Old Testament Scriptures, is profitable and valuable for “training in righteousness.” (2 Tim 3.16) Genuine believers love the Word of God, and they yearn to be transformed by its truths. The Law, however, appears to be so difficult, so out of touch, so unrelated to life in Christ, we naturally wonder what transformative relevance it might still have.

More than that, we are well aware of what the New Testament says about the Law, particularly in the Pauline Epistles. For example, we understand that “the letter [of the Law] kills, but the Spirit gives life” (2 Cor 3.6), and that “[we] are not under the law but under grace.” (Rom 6.14) We all stand condemned by the law, for “it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law.” (Gal 3.11) We have been taught that the purpose of the Law is to expose our failures to live up the righteous standards of God, to convicts us of our sin, and to reveal our need for a savior. In other words, if the Law has a role in the faith of New Testament believers, then it is largely negative, convicting, and condemning.

But this does not seem to be the attitude of our psalmist here in Psalm 119; he views the law positively and with deep adoration and affection. In this stanza, he writes “How I love your instruction” (verse 97), and “How sweet your word is to my taste—sweeter than honey in my mouth.” (verse 103) Of course, we could simply conclude that this psalmist is writing before the advent of Christ, and so perhaps his words are no longer relevant for how we should relate to the Old Testament Law. For Old Testament believers, the Law was the basis for their covenant relationship with God. It was the gift of God’s grace to make them His people and enter into a covenant with them. Clearly, we have something greater. We are under the Law of Christ. (1 Cor 9:21)

But I believe this perspective would fail to do justice to the words of our psalmist. Believers in both the Old and the New Testament are united by the principle of faith; they are a part of us. So, the attitude of our psalmist throughout Psalm 119, but especially here in the mem (מ, pronounced maym) stanza, is particularly instructive for us. We too should learn to love God’s Law, to meditate upon it all day long. We should find in it words of wisdom and life and understanding about the ways of right and wrong as they are determined by the one who gave it. We should read Old Testament books like Leviticus and Deuteronomy, and let them be like sweet honey in the mouths of our soul, because they reveal the one whom our soul loves.

The bottom line is this, that the Old Testament, especially the Law, is good and valuable and profitable and transformative for God’s people of all times. It does not merely convict us and condemn us and reveal to us that we deserve hell and need salvation; it also reveals the character, the virtues, and perfections of the one who is true and pure and holy. We must learn to appreciate these positive aspects of the Law’s role in our lives as Christians, because if we do not, we cut ourselves off from the sustaining and nourishing benefits that come through its pages. No, we are not bound under the covenant mediating authority of the Law; it is not the basis of our relationship with God in Christ by the Spirit. But it is part of God’s revelation of himself, and as such, it continues to have value and relevance for those of who are in Christ, much as the writer of Psalm 119 affirms.

For further study:
Introduction
Psalm 119.1-8
Psalm 119.9-16
Psalm 119.17-24
Psalm 119.25-32
Psalm 119.33-40
Psalm 119.41-48
Psalm 119.49-56
Psalm 119.57-64
Psalm 119.65-72
Psalm 119.73-80
Psalm 119.81-88
Psalm 119.89-96

6 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | posted in Bible Exposition, Psalm 119

10/23/2023

On Ordinary Means for Interpreting the Bible

By Phillip Powers

TEXT

6. The whole counsel of God concerning everything essential for his own glory and man’s salvation, faith, and life is either explicitly stated or by necessary inference contained in the Holy Scriptures. Nothing is ever to be added to the Scriptures, either by new revelation of the Spirit or by human traditions.

Nevertheless, we acknowledge that the inward illumination of the Spirit of God is necessary for a saving understanding of what is revealed in the Word. We recognize that some circumstances concerning the worship of God and government of the church are common to human actions and organizations and are to be ordered by the light of nature and Christian wisdom, following the general rules of the Word, which must always be observed.

7. Some things in Scripture are clearer than others, and some people understand the teachings more clearly than others. However, the things that must be known, believed, and obeyed for salvation are so clearly set forth and explained in one part of Scripture or another that both the educated and uneducated may achieve a sufficient understanding of them by properly using ordinary measures.

~Second London Baptist Confession (1689), 1.6, 1.7

Series: The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith
Church: South Caraway Baptist Church, Jonesboro, AR
Date: October 11, 2023

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10/09/2023

On the Testimonium and the Word

By Phillip Powers

TEXT

5. The testimony of the church of God may stir and persuade us to adopt a high and reverent respect for the Holy Scriptures. Moreover, the heavenliness of the contents, the power of the system of truth, the majesty of the style, the harmony of all the parts, the central focus on giving all glory to God, the full revelation of the only way of salvation, and many other incomparable qualities and complete perfections, all provide abundant evidence that the Scriptures are the Word of God. Even so, our full persuasion and assurance of the infallible truth and divine authority of the Scriptures comes from the internal work of the Holy Spirit bearing witness by and with the Word in our hearts.

~Second London Baptist Confession (1689), 1.5

Series: The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith
Church: South Caraway Baptist Church, Jonesboro, AR
Date: September 27, 2023

For further study, see also:
On the Spirit and the Word
On Biblical Interpretation and the Holy Spirit

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10/02/2023

On the Authority of Scripture

By Phillip Powers

TEXT

4. The authority of the Holy Scriptures obligates belief in them. This authority does not depend on the testimony of any person or church but on God the author alone, who is truth itself. Therefore, the Scriptures are to be received because they are the Word of God.

~Second London Baptist Confession (1689), 1.4

Series: The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith
Church: South Caraway Baptist Church, Jonesboro, AR
Date: September 20, 2023

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