Psalm 119:57-64

GOOD MORNING! Psalm 119 has been called the alphabet of Divine love. Yes, God's love is shown to us in His word. And, that is why "We love him, because he first loved us."[1]

The part of Psalm 119 we read today begins with verse 57: "Thou art my portion, O LORD: I have said that I would keep thy words. I entreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word. I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies. I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments. The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law. At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments. I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts. The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes."[2]

It was the Psalmist’s firm resolve to keep, to treasure up, to observe, to obey the word of the LORD. For whether the Scriptures teach doctrine, promise, or precept, all are most precious to the soul of the child of God.

"I entreated Thy favor with my whole heart." The favor of God is His grace. "If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."[3]

The confidence of faith makes us bold in prayer, but faith never teaches us to live without prayer, or justifies in being other than humble suppliants at the throne of grace.

"I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies." This was the choice of his life! This was the decision of eternity! On another occasion the Psalmist sang, "In Thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." [4]

The concluding lines of the book of Hebrews pens these words, "By him (the LORD JESUS CHRIST) therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name."[5]

Thanking the LORD turns the darkness into the sunshine, and consecrates all the hours to the worship of the Living God. "At midnight, I will rise to give thanks unto thee, because of thy righteous judgments."

Let us note how this portion of Psalm 119 is bound up. There is first the holy declaration: "Thou art my portion, O LORD." And finally, a confident supplication: "The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes." The first is an expression of the full assurance of faith, and the last is a faith expression of holy desire.

The more full the assurance, the more earnest the petition. The fuller the certainty of relationship, the more real the humble dependence upon the grace of God. "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled."[6]

"Thy promise is my only plea,
With this I venture nigh;
Thou callest burdened souls to Thee,
And such, O LORD, am I."[7]
AMEN.

[1] 1 John 4:19
[2] Psalm 119:57-64
[3] 1 John 1:7
[4] Psalm 16:11
[5] Hebrews 13:15
[6] Matthew 5:6
[7] From "Approach, My Soul, The Mercy Seat" by John Newton