Considering Psalm 119 #1

I’ve begun reading Speaking the Truth in Love by David Powlison.  In the first chapter he works with Psalm 119 with an eye on suffering.  Sadly, Psalm 119 has never been one of my favorites, but I decided to spend some time with it one section at a time.  Here is the NIV text for verses 1-8:

“Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD.  Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek after him with all their heart.  They do no wrong; they walk in his ways.  You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed.  Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees!  Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commands.  I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws.  I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me.”

The psalmist begins with the idea of blessing.  We should want to know who are blessed by God (receive his favor).  He says those who are blameless (it doesn’t mean perfect), walking according to YHWH’s law.  I don’t have my Hebrew tools with me, but the tense is not future implying “do this and be blessed.”  Rather, you recognize the person who is blessed because they walk in God’s ways.  The blessing precedes the blamelessness and fidelity.  Religious people flip it upside down- obey and be blessed.  But the Psalmist believes in grace, not works righteousness.  One who has been changed by grace “says ‘no’ to ungodliness and begins to live an upright and godly life in this present evil age (Titus).”

Apart from God’s grace, I won’t seek him at all, much less with all my heart.  Like most people I struggle with a divided heart.  I often seek my own agenda, rather than the fountain of life that is God Himself.

Such a person also does no wrong precisely because he/she walks in his ways.  All of God’s ways are right and good.  To follow God is to do what is right and good, not that which is evil.  We struggle to do right.  Why?  We do not yet delight in God and therefore His ways.  In sinful pride we still suspect we know better than God, or at least are more concerned for our welfare than God.  But, as he says a verse latter, God’s precepts are to be fully obeyed.  Don’t we all struggle with partial obedience.  We are pleased with the slightest movement toward obedience.  But partial obedience is not obedience- and we need to be forgiven rather than boast about how meager our obedience is.  Thankfully there is One who fully obeyed- Jesus!  And He obeyed that we might enjoy every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3).

I can really identify with the cry of the Psalmist as he compares himself to what he just said.  He laments that he is not steadfast.  He does not obey.  He has a great longing to obey (at times), but that desire is imperfect at best and does not result in actual obedience.  This is our struggle as Christians.  We are not where we want to be, in our best moments.  God’s Word sheds its light on us, and it isn’t pretty.  When we consider His commands, we are put to shame.  Perhaps this is why so many neglect their Bibles- they only see their failure.  They forget to appropriate God’s provision for our sin in the obedience, death, resurrection and acension of Jesus the Messiah- our Substitute.

Praise becomes more prevalent as we learn His laws because we grasp more of how perfect, righteous and good God is.  We grasp more of how great a Savior Jesus is (because we see more of where we have fallen short).

Last comes a cry of desperation- do not utterly forsake me!  He knows he’s a sinner, and God should forsake Him and, worse, curse him.  He promises to obey, and one day he will- when he has been glorified in the presence of Jesus.  But that day has not come.  He cries for mercy, for grace.

Earlier this morning I was frustrated with this world of sin and misery.  Argh!  How long will I have to put up with the fact that God has frustrated creation?  How long will I have to put up with my sinful response to the frustrated creation?  How long will God have to put up with my manifold sins?  How long, o Lord?  Thankfully, Jesus is able to save people like me to the uttermost (completely) because He lives to intercede on my behalf (Hebrews 7:25).  I am not abandoned, but there is more than enough grace and mercy to be had to meet with my sin and sorrow at the throne of grace where Jesus sits.  Let us go meet Him there!