Overview: (BKC) Appreciation of God’s Word (119:17–24) 119:17–24. The psalmist asked God to open his eyes so that he could see the marvelous blessings of God in the Word (vv. 17–18). He hungered for the Word (vv. 19–20)... In contrast with the wicked, he meditated on and delighted in God’s Law (vv. 21–24). Frequently in this psalm he referred to the wicked and those who oppressed him (vv. 23, 53, 61, 69–70, 78, 85–87, 95, 110, 115, 119, 122, 134, 155, 157–158, 161).
1. Observation:
i. v.17-18
17 Be kind to your servant.
Then I will live and keep your instructions.
18 Open my eyes so I can truly see
the marvelous things in your law.
Psalmist asked God to be kind to him so that he would live and keep His instructions. The kindness is in opening his eyes so that he could consider the marvelousness of the Law.
In other words, without the Law, his very existence was in danger. Why did he say that?
ii. v.19-22
19 I am like a foreigner in this land.
Do not hide your commands from me.
20 I desperately long to know
your regulations at all times.
21 You reprimand arrogant people.
Those who stray from your commands are doomed.
22 Spare me shame and humiliation,
for I observe your rules.
Without the Law, a person is like a foreigner in the land who do not know the customer and culture and he would encounter all kinds of trouble in this God-ruling earth. (NET) Heb “I am a resident alien in the land.” Resident aliens were especially vulnerable and in need of help. They needed to know the social and legal customs of the land to avoid getting into trouble.
One of the trouble is to become a person that God rebuked and cursed, the arrogant people. Shame and humiliation would be their consequences.
iii. v.23-24
23 Though rulers plot and slander me,
your servant meditates on your statutes.
24 Yes, I find delight in your rules;
they give me guidance.
(EBC) Though the opposition of the community and her “rulers” may be great, the psalmist receives his joy (“delight,” v. 24; cf. v. 16), comfort, and guidance from God’s “statutes” (ʿēḏôṯ) as his “counselors.”
2. Summary & Reflection
The psalmist has a strong sense of Who rules the world and thus it is important to know His rules. If not, we will be cursed and found humiliation. Even the rulers of the earth might mistreated him, it did not matter. Because the most important ruler to the psalmist is not them, but the LORD.
How about me? Is God that important to me? Is His Words that important to me? Or do I fear man more than God?
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