Psalm 119 73Your hands made me and formed me-help me understand, and I will learn Your commandments (mitsvah). 74Those who fear You will see me and be glad because I trust Your promise (dabar). 75O LORD, I know Your judgments (misphat) are just, and You were faithful when You made me suffer. 76May Your kindness comfort me as You promised (imrah) Your servant, 77and Your mercies come to me so that I may live because I delight in Your teaching (torah). 78May proud men come to shame because they wronged me with lies, but I’ll think of how You want me to live (piqqud). 79Those who fear You should turn to me and learn the truths You wrote (edah). 80May my heart be blameless in Your laws (choq) that I might not come to shame.
Verse 73 already shows a great amount of understanding when he confesses the LORD made and formed him. It is also great understanding to realize that by his own power and strength, he will need the LORD to give him understanding of His commandments. The LORD made us and knows what is best for us. This is a reason He gave the commandments—if we live by them willingly, we will be happier and so will those around us. When we understand the commandments we are more willing to do them.
From understanding the LORD’s commandments we go on to trusting in His promises. All of God’s promises are gospel and are yes in Christ Jesus. Trusting in the LORD’s promises exhibits a heart that fears, loves and trusts in God above all things. Those who also fear the LORD are glad when we see others putting their trust in the LORD as well. It’s like when the angels in heaven rejoice over one person who repents.
In verse 75 we return to a theme given in the previous section: the LORD causing the psalmist to suffer. He admits the LORD was correct in His judgments and just when He made him suffer. What good do we deserve in life if we don’t trust in the LORD and do what He commands from a pure and willing heart? Yet, the suffering the LORD brings to us is His kindness. It directs us away from our immoral hearts to the mercy and kindness of our God. If we pay attention to our suffering then we will turn from our selfish and self-centered will and turn to the LORD. When we turn from the world to the LORD then the LORD’s mercies will give us life, eternal life in Christ Jesus. This eternal life aligns us to God’s will and has us delight in all the LORD Jesus Christ teaches us.
He addresses those proud men who oppose him again. Instead of focusing on their lies about him, the psalmist will focus on how the LORD wants him to live. What does Jesus say, 44“But I tell you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you. 45In this way you will show you are sons of your Father in heaven…46If you love those who love you, what’s your reward? Don’t tax collectors do that, too? 47If you treat only your brothers kindly, are you doing anything extraordinary? Don’t the people of the world do that, too? 48 So be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect.” (Matt. 5)
The psalmist, having received the understanding that he asked for in the beginning verses then calls for those who fear the LORD to turn to him to learn the truths taught to him. This is followed by his petition to be faithful to the LORD’s laws so he would not come to shame. We do not want the LORD’s name to be blasphemed among unbelievers because of our sinful actions. Instead, we want unbelievers to praise the name of the LORD when they see our good works.
Heavenly Father, in Your great mercy and kindness, always turn us to You and Your word, laws, will and grant us understanding, that with circumcised hearts we may do Your will to the glory of the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.