Psalm 119:129-136: His Word is Wonderful

Psalm 119:129 “Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them.”
Psalm 119:130 “The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.”

Have you ever found yourself wanting something so badly that you could not stay away? Perhaps it was a job, or maybe a car. It might have been a relationship, or it could have been an experience, a toy, a computer, some music, a concert, basically anything! Did you ever stop and think that perhaps that is an example of how much God wants to be with you? Did you ever stop and wonder that maybe – just maybe – that is how God wanted you to want Him?

The Psalmist cries out how wonderful and amazing God's word is to him as well as how valuable and desirous of knowing it he is. Last week we covered David's prayer for steadfastness of heart and this week we see him being reassured with the comfort that God's word brings. The previous section of the 119th Psalm was based around the idea of “Ayin” or the eye while this section is based around “Pe” the mouth. Then at the end of this octonary David references back to the prior section again, completing an idea circle according to the rabbis and teachers who specialize in this section of scripture. In Ayin, David wrote about what he has seen and what he wants to see. In Pe David writes about what he has experienced and what he has absorbed and knows and desires more of. He is able to speak of what he previously was crying out to see. Then to complete the circle, in verse 136, he writes “My eyes shed streams of tears, because people do not keep your law.” Where he cries out and desires what he has experienced to occur to other people. He has compassion for those who despise God's Law and wants nothing more than for them to see the joy and experience the same wonder that He does. In an indirect way, this passage could be seen as the precursor to the great commandment that Jesus gave, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” (Mark 16:15)

If God's Word, His Law, His Promises are so very wonderful why are we not out sharing them? Why do we hide them under a basket and try to keep them to ourselves rather than letting everyone we come into contact with know? Sure, we may find ourselves oppressed, but God will protect us so that we may continue to glorify Him (vs 134). We will assuredly find ourselves staggering in our walk, and we will need God to steady us and keep us on the straight and narrow way (vs 133). When we Love His Name, we will share Him because we can't but help sharing Him. Just like we couldn't help but talk about that thing we desired back up in the first paragraph today!

Because we have found the wonder, the joy, the understanding, the wisdom, the daily illumination of His Word in our lives, we are able to overcome our natural, fleshly person and start discovering and walking in our spiritual, redeemed person! We need to share that! We need to speak out, regardless of the results! We want others to discover God's amazing grace too! We saw, we learned, and now we need to show it to others!

It's because I'm forgiven
It's because I'm free
It's because You've shown my mercy and You believed in me
It's because You're my Savior
It's because You're my friend
And Your love it lifts me higher than I've ever been.
(Philips, Craig, and Dean “Because I'm Forgiven” c.2004)