Psalm 119:65-72– This Psalm is suggested for next
Sunday. This section from the longest Psalm in Psalter. Using the Hebrew
alphabet this section falls under the Hebrew letter “Teth.” The Psalmist
encourages the reader to do good as the Lord Himself has been good to him
regardless of circumstances.
Be good to me in
accordance with Your goodness, even if that means affliction, because Your
affliction is good for me; it teaches me knowledge and good judgment from Your
law.
God’s word brings benefit
from a time of affliction.
(65-66) A prayer of
praise and petition.
O LORD, according to Your word.
Teach me good judgment and knowledge,
For I believe Your commandments.
You have dealt well with Your servant, O LORD, according to Your word: This section begins with a note of gratitude. The psalmist finds himself thankful for God’s good dealing toward him, and that blessings have come according to His word.
We don’t think about it
enough, but it is wonderfully true that You have dealt well with Your servant,
O LORD. Think of all the ways God has dealt well with us. He chose us, He
called us, He drew us to Himself. He rescued us, He declared us righteous, He
forgave us, He put His Spirit within us, He adopted us into His family. He
loves us, He makes us kings and priests and co-workers with Him, and He rewards
all our work for Him.
According to Your word implies that the psalmist not only knew the promises of God and plead them in prayer (as in verse 49); he also received the promises by faith and experienced them.
This should be the life
experience of every child of God. We know that God has deal well with us, and
we know that it has been according to His word.
Teach me good judgment and knowledge: This prayer for wisdom comes from a
blessed life. Having received this well-dealing from God, the psalmist
understood the need to live in good judgment and knowledge. The blessings were
given to him for wise and obedient living to the glory of God.
For I believe Your commandments: The psalmist wanted God to teach
him because he really did believe the commands and words of God. If we really
do believe His word, then we should want Him to teach us to live wisely and
obediently.[2]
[1] God so loved the world © Ed Rojas, Higher Things
[3] Collect for Psalm 119, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book For and By the Church, Vol. I © 1994 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY
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