Psalm 119:81–88—The
psalm appointed for next Sunday is very similar to the Introit, as it is
written by one who is burdened—in this case, by his persecutors. Whence can
he—and we—find salvation? The psalmist is confident as he prays, I hope in your
word; My eyes long for your promise. The promise of salvation from the
persecution of sin and death has been fulfilled in the death and resurrection
of the Son of God, our Savior Jesus Christ.
Vv. 81-82 Seeking comfort in the word of God.
But I hope in Your word.
My eyes fail from searching Your word,
Saying, “When will You comfort me?”
a. My soul faints for Your salvation: The psalmist gives a sense of desperation. His soul aches for God, so much that it faints in waiting for the salvation he needs. Yet he has hope in God’s word.
i. Faints has the idea of “coming to the end.” It is same verb in a slightly different form is used in verse 87: They almost made an end of me. Fainting is a loss of strength; a collapse. Here the psalmist felt that his soul was so weak, so empty of strength, that it was unable to stand.
ii. This place of desperate yet not despairing is known to the followers of God. The Apostle Paul related something of this in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9: We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed…. In it all, Paul could say, …we have the same spirit of faith (2 Corinthians 4:13).
iii. Your salvation: What he wanted was God’s
salvation. “He wished for no deliverance but that which came from God, his one
desire was for ‘thy salvation.’ But for that divine deliverance he was eager to
the last degree.”
b. But I hope in Your word: In contrast to the sense of weakness and failing, the psalmist found hope and strength in God’s word. 1 Thessalonians speaks of the endurance (patience) of hope (1:3), and refers to the hope of salvation as a protecting helmet (5:8).
c. My eyes fail from searching Your word: This indicates how diligently the psalmist read and studied God’s word. He studied so hard that his eyes hurt. One reason he loved God’s word so much was because he studied it so intently. God’s word yields its treasures to us in proportion to our searching it.
d. Saying, “When will You comfort me?” This
was why the psalmist searched so diligently. It was to find comfort in his
present distress. Personal need continues to be a greater motivation for
diligent study than theological curiosity.
· Comfort will come when we put away unbelief.
· Comfort will come when we are finished complaining.
· Comfort will come when we put away the sin that we tolerate.
· Comfort will come when we fulfill the duties we have neglected.
iii. When we reach out to God in obedient faith, His comfort is always available. The pain may continue, but God’s comfort is there.[2]
Collect for Psalm 119: Lord, your commandments are eternal. Teach us to love you with all our hearts and to love our neighbor as ourselves, for the sake of Jesus our Lord. [3]
[1] Lift High the Cross, copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things
[3] Collect for Psalm 119, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book For and By the Church, Vol. II © 1995 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY
[4] ibid
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