GOD’S WORD FOR YOU
PSALM 119:159-160
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These verses close off the Resh-stanza, the twentieth of the twenty-two stanzas of the Great Psalm. The main theme of this part of the Psalm has been life among God’s enemies, and loathing their wicked words and work. But here in the final two verses there is a little prayer about the word of God once again, which is always at the forefront of this Psalm.
159 See how I love your precepts.
O LORD give me life, according to your mercy.
If you recall, “precepts” is our translation of the Hebrew word piqudim. This word, which only occurs in the Psalms, stands for God’s word as the supervisor over our lives. To love God’s word in all of its aspects is the basic summary of a truly good work. Conformity with the law of God is to be good in God’s sight and in God’s judgment. “I am the LORD your God. Follow my decrees and be careful to keep all my laws” (Ezekiel 20:19). This also means that we should be careful about choosing for ourselves the way we will do good works. There are many examples in the Scriptures about ways that men and women tried to hide sinful acts under the cloak of good works. Responding to the wicked abuses of the scribes and Pharisees, Jesus said, “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain. Their teachings are but rules taught by men’” (Matthew 15:7-9; Isaiah 29:13). No one, man, woman, angel, or demon has the right or power to establish new ways to serve God or to establish works that can be done to serve God, regardless of the intention with which they are done. “Do only what I comamnd you,” the Lord said (Deuteronomy 12:32).
Now, many works are done by Christians simply out of faith. We help one another, love one another, care for our families, do our daily work, take care of our children, property, animals, and pets, and do our duties under the laws of our community, state, and government. But all of those things are done under their various places in the Ten Commandments, especially the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth, where we love one another and look after family, obey the government, respect and honor our marriages, and see to the welfare of people in general. None of this is outside the commandments of God. And they are all done from faith, which our poet also shows when he says, “I love your precepts,” and “give me life according to your mercy.” This shows that he trusts in the truth and power of God’s law and gospel. The precepts of God are notably his governing laws, and the mercy of God is a summary of his compassionate and saving gospel.
160 The sum of your word is truth.
All of your righteous judgment is eternal.
“Sum” here in the Hebrew language is the word usually translated as “head,” or rosh. This same meaning is also seen in Psalm 139:17, and often in the phrase “take a census…” (Numbers 1:2; 4:2; 26:2). The tally of anything amounted, in the Hebrew mind, to the “top” or “head” of that count, whereas we think of the “bottom line” using the opposite expression for the same concept. That’s because we count down on a piece of paper but they often counted up using, I suppose, piles of things. Therefore, in our manner of speaking, “truth” is the “bottom line” of God’s word. “We base our position on the word of God as the eternal truth” (Formula of Concord).
The second line matches what the Psalm already said in verse 89: “Your word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.” God’s word is true, unwavering, unchanging, and eternal. We rely on it because it is all of these things, but most especially because it is the word of Christ our Lord. It has definite effects on God’s people:
1, The Bible reveals who God truly is (Matthew 11:27).
2, The Bible instruct those who sin and err (Isaiah 2:3).
3, The Bible converts sinners through Law and Gospel (Acts 20:20-21).
4, The Bible kindles and strengthens faith (Romans 10:17).
5, The Bible brings about spiritual rebirth in us all (1 Peter 1:23).
6, The Bible reveals how we may call upon God (Romans 10:14).
7, The Bible provides food for our souls (Matthew 4:4).
8, The Bible comforts the afflicted (Psalm 119:50).
9, The Bible guides our lives (Psalm 119:105).
10, The Bible gives us strength for spiritual warfare (2 Corinthians 10:4).
11, The Bible crowns our lives and assures us of eternal life (John 6:68).
In Christ,
Pastor Timothy Smith
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Archives at St Paul’s Lutheran Church https://splnewulm.org/daily-devotions/ and Wisconsin Lutheran Chapel: www.wlchapel.org/connect-grow/ministries/adults/daily-devotions/gwfy-archive/2024
Pastor Smith serves St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, New Ulm, Minnesota
God’s Word for You – Psalm 119:159-160 The eternal word