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Psalm 119
Pe
129 Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them.
130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it
giveth understanding unto the simple.
131 I opened my mouth, and panted: for I
longed for thy commandments.
132 Look thou upon me, and be merciful
unto me, as thou usest to do unto those that
love thy name.
133 Order my steps in thy word: and let not
any iniquity have dominion over me.
134 Deliver me from the oppression of man:
so will I keep thy precepts.
135 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant;
and teach me thy statutes.
136 Rivers of waters run down mine eyes,
because they keep not thy law.
This is the seventeenth section of Psalm 119. Having
covered a more detailed overview of the Psalm, it
is my intention to go more thoroughly through each
section. Briefly, each section is according to the letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Each letter contains 8
verses that begin with that specific letter. Pe is the
seventeenth letter, so each verse, in the Hebrew,
begins with a word starting with the letter Pe.
In Hebrew, unlike English, each letter was originally also a word. We do not know the meaning of
every letter today, but we do know most. Pe means,
'Mouth, figuratively speech'. Since the Psalmist
built the Psalm based on the letters, it is likely the
meaning of each letter played in his thoughts as he
composed each section. In this section, we behold
the longing mouth in verse 131. It is used much like
the figure of speech found in Psalm 42:
1b As the hart panteth after the water brooks,
so panteth my soul after thee, O God. 2 My soul
thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I
come and appear before God?
Psalm 42:1a,2
This Psalm is also based upon the usage of a host
of words that are 'legal' terms in the Hebrew. I
have gone into a more thorough definition of each
word, as it has been encountered, in the previous
sections. I would recommend going there to find
those expansions. I will cover additional words as
we come across them.
Delights of a True Disciple
129 Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them.
This section launches with the Psalmist's gaze
in wonder. For many, they gaze in wonder at the
video creations of special effects in the movies.
They watch with fascination. They are so entranced,
they do not care about the vile filth presented along
with those special effects. They will take all the
filth, as long as they get to watch the wondrous
video creations. This Psalmist would be absolutely
revolted, if he beheld those wonders, for he has seen
that which is truly 'wonderful'. What is more, the
wonders he has beheld are true!
The objects of his gaze are 'thy testimonies'.
God's testimonies are those laws showing us the
nature and character of God. Part of the beauty of
what he has seen, is God's holiness. Such is not the
case of the video wonders. They are the Satanic substitute. So the question must arise, 'Could a man
who has beheld the wonders of God's testimonies,
also watch the modern video wonders?' For those
combined with ungodliness, the answer is no.
I started listening to a sermon from a man to
youth on 'The World's View of UFOs'. I could only
listen part way. As he detailed movie after movie,
it was clear he was absolutely filled with watching
science fiction videos. What he essentially was
teaching this group of youth, was it is fine to watch
ungodly movies, as long as you evaluated the message to discern the lies. Movies filled with obscenity
did not drive him away. I tell you, once you have beheld the holiness of God, YOU WILL NOT be able to
tolerate watching movies with filth. Whoever takes
delight in watching filthy movies has not beheld the
wonder of God's testimonies. If they have gotten a
view of God's wonder and watch the filthy movie
anyway, they deceive their own hearts in any claim
of repentance. They have not turned their love to
be on the things of God. Like Jesus said:
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you
in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening
wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do
men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17
Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit;
but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A
good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can
a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree
that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down,
and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits
ye shall know them.
Matthew 7:15-20
In verse 129, we find the definite choice the 'soul'
has to make. The soul is that part of us which makes
decisions and choices. Keeping is not a matter of feeling. The soul does feel, but this verse clearly words it
so we know it makes a decisive act in keeping.
The word translated 'keep' means 'to watch,
guard, keep'. We are told that because of the glory,
the Psalmist beheld in God's testimonies, he has
willing chosen to go after them in all they direct.
The glorious will naturally choose to separate
from the profane. Motor oil and water do not mix.
It takes a special working to accomplish that, then
the creation is neither good for use as water, and
the oil is likewise good for nothing.
130 The entrance of thy words giveth light;
it giveth understanding unto the simple.
The word translated 'entrance' means 'opening,
entrance, doorway'. The Psalmist has seen God's
Word like a door through which one must choose
to pass. From outside, it looks just like other possible doors. A guide outside may tell us of many
possible doors. He may tell the promotional lines
for each doorway. If we were to pass through
many doorways, we would find the claims were
false. In others, we may be deceived into believing most anything, and think we have become
'enlightened':
23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall
be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in
thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
Matthew 6:23
The doorway of God's Word is different to those
other passageways. When one enters through that
doorway, behold the wondrous light! That light
will be 'understanding' to the simple.
Our perception of the simple may tend to be an
uneducated, gullible person. We wouldn't tend
to think of some doctor or lawyer as a simpleton.
Such is a false concept. A simpleton can go to
many years of university education, fill his head
with facts, but remain a simpleton. To turn from
being a simpleton, there must be 'understanding'.
Acceptance and obedience of God's Word brings
understanding.
The word translated 'simple' has a rather
surprising definition in Strong's. Hold on to you
seats, here it is, 'simple, foolish, open-minded'.
The Hebrew understanding of the simple and
foolish man was that he was 'open-minded'. His
mind was open for all kinds of messages. He was
not secure in holding to God's Word as the reliable guide, enabling him to discern between good
and evil. Next time someone proudly proclaims
to you how 'open-minded' they are, remember
what that is closely tied to. In Hebrew, it is all the
same word!
131 I opened my mouth, and panted: for I
longed for thy commandments.
The Psalmist draws the word for 'Pe' into use.
He pictures his mouth as gapping open and panting
in an expression of longing for God's commandments (mitzvoth). One might imagine someone
dying of thirst with the water of God's Word being
the only fluid that can save his life. There is that
clear expression of deep and critical longing.
These first three verses have laid out a distinctively brilliant picture of what a pure longing for
God's Word really looks like. There are those who
boast they have read through the Bible or have
read this or that commentary. They are so proud
of themselves and talk as if they don't need to
be taught by anyone, they are already so great
in their knowledge. One such person I know of,
was later arrested for interstate drug dealing.
Let me tell you, such an attitude of pride betrays
they have never longed for God's Word like this
Psalmist is describing. They have most certainly
not entered through the doorway of light. They
have not beheld the wonders of God's testimonies.
They are still simpletons with open minds. Mere
activity of learning doesn't bring the soul keeping
of verse 129.
Finally, consider these words of longing from
Jesus:
6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst
after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Matthew 5:6
It is that person of intense craving that has the
promise for the answered prayer.
Prayer For God's Help To Be True
132 Look thou upon me, and be merciful
unto me, as thou usest to do unto those
that love thy name.
A literal translation of this is, 'Turn to me and
be gracious to me as judgment (mishpat) to those
who love Your name'.
This is the first verse, in this section, where
we find a request. That request begins with his
petitioning God to bestow grace upon him. The
first three verses presented the man whose heart
and life is honestly in the light of God's Word. He
has seen, understood and followed. Being of such
a character, he now beseeches God to consider
his grief of heart. He doesn't say what that is,
in this verse. He seeks God's grace in the face of
remembering what God has done for those who
loved Him in the past.
The use of the word 'mishpat' helps to see the
active sense of that word. It presents God's Word
in action. It shows that if God acts in his favor in
showing grace and granting his request, that is
'mishpat'. When Gideon was afraid and asked
for the sign of water on the fleece and not on the
ground and then reversed that. God's answer
was 'mishpat'. To love God's mishpat is to love,
and rejoice over God's mercy in showing such
graciousness to us. God didn't criticize Gideon for
weakness in faith, He showed graciousness to his
weakness. Such helps us to know we can come to
God and He is even more gracious than our weakness. We come to Him in our weakness, and His
glory is strong. His mishpat to the weak one who
seeks Him is filled with grace. His mishpat is to
those who love His name.
To those who boast in their ignorance, do not
look to this verse for consoling. There is none for
you here.
This verse, in reference to loving God's name,
is the closest we get to finding the name or title of
God in this section. It is definitely an indication
of heart love for that special name.
133 Order my steps in thy word: and let not
any iniquity have dominion over me.
Here we see the first item of request. It is the
need for God's help to keep him in the path of
God's Word. Only the heart that has seen the light
in God's Word will be praying such words. That
longing and panting for God's Word is crying for
this deliverance from the enslaving power of sin.
This man was not seeking some 12-step program for deliverance. He sought for deliverance
in the God empowered walk in the words God had
spoken. He knew intellectual knowledge didn't
deliver. He knew the only way to make those wondrous words life and power for his deliverance was
through God's grace and Personal intervention.
God would have to do the work of 'fixing' his steps,
each step of the way, in the paths of truth.
I tell you, this man has touched the heart, power
and life of God's Word.
134 Deliver me from the oppression of
man: so will I keep thy precepts.
This is the only verse in this section that makes
any reference to oppressors. It doesn't even flatly
declare he actually has any at the present time.
His prayer might have been preventative, for he
saw the dangers they pose.
It is also interesting, this takes the second place
in specific items he lists. His first and greatest
concern was God's help in relation to some sin having dominion over him. That is truly his greatest
concern. After that, there are the physical areas
of need. That is predominantly what is faced in
the area of oppression from men. In other cases,
oppression takes the form of religious persecution.
In either case, he realizes man also poses a threat
to his ability to remain faithful to God. This again
makes it clear it is not wrong to pray for deliverance from such oppression.
Such prayer, for the greatest effectualness in
approaching God, should come from a heart so
transformed, its chief concern is to not be derailed
from a faithful walk with God. It is purely natural
for everyone to seek deliverance from oppression.
What is distinctly rare, is the man who seeks that
deliverance with the primary reason being obedience to God's precepts.
135 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; and teach me thy statutes.
In asking God to make His face shine upon him,
he is asking for God's favor. There is something else
he is seeking. We find close fellowship of Moses with
God resulted in Moses' face shining. That was obviously
a shine that was a reflection of a greater shining from God. It denotes God's glory as well as his
favor. The Psalmist dearly desires to be walking in
such a way that God will approach him in favor.
This is a 'servant' who loves his Master. He has
seen His glory and character and longs to be like
Him and please Him. He knows God's statutes
reveal His shining glory. He knows he will only
ever really learn from God, if God is the teacher.
Simply picking up a copy of the Bible and reading,
in the power of one's own mind, will not result in
his being taught. The only way to learn, is to seek
God's merciful, gracious and glorious revelation.
Even as we go through these studies, it will
not profit anyone who does not wait humbly before God for His revelation. You may think you
have learned something new, but apart from the
working of God's Spirit, it will profit you nothing.
Such is really no different to the well read drug
dealer.
136 Rivers of waters run down mine eyes,
because they keep not thy law.
This section presents an interesting end. We
have not actually seen sorrow expressed in Pe,
until now. He began in wondering at God's glorious testimonies. After his prolonged time in the
throne room, he cannot help but be touched by the
pangs of grief this world brings.
There are those who would tell you, if you are
a Christian, you should be walking about almost
giddy. You know something, this godly Psalmist,
who knew God in such a rich way, could not but help
be a man of tears. One who loves God with all his
heart cannot help being GREATLY GRIEVED when
he looks out and beholds men who so blatantly
disregard God's directions (torath).
It is such a heart Jesus referred to when He said:
4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be
comforted.
Matthew 5:4
21b Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall
laugh.
Luke 6:21b
Mourning of itself holds no particular virtue. A
spoiled brat who doesn't get his way, mourns. It is
the one who mourns for the right reasons that God
will see is comforted.
I have met many who make a profession of Christianity, who most likely have never shed even one
tear over beholding the sinning world. This in itself
is something to shed tears over. If you are one of
those who has never shed such tears, call upon God
now to grant you such a heart while there is still
time. Jesus also gave this warning:
25b Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall
mourn and weep.
Luke 6:25b
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