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Psalm 119
Mem
97 O how love I thy law! it is my meditation
all the day.
98 Thou through thy commandments hast
made me wiser than mine enemies: for they
are ever with me.
99 I have more understanding than all my
teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.
100 I understand more than the ancients,
because I keep thy precepts.
101 I have refrained my feet from every evil
way, that I might keep thy word.
102 I have not departed from thy judgments:
for thou hast taught me.
103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste!
yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.
This is the thirteenth 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. Mem is
the thirteenth letter, so each verse, in the Hebrew,
begins with a word starting with the letter Mem.
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. Mem
means, 'Water'. 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 do not see any direct
reference to water. There is the definite outline of
what a faithful servant of God is like. This could
be the reflection of water, in that water is a basic
needed for life. Like Jesus is the water of life, the
Samaritan woman was told about, so God's Word
is seen in that same manner throughout this section. I could not see the build on a word that began
with Mem.
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.
Behold the Knight!
97 O how love I thy law! it is my meditation
all the day.
In this section, we have taken a clear stand on
an even higher level in spiritual life. Psalm 119
has taken us on an upward path in discipleship. It
started with basic principals, covering a number of
foundations for key pillars in the structure. It has
progressed through life and death commitment.
Here we stand at a great level of spiritual maturity.
We will notice the growth level as we see verses like
99 and 100. Such are the statements of an individual who has matured in his walk with God.
This section presents the words of a warrior,
trained and equipped for battle. We need to notice
we do not find the name of God, or His title, in this
section. I believe the reason lies in the focus of the
mighty warrior. Previously, we have had many
dealings in issues of training and consecration. Issues of the personal relationship with God and the
brethren. To illustrate in older terms, Mem gives
us a cameo of the well trained, valiant knight. He
has undergone much to now stand ready to fight
the King's battles. Since that should be the goal of
every servant of Christ, we need to take a look at
this well equipped and well trained warrior.
Looking at verse 97 we behold, 'Rejoice! Rejoice!'
Imagine that knight in shining armor, prepared
for war. We look at him admiringly, seeing that
disciplined face of the dedicated warrior through
the lifted visor. We wonder, 'What is such like?'
'What sort of things does he think about?' We are
given the answer. Before we look more closely, I
want you to realize that a knight must be dedicated
to the destruction of the enemy. There is no place
for 'Everybody is wonderful, I embrace all who are
sincere in their beliefs.' Such will never be able to
be a trusted knight about the King's business. This
section demonstrates the true trusted knight's position. This starts with love, in verse 97, and ends
with hate, in verse 104. To love the one, must be to
hate the other. To please God, one must possess the
heart of a Phinehas (Numbers 25:7-11).
This knight's word, we hear him utter, is the
ultimate salute to the King's flag and banner. The
'law' being 'torath'. That which shows all God's
directions for our lives. He is committed in love to
every last bit. He does not simply defend part of the
kingdom, he is committed to the defense of all the
kingdom. He also is not just a mercenary soldier for
profit. His commitment is from the heart. Look at
this warrior. He doesn't just say, 'I love Your law'.
The first half is actually phrased as a semi-question.
It is as if he couldn't think of words to adequately
express such a deep love. Such being the case, he
simply poses that love as a question. His love is
literally beyond words! It comes out as an expression of 'Rejoice! Rejoice, in my love!'
What more is there to behold? What is constantly
on this soldier's mind, but his love? He cannot help
but think and dream about his love all day. Like the
princess, waiting for the knight's hand in marriage
back at the castle, so this knight cannot help but
dream about the treasure, whose rightful place is
in the castle.
98 Thou through thy commandments hast
made me wiser than mine enemies: for
they are ever with me.
A good soldier is noted as one who obeys commands. This knight acknowledges that his victory,
in the battle strategy, is accredited to his strict
adherence to the King's commands. His trust in
battle is not in personal skills. He accredits superior wisdom over his enemies as residing, not in
himself, but in the superior weaponry.
The second half literally reads, 'For to eternity
they are to me.' The actual wording shows us the
eternal consecration of this soldier. Look at the
love story that would have the man saying to some
woman, 'I love always having you around'. That is
a far cry from the marriage vow of, 'til death do us
part'. For this glorious knight, come what may, he
will die with that sword firmly in his hand. He will
not pitch it and run when the battle rages hot.
99 I have more understanding than all
my teachers: for thy testimonies are my
meditation.
It is notable he refers to 'understanding' here.
He does not refer to 'knowledge'. His teachers may
very well have had a great deal more knowledge.
To ever make such a claim may be very hard to
validate. There would have to be extensive testing.
His teachers, being older, and having studied for
many years, may also be very difficult to excel. It
should also be considered, that only the most talented could ever have hope to excel in such a case.
God's grace has never been that way. His glory is
shown in the weakness of men. The mighty of this
earth usually are unable to even enter the race:
26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that
not many wise men after the flesh, not many
mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God
hath chosen the foolish things of the world to
confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak
things of the world to confound the things which
are mighty; 28 And base things of the world,
and things which are despised, hath God chosen,
yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought
things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory
in his presence. 30 But of him are ye in Christ
Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and
righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That, according as it is written, He that
glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 1:26-31
We are not told that the teachers, he is referring
to, are necessarily wicked. In fact, if he has set
them before him as teachers, I would contend the
teachers are teaching him truth. What we are told
is that the knight excelled them in understanding.
Understanding is the spirit of wisdom. It is the
knowledge with a principal of life behind it. It involves discretion and discernment. It is knowledge
applied. A student may know 2 + 2 = 4, but that
doesn't mean he understands why this is so. He
may simply repeat the taught fact. Understanding
means there is the grasping of the mathematics in
a tangible, workable usage.
This knight has attained to a superior level. That
level is not based upon a natural superior skill
level, for the second half of the verse tells how he
attained to a higher level. We find the term, 'testimonies'. They are those laws which show God's
character. They directly testify as to the nature
and character of God. To hold these before us
and 'meditate' or 'muse' upon them, is to keep
a constant remembrance of what God is like. His
teachers had a knowledge they could distribute,
but since they didn't continually meditate upon
what God has revealed of Himself, they stayed
at 'knowledge' level. The superior knight is such
because of actively musing upon what God has
shown us of Himself.
This knight is not displaying arrogance or self
confidence. This verse is simply the statement that
can only come from an 'understanding' mind. The
only way to excel is to meditate on God's Word!
100 I understand more than the ancients,
because I keep thy precepts.
This verse, in couple with verse 99, presents the
poetic Hebrew doubling. It restates, in parallel,
with a slight variation of words. In such repeats,
the words are usually changed with synonyms.
We should pay attention to the fact that he did not
switch out 'understand'. There is no word that can
properly be replaced for that. He would not dare to
claim greater 'knowledge' than the very old.
The word translated 'ancients', does not necessarily mean something like 'philosophers or wise
men back in history'. The word can simply mean
'old men'. Men who have had equal opportunity
to exposure of the same instruction available to
himself. There is no place for finding them 'disadvantaged' in this possible level of attainment.
He still knows he has surpassed even the old men
due to his source of might.
It is interesting to note the change on the second
half of this verse. Before, he told us the excelling
came about because of musing upon God's testimonies. Here we are told his excelling came about
with doing. Like the words of James tells us:
22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers
only, deceiving your own selves.
James 1:22
This knight excelled, because he both meditated
and did.
101 I have refrained my feet from every evil
way, that I might keep thy word.
We do find a 'way' mentioned here. We might
consider this the negative side. Our knight has told
us what he did to excel. That simply cannot be complete without there being that which he did not do.
The imagery of a path and feet draws to our
minds this soldier traversing his straight path
down the trail the King has commanded him to
march. As he has journeyed, he has seen numerous diverting side paths. Maybe he could hear
the refreshing sound of waterfalls down one, or
some curious sight barely around the corner of
another. As he crossed such tempting diversions,
he was safeguarded because he held the King's
Words in constant musing, so dreaded the threat
these temptations offered. Holding God's Word
constantly before him, he managed to not go down
EVEN ONE side trail.
Look at the second half of this verse. Consider
this soldier in training, hesitating at the mouth of
some tempting divergent trail. He always held before him his commission to keep. He remembered
the princess, back at the castle, promised to be his
bride. He knew there was nothing, NOTHING,
worth risking for that. He would not risk losing
the reward of a valiant warrior. He would not risk
the scorn of the King. He would OBEY the King's
Word. He was not to be a soldier of shame.
102 I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me.
The word translated 'departed' also means 'to
turn aside; to depart from way'. This also shows
a Hebrew parallelism to verse 101. As he stood on
the commanded path, and saw the diverting path,
he held strong. He did not 'depart from the way'
he was commanded. Pay close attention folks. We
are beholding a valiant knight who is able to give
the testimony of remaining faithful. The victorious life is possible and provided for. He did not
give the sickening testimony, I have heard some
preachers excuse, of just growing slowly, sinning
less and less. This knight would have been enraged
at hearing such excuses for disobeying his King.
He would have considered such as TREASON to
his LORD's direct commands! He would have seen
such as being worthy of a court marshal! Fraternizing with the enemy is never excusable!
The second half also matches in the parallelism to the end of the previous verse. We can only
'keep' His Word if we have been taught. He has
faithfully provided for that teaching in giving us
His 'Torath', to meditate upon. The 'hast taught
me' is the verb that 'torath' comes from.
103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste!
yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
The word translated as 'sweet' means 'to be
smooth (agreeable, pleasant)'. For those who lack
a sweet tooth, rest at peace. You don't have to have
one. This knight is commenting on the 'pleasantness' that God has spoken to him.
Such a statement is revealing of this knight's
heart and a critical piece of information. As a
disciplined soldier, we would expect him to be
hardened to undertake harsh conditions as a
matter of faithfulness in duty. Harsh or not, he
would do what was right. Such is not the case of
God's Words. They are not something to 'bite the
bullet' on. They are the greatest pleasure, most
savory dish, luxurious provision the King has
provided. Even the great delicacies of the rich, in
their honeyed specialty treats, can't hold a match
against God's provided Word. We are not talking
a 'canteen' in the wilds that looks like provisions
of luxury, to one managing in rough conditions.
We are talking a provided, chandeliered ballroom,
surrounded with delicacies, straight from the King
to His soldier in the fields. Does God's Word take
our breath away? It does to the mighty knight!
104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.
A literal reading would be, 'From Your precepts
I get understanding, upon this I hate all path lie
(deception, falsity)'.
Our valiant knight summarizes this section with
that focus on 'understanding'. Understanding is
critical. Knowledge without understanding profits
very little. He has attained to his knighthood via
God's Word. He has gained his proficiency with
that sword through many hours of devoted time.
He has done more than book learning. He has
meditated and obeyed. Having matured in this, he
closes with the striking words of a great soldier. He
no longer sees those side trails as 'tempting'. His
sees deeper and perceives them as coiled serpents,
ready to spring. All these paths of deceit are truly
the paths of 'treason' to the King. As a loyal knight,
he will deal with them according to the commands
of the King. Whether the King gives orders for
their immediate destruction, or orders to 'let be'
for the time, he will hate these snares of the King's
enemies. Such is the heart of God's knight.
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