SUN (UPDATE 13:35) Added to intro to Stanza 6.

THU (UPDATE 07:28,10:07;20:35) Stanza 6 now complete, adding 6B, verses 45-48. Also podcast update to 5A, and 5B.

Podcast for Stanzas 5-8 Preview complete, find it on Spotify.com as related at the top of this blogpost.

Also, podcasted Stanza 5A, and now 5B is also done.

PSALM 119

The theme we'll consider for all of stanza 5 is this:

As we learned in the first verse of Psalm 119, true happiness belongs to those "who walk in the law of Jehovah." This requires faith, or thankful trust, in God. As we learn God's laws and ways, our faith, like that of Abraham, can be 'counted to us as worthiness,' based on the ransom of Christ. (James 2:23). Our obedience can be shown to improve and endure over time. The preview of Stanza 5 is as follows:

Verse 33, says, for instance: "Teach me, O Jehovah, the way of your instructions, And I will follow it to the end." The next verse shows that the quality of "understanding" is involved in whole-heartedly observing God's law. It says: "Give me understanding, so that I may observe your law and keep it with my whole heart." We will consider how this quality is involved in whole-hearted obedience, using the example of lawfully driving a motor vehicle. In considering verse 37, let's answer the question: Why should we avoid giving undue attention to "unworthy" things? This is shown to be an important consideration to maintaining godly obedience. We will need the quality of discernment to judge properly between things of great value and those of less or no value.

Stanza 5A, verses 33-36, says this: "33 Teach me, O Jehovah, the way of your instructions, And I will follow it to the end. 34 Give me understanding, So that I may observe your law And keep it with my whole heart. 35 Guide me in the pathway of your commandments, For in it I take delight. 36 Incline my heart to your reminders, Not to selfish gain."

Psalm 119:33 Teach me, O Jehovah, the way of your [instructions], And I will follow it to the end.

"FOLLOW IT TO THE END." Evidently, even the detailed instructions and procedures of God's law the psalmist was eager to learn from God, so as to obey Him fully. He was determined to keep God's instructions "to the end," possibly meaning "to the last detail." The psalmist may even have had a double-meaning in mind here, as AMP adds "[steadfastly]." Regardless, we should value even detailed instructions from God, realizing their valued contribution to His purpose. The Contemporary English Version (CEV) puts it this way: "Point our your rules, LORD, and I won't disobey even one of them." May we thus likewise seek an obedient heart. Of course, these are God's rules the psalmist is referring to--rules formulated by humans should carefully take God's word into consideration, lest they become unduly cumbersome, or violate right standards, or even common sense! We should still aim to respect even man-made rules that do not conflict with God's word, where we perceive they are properly authorized or made with good intentions and that they're conceived for good reasons. Later, the psalmist mentions keeping God's law "forever and ever." May we likewise look long-term, comprehending God's eternal purpose, to have right-hearted worshippers happily and peaceably loving Him and one another throughout His universe. This requires that all acknowledge Jehovah's just, fair, and right standards for living.

Psalm 119:34 Give me understanding, So that I may observe your law And keep it with my whole heart.

UNDERSTANDING NEEDED. The psalmist recognizes the importance of the quality of understanding, when it comes to learning to fully obey Jehovah. Understanding involves seeing the big picture, along with all the individual pieces that make it up, and how they all interconnect to make the whole. We should want to primarily understand people and God's law, as His word clarifies--matters of the spirit, as in our relationships, our personal thinking, and emotional well-being. Understanding helps us put the pieces together, and requires acknowledging Jehovah's right to receive our honor and respectful admiration. We need to get to know and love God and His word! This same thinking is vital, for instance, when learning to operate a motor vehicle. There are many principles and traffic laws that must be learned, that together make it possible to safely navigate the roadways among fellow drivers. Without understanding how these truths and laws work together, there would be chaos and confusion. God is honored by our respect for such laws. We should also learn such laws, not only for our own benefit, but out of love and respect for our neighbors, with interest in their safety. With such motives, it is possible to observe God's law with our "whole heart." Such laws will then most likely affect our actions and reactions, as we truly seek to obey and honor God from the heart.

Psalm 119:35 Guide me in the pathway of your commandments, For in it I take delight.

GOD'S COMMANDMENTS A PATH TO FOLLOW. The psalmist again pleads to be instructed to remain on the path of life, the roadway leading to eternal life. He 'takes delight' in God's ways, and in His commandments, which, according to Psalm 19:8 are "pure and bright, enlightening the eyes." (AMP). God's commandments thus help us maintain purity, clean worship, which helps us maintain our keen spiritual vision, seeing the truth as it should be seen. We shouldn't shy away from the idea of "worship"--this mainly involves giving God the rightful place in our hearts and our lives. This helps us deal with problems head on, finding workable solutions in our dealings and relationships with God and others, rather than blindly being led astray. How we should delight in God's commandments, and the privilege of maintaining pure worship to God, alongside our neighbors and (hopefully) also our fellow worshippers.

Psalm 119:36 Incline my heart to your reminders, Not to selfish gain.

GOD'S REMINDERS PROMOTE UNSELFISHNESS. As we are reminded of God's good guidance in life, we are helped to maintain an obedient course, in harmony with God's laws and standards. We are able to do this with a proper motive of genuine love for God and neighbor. Evidently, as a future king, the psalmist would eventually be in charge of much wealth, yet he refused to focus on "selfish gain," rather using whatever resources he had unselfishly to God's honor and purpose. He knew our primary motive should be godly and unselfish, to experience the joy and peace only God can give. How important to maintain clean and pure motives, and avoid even thoughts of using other people in some selfish way or even raising them or ourselves up above God in some way for some purpose out of harmony with God's will. Let's thus maintain humility and an honest conscience. Jesus warned against devotion to Riches, or really any other God-dishonoring Master, saying at Matthew 6:24 "“No one can slave for two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stick to the one and despise the other. You cannot slave for God and for Riches." The psalmist thus chooses to worship and slave for God, Jehovah, still often rewarded materially, rather than seeking only selfish gain by Riches, an often harsh master. (Prove 3:10; 8:21).

Recall our theme for stanza 5 is WHOLE-HEARTED OBEDIENCE CAN BE (HAPPILY) CULTIVATED AND SUSTAINED OVER TIME. In verse 34, the psalmist expressed longing to observe God's law and keep it with his whole heart.

Verses 37-40 read this way: "Turn my eyes away from looking at what is unworthy; Preserve me alive in your way. 38 Fulfill your promise to your servant, So that you may be feared (or, revered). 39 Remove the disgrace that I dread, For your judgments are good. 40 See how I long for your orders. Preserve me alive in your worthy ways."

Verse 37 Turn my eyes away from looking at what is unworthy; Preserve me alive in your way.

SPURNING WHAT IS "UNWORTHY" Psalm 119:37 This verse shows an important consideration to maintaining godly obedience--being careful what we give attention to, especially what we choose to look at, or watch. We need the quality of discernment to judge between something of value spiritually and something "unworthy." This quality helps us discern between right and wrong, true and false, good and bad, wise and unwise, and between more important matters and those less so but still required. We might add: between things of great value and those of less or no value. How would you value a close relationship with God? How about eternal life in true peace and happiness, and that of your loved ones and friends? Of course, the latter depends upon the former. Hopefully you've come to value both highly. If so, we should have no problem turning away from things that undermine, or threaten to take away, what we treasure most, choosing instead the things in harmony with God's right ways and standards. In this way we act in harmony with the psalmist's plea to be 'preserved alive in God's own way.' If you don't yet feel close to God, pray to Him more, with faith, or thankful trust in Him and His desire to reward you for your loyalty. (Hebre 11:6). Confidently ask him for things you truly need, and experience His hand of assistance in your life, while you read His word for His guidance. In this way, "Draw close to God, and He will draw close to you..." (James 4:8).

Verse 38 Fulfill your promise to your servant, So that you may be feared (or, revered).

"FULFILL YOUR PROMISE" Psalm 119:38 As a likely king or future king, the psalmist may have been making reference to a specific promise he received from God, perhaps the one to make him the king that God had anointed him to become, the fulfillment of which would demonstrate to others God's love, wisdom, power, and adherence to what is right. Thus, the writer of Psalm 119 is most likely David, after his anointing to become king, but before taking the throne while King Saul was opposing him. (1Chron 12:1-2,8,16-17). Jehovah is a Keeper of Promises. God has made many promises regarding His faithful servants, to sustain them through trials, for instance. Psalm 55:22 says: "Throw your burden on Jehovah, And he will sustain you. Never will he allow the worthy one to fall." God's support of His people surely brings Him glory, especially when His servants trust fully in Him and hold on to their integrity. May all possible come to thus acknowledge ancient King Solomon's summation of life in these words: "The conclusion of the matter, everything having been heard, is: Fear (or, Revere) the true God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole obligation of man. 14 For the true God will judge every deed, including every hidden thing, as to whether it is good or bad." (Eccle 12:13-14).

Verse 39 Remove the disgrace that I dread, For your judgments are good.

GOD SAVED JESUS' REPUTATION. Psalm 119:39 No one enjoys receiving disgrace or shame from others, especially when we seek what is right by God. Even Jesus 'despised shame,' although he was ridiculed and impaled as though a terrible criminal (Hebre 12:2). Yet God proved what He can do to save one's reputation, exalting Jesus to have a name above every other name. (Phili 2:9). Thus, we should never give up, as long as we look to God with faith, or thankful trust, in His desire and power to act in our behalf. Even if our own heart condemns us, remember that "God is greater than our hearts and knows all things." (1John 3:18-20). May we seek God's right ways and standards, and appreciate His judgments, or fair and just evaluations. He can read hearts, and sees the love we show others. Yet, remember that no good deed gives us allowance to sin against God or our neighbor. So let us "hate what is bad" in the reverential fear of God, and pursue what is good, seeking His honor, trusting Him with our own reputation, as did faithful men of times past. Remaining faithful to God, we may look forward to a bright future. God has promised to remove the reproach from His true servants, as at Isaiah 25:8: "He will swallow up death forever, And the Sovereign Lord Jehovah will wipe away the tears from all faces. The reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, For Jehovah himself has spoken it."

Verse 40 See how I long for your orders. Preserve me alive in your worthy ways.

DELIGHT IN GOD'S ORDERS. Psalm 119:40 Thus the psalmist once again highlights his fondness for God's word and guidance. According to Psalm 19:8 God's orders are worthy, and cause "the heart to rejoice." Thus we find genuine joy in obedience to God, and this obedience can be sustained, preserving us alive in God's worthy ways, with integrity to Him. God's right ways and standards are a protection in many ways, and form the way of eternity. May we thus treasure the privilege of doing things God's way, learning so that it becomes "first nature" to us! Why "second nature?" GOD'S WAY is the way He created us to live in the FIRST place. Let's get back to that, and experience the happiness and rewards of doing so! (Hebre 11:6)

Our theme for stanza 6 is this: LOYAL DEVOTION TO GOD REFINES OUR INTEGRITY AND STRENGTHENS OUR HOPE.

As we come to live more in agreement with God's word, handling situations as we know we should, we're becoming more faithful, and this reassures our hope that much more, with increased joy, in the promised rewards by God, as we remain a humble servant of Him. Still, newer ones can have similar hope, and joy, even though they are not as far along as others, so long as they thankfully hold on to their faith, aiming for obedience. The preview of all of stanza 6 is as follows: 

Verses 41,44, and 47 say this: "41 May I experience your loyal love, O Jehovah, Your salvation in harmony with your promise...44 I will keep your law constantly, Forever and ever...47 I am fond of your commandments, Yes, I love them." God's loyal love for us moves Him to bring us salvation through His judgment, in harmony with the promises of His word. What might be an example of such a promise from God, and what should we do to be among those experiencing God's loyal love? Also, we'll see how setting God's law as our own leads to endless happiness! And what a lovely, simple expression of appreciation for God's law. How might we also develop such appreciation for God's commandments?

The first 4 verses read this way: "41 May I experience your loyal love, O Jehovah, Your salvation in harmony with your promise; 42 Then I will reply to the one taunting me, For I put my trust in your word. 43 Do not utterly remove the word of truth from my mouth, For I have hoped in your judgment. 44 I will keep your law constantly, Forever and ever."

Verse 41 May I experience your loyal love, O Jehovah, Your salvation in harmony with your promise.

"BECAUSE HE HAS AFFECTION FOR ME." Psalm 119:41 The psalmist thus shows that God's love for us would certainly move Him to bring us salvation through His judgment, in harmony with many such promises in His word. Psalm 91, evidently written by Moses, says this in verses 14-16: "God said: “Because he has affection for me, I will rescue him. I will protect him because he knows my name. 15 He will call on me, and I will answer him. I will be with him in distress. I will rescue him and glorify him. 16 I will satisfy him with long life, And I will cause him to see my acts of salvation.” All this because of our affectionate love for Jehovah, shown by our loyal obedience to Him (1John 5:3). Such an attachment to God personally, a close relationship with Him, moves Jehovah to respond loyally in return. "Draw close to God and He will draw close to you..." says James 4:8. Accordingly, our hope of salvation is thereby strengthened.

Verse 42 Then I will reply to the one taunting me, For I put my trust in your word.

A REPLY TO ONE TAUNTING. Psalm 119:42 God appeals, at Proverbs 27:11, "Be wise, my son, and make my heart rejoice, So that I can make a reply to him who taunts me." Of course, in God's case, it has primarily been Satan who was taunting God for some time, from the time of his rebellion in the Garden of Eden, or Park of Pleasure, designed and created by Jehovah God. Satan also, according to the book of Job (rhymes with robe), taunted that he could turn Job away from his integrity to God, but in spite of all that was done to hurt Job, he was faithful, and was doubly rewarded by Jehovah. (Job 42). Our loyal integrity to God makes His heart glad, giving Him a reply to those still taunting, even those taunting the people of God, and as He lovingly uses His power to protect and save them, they too perhaps can make a similar reply. May we continue to build thankful trust, or faith, in God's inspired word, and in God Himself, becoming reliant upon Him. (Prove 3:5-8).

Verse 43 Do not utterly remove the word of truth from my mouth, For I have hoped in your judgment.

HONESTY ESSENTIAL TO INTEGRITY. Psalm 119:43 Genuine integrity to God involves honesty, speaking and acting in accord with the truth. As we put faith, or thankful trust, in God's judgment, we are moved to trust the course of integrity. Integrity essentially means "wholeness or completeness without corruption." In Psalm 15, the course of integrity is essentially outlined, and includes "speaking the truth in [one's] heart." Removing the "word of truth" would result in a mouth of deception and trickery, and a loss of genuine integrity. In another Psalm, 115, we sadly find that this could happen as one somehow commits idolatry, in placing anyone or anything above the first place that God should have in our hearts. We could then develop blindness to our eyes of divine understanding, ears no longer able to perceive truth, and mouths not able to speak it. May we trust Jehovah God's power to support His honest servants, who nevertheless know there is a "time to be silent" as well as a "time to speak."

Verse 44 I will keep your law constantly, Forever and ever.

WRITING GOD'S LAW ON OUR HEART. Psalm 119:44 Acquiring such integrity brings genuine joy of heart, being close to God, along with other devoted ones, moving us to want to experience such happiness "forever and ever," by keeping God's law "constantly." By thus making God's law OUR law, writing God's law on our heart, we are always able to live in a way that pleases God! Jehovah speaks at Jeremiah 31:33-34 regarding His law, saying of Israel: "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares Jehovah. “I will put my law within them, and in their heart I will write it. And I will become their God, and they will become my people.”34 “And they will no longer teach each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know Jehovah!’ for they will all know me, from the least to the greatest of them,” declares Jehovah. “For I will forgive their error, and I will no longer remember their sin.” And at Galatians 6:16, Paul's inspired words refer to true Christianity, in saying: "As for all those who walk orderly by this rule of conduct, peace and mercy be upon them, yes, upon the Israel of God." May we find such delight as did the psalmist, and "get a firm hold on the real life," the everlasting life promised by our Creator, Jehovah, "to those who continue loving Him." (1Timo 6:19; James 1:12).

___PS119 STANZA 6B

Recall our theme for stanza 6, verses 41-48: LOYAL DEVOTION TO GOD REFINES OUR INTEGRITY AND STRENGTHENS OUR HOPE.

Verse 41, for instance expressed desire to experience God's loyal love, and salvation by Him. He knew this meant, as in verse 44, keeping God's law "constantly, forever and ever." Now the psalmist expresses contentment with doing so:

Verses 45-48 read this way: "And I will walk about in a place of safety, For I search for your orders. 46 I will speak about your reminders in front of kings, And I will not be ashamed. 47 I am fond of your commandments, Yes, I love them. 48 I will raise my hands to your commandments, which I love, And I will ponder over your instructions."

Verse 45 And I will walk about in a place of safety, For I search for your orders.

SEARCHING. Psalm 119:45 We may thus dwell in a figurative place of spiritual security, as we stay close to Jehovah, like the psalmist, searching for God's orders. He wanted to know everything God commanded him, so that he would not fail to be obedient. He continues "to search" for God's orders, as often revealed in His word. May we likewise be searching for God's guidance and instruction, especially the most serious, important, and urgent commands, seeking to understand the reasons for them, that we may comply with God's vital direction. May we delight in God's orders, which "cause the heart to rejoice," and His reminders, that we may not forget what's required of Him. Understandably, he next mentions these "reminders."

Verse 46 I will speak about your reminders in front of kings, And I will not be ashamed.

NOT ASHAMED OF THE TRUTH. Psalm 119:46 It may take more study and reflection on the value of God's word to ourselves and others, but we too can come to happily share such divine knowledge with others, not being ashamed to do so. Remember, it may mean someone's eternal life to "speak up." Even if they do not appreciate our effort to do so then, it doesn't mean they won't remember it later in life, perhaps before it's too late. Something may happen later to change their mind, and how they feel about it. By setting the right example for them now, we show them as soon as possible the right way for them to go, the way to eternal happiness! (Psalm 27:14; 146:5).

Verse 47 I am fond of your commandments, Yes, I love them.

GIVEN OUT OF GREAT LOVE. Psalm 119:47 What a lovely simple expression of appreciation for God's law! Jehovah has given His commandments out of His great love for us, to do what is in our best interests, what leads to our greatest happiness! Isaiah 48:17-18 says, for instance, "This is what Jehovah says, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I, Jehovah, am your God, The One teaching you to benefit yourself, The One guiding you in the way you should walk. 18 If only you would pay attention to my commandments! Then your peace would become just like a river And your worthiness like the waves of the sea." By thus "paying attention" to God's commandments, we can, like the psalmist, come to love them and keep them, with integrity, and with strengthened hope of salvation by God!

Verse 48 I will raise my hands to your commandments, which I love, And I will ponder over your [instructions].

PONDER GOD'S GUIDANCE. Psalm 119:48 The psalmist may have reference to prayer, in raising his hands to God's commandments. May we prayerfully reflect on God's law, seeking heartfelt obedience to God. He willingly chose to ponder God's regulations, or instructions and procedures, so that he could keep them diligently and entirely. It takes development spiritually before one can grasp more detailed instruction, even from God. May we grow in especially the quality of understanding, seeing where things fit in to to the big picture of God's overall purpose and the value of God's word in all of it's guidance in life. Examine your life and see where a particular principle, truth, or law of God has value. Then we may appreciate God's instructions more fully.