Untitled Sermon

Psalm 119:129–136 ESV

Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them. The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple. I open my mouth and pant, because I long for your commandments. Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is your way with those who love your name. Keep steady my steps according to your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me. Redeem me from man’s oppression, that I may keep your precepts. Make your face shine upon your servant, and teach me your statutes. My eyes shed streams of tears, because people do not keep your law.

pe. (Ps 119:129–136).

129. wonderful—literally, “wonders,” that is, of moral excellence.

130. The entrance—literally, “opening”; God’s words, as an open door, let in light, or knowledge. Rather, as Hengstenberg explains it, “The opening up,” or, “explanation of thy word.” To the natural man the doors of God’s Word are shut. Lu 24:27, 31; Ac 17:3; Eph 1:18, confirm this view, “opening (that is, explaining) and alleging,” &c.

unto the simple—those needing or desiring it (compare Ps 19:7).

131. An ardent desire (compare Ps 56:1, 2) for spiritual enlightening, establishment in a right course, deliverance from the wicked, and evidence of God’s favor is expressed

I opened my mouth, and panted—as a traveller in a hot desert pants for the cooling breeze (Ps 63:1; 84:2).

132. Look … upon me—opposed to hiding or averting the face (compare Ps 25:15; 86:6; 102:17).

as thou usest to do—or, “as it is right in regard to those who love Thy name.” Such have a right to the manifestations of God’s grace, resting on the nature of God as faithful to His promise to such, not on their own merits.

133. Order my steps—Make firm, so that there be no halting (Ps 40:2).

any iniquity—Ps 119:34 (favors Hengstenberg, “any iniquitous man,” any “oppressor”). But the parallel first clause in this (Ps 119:33) favors English Version (Ps 19:13). His hope of deliverance from external oppression of man (Ps 119:34) is founded on his deliverance from the internal “dominion of iniquity,” in answer to his prayer (Ps 119:33).

136. Zealous himself to keep God’s law, he is deeply afflicted when others violate it (compare Ps 119:53). Literally, “Mine eyes come down (dissolved) like water brooks” (La 3:48; Je 9:1).

because, &c.—(Compare Ez 9:4; Je 13:17).

  Q. God’s Word is wonderful (119:129–136)

119:129–136. The psalmist declared his delight for God’s wonderful Word which gives light (vv. 129–131; cf. v. 105). He then prayed that the Lord would turn to him and establish him by directing, redeeming, blessing, and teaching him (vv. 132–135). (On God making His face shine, see comments on 4:6.) He expressed concern over those who hate God’s Law (119:136).1

1 Allen P. Ross, “Psalms,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 881–882.

119:129–136 Stanza 17, Pe, focuses on the theme of the transformative effect that Yahweh’s directions have on the psalmist (v. 130) and the harmful effects of sin and human opposition (vv. 133–134). The psalmist longs for Yahweh’s directions because of their wonderful quality (vv. 129–131). He weeps because others do not follow Yahweh’s directions (v. 136).11 John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Ps 119:129–136.

  129. “When thy word goeth forth,” he saith, “it giveth light, and maketh His little ones to understand” (ver. 130). What is the little one save the humble and weak? Be not proud therefore, presume not in thine own strength, which is nought; and thou wilt understand why a good law was given by a good God, though it cannot give life. For it was given for this end, that it might make thee a little one instead of great, that it might show that thou hadst not strength to do the law of thine own power: and that thus, wanting aid and destitute, thou mightiest fly unto grace, saying, “Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am weak.” … Let all be little ones, and let all the world be guilty before Thee: because “by the deeds of the Law there shall no flesh be justified” in Thy sight; “for by the Law is the knowledge of sin,” etc.3 These are Thy wonderful testimonies, which the soul of this little one hath searched; and hath therefore found, because he became humbled and a little one. For who doth Thy commandments as they ought to be done, that is, by “faith which worketh through love,” save love itself be shed abroad in his heart through the Holy Spirit?

130. This is confessed by this little one; “I opened my mouth,” he saith, “and drew in the spirit: for I longed for Thy commandments” (ver. 131). What did he long for, save to obey the divine commandments? But there was no possibility of the weak doing hard things, the little one great things: he opened his mouth, confessing that he could not do them of himself: and drew in power to do them: he opened his mouth, by seeking, asking, knocking: and athirst drank in the good Spirit, which enabled him to do what he could not do by himself, “the commandment holy and just and good.”7 Not that they themselves who “are led by the Spirit of God,” do nothing; but that they may not do nothing good, they are moved to act by the good Spirit. For so much the more is every man made a good son, in proportion as the good Spirit is given unto Him by the Father in a greater measure.

131. He still prayeth. He hath opened his mouth, and drawn in the Spirit; but he still knocketh in prayer unto the Father, and seeketh: he drinketh, but the more sweet he findeth it, the more eagerly doth he thirst. Hear the words of him in his thirst. “O look Thou upon me,” he saith, “and be merciful unto me: according to the judgment of those that love Thy Name” (ver. 132): that is, according to the judgment Thou has dealt unto all who love Thy Name; since Thou hast first loved them, to cause them to love Thee. For thus saith the Apostle John, “We love God, because He first loved us.”

132. See what the Psalmist next most openly saith: “Order my steps after Thy word: and so shall no wickedness have dominion over me” (ver. 133). Where what else doth he say than this, Make me upright and free according to Thy promise. But so much the more as the love of God reigneth in every man, so much the less hath wickedness dominion over him. What else then doth he seek than that by the gift of God he may love God? For by loving God he loveth himself, so that he may healthily love his neighbour also as himself: on which commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets. What then doth he pray, save that God may cause the fulfillment by His help of those commandments which He imposeth by His bidding?

133. But what meaneth this that he saith, “O deliver me from the calumnies of men: so shall I keep Thy commandments”? (ver. 134).… Did not the holy people of God much the more gloriously keep the commandments among these very calumnies, when they were at their hottest in the midst of tribulations, when they yielded not to their persecutors to commit impieties? But, in truth, the meaning of these words is this: Do Thou, by pouring upon me Thy Spirit, guard me from being overcome by the terrors of human calumny, and from being drawn over to their evil deeds away from Thy commandments. For if Thou hast thus dealt with me, that is, if Thou hast in this manner delivered me by the gift of patience from their calumnies, so that I fear not the false charges they prefer against me; among those very calumnies I will keep Thy commandments.

134. “Show the light of Thy countenance on Thy servant, and teach me thy statutes” (ver. 135): that is, manifest Thy presence, by succouring and aiding me. “And teach me Thy righteousnesses.” Teach me to work them: as it is more plainly expressed elsewhere, “Teach me to do Thy will.” For they who hear, although they retain in their memories what they hear, are by no means to be considered to have learnt, unless they do. For it is the word of Truth: “Every man that hath heard and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto Me.”2 He therefore who obeyeth not in deed, that is, who cometh not, hath not learnt.

135. “My eyes have descended streams of waters, because they have not kept Thy law” (ver. 136): that is, my eyes. For in some copies there is this reading, “Because I have not kept Thy law, streams of waters” therefore “descended,” that is, floods of tears. …1

1 Augustine of Hippo, “Expositions on the Book of Psalms,” in Saint Augustin: Expositions on the Book of Psalms, ed. Philip Schaff, trans. A. Cleveland Coxe, vol. 8, A Select Library of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church, First Series (New York: Christian Literature Company, 1888), 582–583.

Verses 129–136

The wonders of redeeming love will fix the heart in adoration of them. The Scriptures show us what we were, what we are, and what we shall be. They show us the mercy and the justice of the Lord, the joys of heaven, and the pains of hell. Thus they give to the simple, in a few days, understanding of those matters, which philosophers for ages sought in vain. The believer, wearied with the cares of life and his conflicts with sin, pants for the consolations conveyed to him by means of the sacred word. And every one may pray, Look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me as thou usest to do unto those that love thy name. We must beg that the Holy Spirit would order our steps. The dominion of sin is to be dreaded and prayed against by every one. The oppression of men is often more than flesh and blood can bear; and He who knoweth our frame, will not refuse to remove it in answer to the prayers of his people. Whatever obscurity may appear as to the faith of the Old Testament believers, their confidence at the throne of grace can only be explained by their having obtained more distinct views of gospel privileges, through the sacrifices and services of their law, than is generally imagined. Go to the same place, plead the name and merits of Jesus, and you will not, you cannot plead in vain. Commonly, where there is a gracious heart, there is a weeping eye. Accept, O Lord, the tears our blessed Redeemer shed in the days of his flesh, for us who should weep for our brethren or ourselves. 1

1 Matthew Henry and Thomas Scott, Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, 1997), Ps 119:129.

Ps 19:7 |    The law of the LORD is perfect,    reviving the soul;    the testimony of the LORD is sure,    making wise the simple;  

Je 9:1 | Oh that my head were waters,    and my eyes a fountain of tears,    that I might weep day and night    for the slain of the daughter of my people!  

Je 14:17 |    “You shall say to them this word:    ‘Let my eyes run down with tears night and day,    and let them not cease,    for the virgin daughter of my people is shattered with a great wound,    with a very grievous blow.  

Ps 4:6 |    There are many who say, “Who will show us some good?    Lift up the light of your face upon us, O LORD!”  

Ps 119:12 |    Blessed are you, O LORD;    teach me your statutes!  

Ex 4:31; Nu 6:25; Jdg 13:18; 1 Sa 1:11; 2 Sa 16:12; 24:14; Job 29:23; Ps 4:6; 5:11; 6:4, 6; 9:13; 17:5; 19:7, 13; 25:16; 31:16; 42:1; 67:1; 80:3, 7, 19; 81:10; 106:4, 25; 116:6; 119:9, 11–12, 18, 20, 22, 27, 29, 56, 88, 105, 122, 158; 142:6; Pr 1:4; 6:23; 9:4–6; Is 22:4; 42:24; 63:7–9; Je 9:1, 18; 13:17; 14:17; La 1:16; 3:48; Eze 9:4; Lk 1:74; Ro 6:12, 16; 7:23; Php 3:18; 2 Pe 1:19

Psalm 119. The Golden ABC of the Word of God

129–136 Pe. The double-filament light. In Ayin exhausted eyes could see only a gathering darkness. Now a door opens on to light—the light of the word (130) which, before the section ends, has become…

The New Bible Commentary, Ps 119:129–136, p 570 (1 time)

7-27-2008: Proper 12

Psalm 119:121–136

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Psalm 119:129–136