Responding To The Word

This section is primarily about what the Psalmist will do because of God’s Word. Interspersed within his responses are some requests. The format is kind of a “if you do this, than I will do this”. Fair warning. There will be a lot of Spurgeon quotes because his Treasury of David is a fabulous resource on the Psalms.

v. 41

Salvation. God’s mercies proceed salvation. This is a request.

Mercies - חֶ֫סֶד ḥěʹ·sěḏ loyalty; joint obligation; faithfulness, goodness, graciousness; godly action. loyal love n. — an unfailing kind of love, kindness, or goodness; often used of God’s love that is related to faithfulness to his covenant.

This refers to the covenant faithfulness of God. Often it is translated “steadfast love”. God’s steadfast love is expressed through salvation. We learn of salvation through the Word.

The Treasury of David, Volume 5: Psalms 111–119 Exposition of Verses 41–48

The way of salvation is described in the word, salvation itself is promised in the word, and its inward manifestation is wrought by the word; so that in all respects the salvation which is in Christ Jesus is in accordance with the word.

Salvation - תְּשׁוּעָה tešû·ʿā(h) help, deliverance, salvation, victory. salvation (spiritual) n. — the act of delivering from sin or saving from evil.

Word - אִמְרָה ʾim·rā(h) word, saying; God’s word. promise n. — a verbal commitment by one person to another agreeing to do (or not to do) something in the future. God’s Word contains His promises. He has promised to save those who believe. The Psalmist is asking God to be true to His Word and extend His mercy and salvation. If God will do this, the Psalmist tells us how he will respond in the next verse.

v. 42

This is the Psalmists response to the request of v. 41. As God’s mercies and salvation come to the Psalmist, he will have an answer for the one who reproaches. The idea of this word is to give evidence or testify. God’s Word gives us the answers for reproach! My intellect is insufficient. For = because. He will have answers because he trusts the Word. If you do not trust the Word, you will not have answers when you are reproached.

Answer - ענה ʿnh to reply, answer; to give evidence, testify; to respond to what was said, follow willingly. to answer v. — to react verbally, as to a question or in giving some other kind of response.

Reproaches - חרף ḥrp to annoy, taunt. to mock v. — to treat with contempt, for example, verbally.

QUESTIONS?

v. 43

Another request. Don’t take the Word out of my mouth. I have hoped in your ordinances. This word “hoped” has the idea of looking forward or anticipation.

Spurgeon explains it in this way.

The Treasury of David, Volume 5: Psalms 111–119 Exposition of Verses 41–48

Do not prevent my pleading for thee by leaving me without deliverance; for how could I continue to proclaim thy word if I found it fail me?

The Psalmist looks forward to the fulfillment of God’s Word. His confidence that God will keep His promises is the basis for his speech. What we hope for is expressed in our words.

Hoped - יחל yḥl to wait; to cause to hope. to wait (look forward) v. — to look forward to the occurrence of or arrival of.

v. 44

This is the response to the request of v. 43. In fact, the rest of the Psalm seems to be in response to this request. If God’s Word remains in his mouth, if God keeps His promises, the Psalmist vows to keep the law continually, forever and ever. This is a big promise, yet in light of God's faithfulness, it is a necessary one.

Keep - שׁמר šmr to keep, watch over, guard. to observe (conform) v. — to conform one’s action or practice to.

It is pretty awesome to note that we will keep God’s law forever and ever!

The Treasury of David, Volume 5: Psalms 111–119 Exposition of Verses 41–48

If God doth but give us salvation we can conquer hell and commune with heaven, answering reproaches and keeping the law, and that to the end, world without end.

QUESTIONS?

v. 45

Walk is our behavior. The idea here is to walk in a wide open space. To be unrestricted. When we walk in obedience there is freedom! Seek. He seeks the Word of God. This is a fascinating statement. Precepts are rules of personal conduct. He will walk in freedom, and the source of that freedom is seeking to order his life the way God has laid out! Contrary to the popular belief, rules are not restrictive! Obedience to God’s commands brings freedom!

The idea here is to walk in a wide open space. To be unrestricted. When we walk in obedience there is freedom! Seek. He seeks the Word of God. This is a fascinating statement. Precepts are kind of like commands. He will walk in freedom, and the source of that freedom is the seeking after commands! Contrary to the popular belief. Commands are not restrictive! Obedience to God’s commands brings freedom!

The Treasury of David, Volume 5: Psalms 111–119 Exposition of Verses 41–48

The way of holiness is not a track for slaves, but the King’s highway for freemen, who are joyfully journeying from the Egypt of bondage to the Canaan of rest.

Walk - הלך hlk to go, walk; (metaph.) to behave; to vanish, die, pass away; to bring, take; to lead, escort. to live ⇔ walk v. — to live life or carry on a mode of existence, conceived of as walking.

Precepts - פִּקּוּדִים piq·qû·ḏîm instructions, procedures. precept n. — rule of personal conduct.

Seek - דרשׁ drš to seek with care, care for; to enquire about, investigate; to be intent on; to make supplication. to seek v. — to try to get or reach something one desires.

v. 46

Again, this is in response to v. 43 and ultimately v. 41. As God's Word’s remain in his mouth, the Psalmist will speak of God's testimonies before kings. He will not be ashamed. There is boldness, courage, and dedication here. It reminds me of the Apostles in (S).

Acts 4:29 NKJV

Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word,

The Word of God cannot be in our mouth if it is not first in our hearts. Only as our minds and hearts are saturated with the Word of God will it flow from our lips. What the Psalmist states here is a confident assertion. He will not be ashamed!

Testimonies - עֵדוּת ʿē·ḏûṯ witness, testimony; laws, legal provisions. testimony n. — a solemn statement made under oath or as part of a covenant.

Ashamed - בושׁ bwš to be ashamed; to put to shame, act shamefully. to be ashamed v. — to be or become characterized by feelings of shame, guilt, embarrassment, or remorse.

QUESTIONS?

v. 47

Continuing in response, the Psalmist vows to delight in God’s commands which he loves. I can’t help but think this was in the Apostle John’s mind when he wrote (S).

1 John 5:2–3 NKJV

By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.

Salvation should make us delight in the commandments of God! They are not burdensome!

Delight - שׁעע šʿʿ to gladden, delight; to enjoy oneself, take delight in. to delight (take) v. — to take a high degree of pleasure or mental satisfaction in.

Love - אהב ʾhb to like, love; to flirt; to endear; (pt.) lovable, lover. to love (care) v. — to have a great affection or care for or loyalty towards.

v. 48

The lifting of hands is a symbolic act of worship. True worship involves surrender. He is surrendering to the will of God as expressed in His commandments. He loves God’s commandments. Again, they are not burdensome!

He meditates on the rules God has laid out.

The Treasury of David, Volume 5: Psalms 111–119 Exposition of Verses 41–48

Loving subjects wish to be familiar with their sovereign’s statutes, for they are anxious that they may not offend through ignorance.

Meditate - שׂיח śyḥ to speak enthusiastically; to praise, lament, taunt, mock, instruct, teach; to meditate with thanks and praise. to meditate (religious) v. — to think intently and at length, as for spiritual purposes.

Statutes - חֹק ḥōq portion, term, due, law, prescription. regulation n. — an authoritative rule.

QUESTIONS?

Conclusion

Salvation comes to us through Christ but we hear of it through His Word. When salvation is ours it gives us a trust in God’s Word that allows us to answer when we are reproached. It gives us hope, obedience, freedom, courage, delight, love, and worship! All of this comes through the Word of God for the child of God!