Psalms 119:162

119:161-168 Those whose hearts stand in awe of God's word, will rather endure the wrath of man, than break the law of God. By the word of God we are unspeakable gainers. Every man hates to have a lie told him, but we should more hate telling a lie; by the latter we give an affront to God. The more we see the beauty of truth, the more we shall see the hateful deformity of a lie. We are to praise God even for afflictions; through grace we get good from them. Those that love the world have great vexation, for it does not answer what they expect; those that love God's word have great peace, for it outdoes what they expect. Those in whom this holy love reigns, will not perplex themselves with needless scruples, or take offence at their brethren. A good hope of salvation will engage the heart in doing the commandments. And our love to the word of God must subdue our lusts, and root out carnal affections: we must make heart work of it, or we make nothing of it. We must keep the commandments of God by obedience to them, and his promises by reliance on them. God's eye is on us at all times; this should make us very careful to keep his commandments.

I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil. At having it, which is a distinguishing blessing; all are not favoured with it; and is an inestimable treasure, a field in which a treasure lies; which those that find rejoice at, and especially at the understanding of it, as Kimchi notes: for such only delight in it who spiritually understand it, or have an application of it to them; find it, and eat it, and then it is the joy and rejoicing of their hearts. The doctrines of it are matter of great joy, particularly which concern the grace of God, the person of Christ, and peace, pardon, righteousness, and salvation by him; and each of its promises, which are exceeding great and precious; and, when opened and applied in a time of need, occasion great joy; such as is expressed at finding a great spoil, when much substance comes into the hands of the conqueror, as well as victory. The word is a part of the believer's spiritual armour, by which he overcomes his enemies; as well as it acquaints him with the conquest Christ has obtained over them, and made him a sharer in; and directs him to unsearchable riches, to things more valuable than thousands of gold and silver; so that he has great reason to rejoice at it in such a manner indeed! see Isaiah 9:2 .

162. (Compare Mt 13:44, 45). Though persecuted by the mighty, the pious are not turned from revering God's authority to seek their favor, but rejoice in the possession of this "pearl of great price," as great victors in spoils. Hating falsehood and loving truth, often, every day, praising God for it, they find peace and freedom from temptation.

The eightfold ש (both Shin and Sin) (Note: Whilst even in the oldest alphabetical Pijutim the Sin perhaps represents the Samech as well, but never the Shin, it is the reverse in the Biblical alphabetical pieces. Here Sin and Shin coincide, and Samech is specially represented.)). In the midst of persecution God's word was still his fear, his joy, and his love, the object of his thanksgiving, and the ground of his hope. Princes persecute him without adequate cause, but his heart does not fear before them, but before God's words (the Ker likes the singular, as in Psalm 119:147), to deny which would be to him the greatest possible evil. It is, however, a fear that is associated with heartfelt joy (Psalm 119:111). It is the joy of a conflict that is rewarded by rich spoil (Judges 5:30, Isaiah 9:3). Not merely morning and evening, not merely three times a day (Psalm 55:18), but seven times (שׁבע as in Leviticus 26:18; Proverbs 24:16), i.e., ever again and again, availing himself of every prayerful impulse, he gives thanks to God for His word, which so righteously decides and so correctly guides, is a source of transcendent peace to all who love it, and beside which one is not exposed to any danger of stumbling (מכשׁול, lxx σκάνδαλον, cf. 1 John 2:10) without some effectual counter-working. In Psalm 119:166 he speaks like Jacob in Genesis 49:18, and can speak thus, inasmuch as he has followed earnestly and untiringly after sanctification.

## [ ← 34 ] Psalms 73:22; Proverbs 30:2 ## [ ← 35 ] Romans 6:16; 1 Corinthians 3:16 ## [ ← 36 ] 1Thes 4.4; Galatians 5:22-23; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ## [ ← 37 ] “Where is the word of the Lord?” Jeremiah 17:15 Vulgate ## [ ← 38 ] Psalms 1:2; 119.97 ## [ ← 39 ] Psalms 108:1; 119.20; 139.17-18 ## [ ← 40 ] Psalms 119:30; Hebrews 12:2 ## [ ← 41 ] Rom, 7.22; Psalms 109:4; Isaiah 58:10 ## [ ← 42 ] To open like a cask so that it spills its contents. ## [ ← 43 ] 2 Samuel 12:3 ## [ ← 44 ] Romans 1:25; Matthew 10:37; Proverbs 18:11; Jeremiah 17:5 ## [ ← 45 ] Ephesians 3:17; Revelation 12:1 ## [ ← 46 ] Psalms 34:2; Lamentations 3:24 ## [ ← 47 ] 1 Chronicles 22:19; 2 Chronicles 15:15 ## [ ← 48 ] Matthew 6:33; Psalms 27:4 ## [ ← 49 ] “So much for Plato’s pride!” ## [ ← 50 ] Song of Solomon 1:3; Psalms 54:8 ## [ ← 51 ] Galatians 6:14; Song of Solomon 2:16 ## [ ← 52 ] Alleine is referring the kingdom of Britain, and to India, its prize possession at the time. ## [ ← 53 ] John Lambert died with these words on his lips. He was a Protestant martyr burnt at the stake in 1538 in London. ## [ ← 54 ] Acts 2:37; 16.30 ## [ ← 55 ] Psalms 119:112, 128, 137-138 ## [ ← 56 ] For here and now. ## [ ← 57 ] Psalms 119:86, 160, 162-163 ## [ ← 58 ] Psalms 119:124-125, 169; 25.4-5 ## [ ← 59 ] Psalms 119:18-19, 27, 33, 64, 66, 68, 78, 108, 124 ## [ ← 60 ] Psalms 17:3; 119.50 ## [ ← 61 ] 1 John 5:3; Psalms 119:60, 72 ## [ ← 62 ] Psalms 40:8; Jeremiah 31:33 ## [ ← 63 ] Psalms 119:32, 45; James 1:25 ## [ ← 64 ] 1 Samuel 10:26. ## [ ← 65 ] Psalms 119:159, 163, 167 ## [ ← 66 ]