Psalms 119:153. Consider mine affliction, and deliver me: for I do not forget thy law.
As much as if he said, «Lord, I do not forget thee; do not forget me.» Thy grace has kept my memory; let thy grace keep me altogether.
Psalms 119:154-19. Plead my cause, and deliver me: quicken me according to thy word. Salvation is far form the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes. great are thy tender mercies, O LORD: quicken me according to thy judgments.
Oh! how the saints want quickening. They know they do. They feel that they get dull, and they cannot endure it. They are not happy unless they possess vivid grace and true light.
Psalms 119:157-19 Many are my persecutors and mine enemies: yet do I not decline from thy testimonies. I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word.
The very sight of them gave me sorrow. Even though they tried to be mirthful, I was not amused by them, and beheld them and was grieved, «Because they kept not thy word.»
Psalms 119:159. Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O LORD, according to thy lovingkindness.
My heart is right, I do love thee; but I feel dull and heavy. Lord, come and quicken me, not according to my love to thee, but according to thy lovingkindness, come and quicken me. «Thy word is true from the beginning» from the first page of the book of Genesis to the very last true about everything, true from the first moment it began with me. Every promise has been kept. Tthere has not been a falsehood all the way through.
Psalms 119:160. Thy word is true from the beginning: and everyone of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.
«Princes have persecuted me without a cause.» David was a prince and a man expects to be fairly dealt with by his peers; but it was not so in this case.
Psalms 119:161. Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word.
When we are in awe of God's word, we shall not be in awe of princes. The fear of God is the best cure for the fear of men.
Psalms 119:162. I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.
He had more joy in reading the Scriptures than in winning a great battle, or in being surprised at the finding of a great treasure.
Psalms 119:163. I hate and abhor lying: but thy law do I love.
Now the Orientals did not hate lying; they generally tried to be proficient at it. The only fault about lying with them is to be found out. Then they think they must have been very unskillful. David, therefore, was far ahead of his time far ahead of his fellow-countrymen.
Psalms 119:164. Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments.
He could not have enough of praise; he did it often, he did it perfectly seven times a day and if he praised God seven times a day because of his righteous judgments how much more ought we to do it because of his abounding grace! Ah! there is a special cause for thanks.
Psalms 119:165-19. Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. LORD, I have hoped for thy salvation, and done thy commandments,
Two good things to put together hope in God's mercy, and obedience to God's will.
Psalms 119:167-19. My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly. I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: for all my ways are before thee. Let my cry come near before thee, O LORD: give me understanding according to thy word. Let my supplication come before thee: deliver me according to thy word. My lips shall utter praise, when thou hast taught me thy statutes. My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness. Let thine hand help me; for I have chosen thy precepts. I have longed for thy salvation, O LORD; and thy law is my delight.
Cannot we say that, dear friends, this morning? I hope we can with all our failings and wandering, yet the law of God is our delight, and if we could have our wish, we would never again go beyond its restraints, nor fall short of its demands.