“I Love Your Law” (Ps 119:161-168)

"Princes persecute me without a cause, but my heart stands in awe of Your word.  I rejoice at Your word as one who finds great treasure.  I hate and abhor lying, but I love Your law" (vs161-163).

I, like all believers, am hated for the word of God and allegiance to Him, but we don’t change our tune. The Psalmist said, “Princes persecute me without a cause, but my heart stands in awe of Your word” (vs161). Man’s enmity hasn’t blotted out the beauty of the gospel.  His hatefulness hasn’t made us reject God.  Christ’s gospel, no matter who likes it or who opposes, is the most beautiful thing that we’ve ever seen; it is the TRUTH that saves; it is the message that glorifies Christ and gives heaven to men.

Secondly, He says, “I rejoice in Your word as one who finds great treasure”, and this is no tiny love, no mere passing fancy (vs162).  Jesus Christ is the Pearl of Great Price. He is the Treasure that’s been hidden in the field, which causes us to forsake everything else, when He is found, so that we may have Him.  He said, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field” (Matt 13:44).  We see redemption from sins, forgiveness, and the GIFT of righteousness more pleasurable and important than anything.  If you gave us the world - all of its riches and pleasures - we’d GIVE IT AWAY, so that we could have Christ.  Like Moses, we’ve “chosen rather to be afflicted with the people of God, than to have sin’s pleasure for a season” (Heb 11:25).  We love Christ and esteem God’s word because the soul is the only and most precious thing we have (Matt 16:26).

He says, “I hate and abhor lying, but I love Your law” (vs163).  We are not blind to the tricks of Satan, but we abhor the lies that he tells.  He slanders Christ, as if we should live for something else, as if the way is impossible, and we’d be better make our own path. These lies are not sweet but filthy.  They hide the consequences of eternal damnation, because we can’t win living in sin.

Thirdly, the Psalmist says, “Seven times a day”, a perfect and righteous number, “I praise you, because of Your righteous judgments” (vs164).  He is not one who praises God for nothing.  He sees the believer’s not condemned, the Lord was condemned in our place, and we are able to go free by the grace of God alone.  He’s judged that Jesus, the One who obeyed, may die for the many.  Romans 5:18 says,  “Therefore, as through one offence judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one righteousness the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life”. Satisfaction’s made for God’s elect, by God’s own, and we see Him calling out to all, giving eternal life to any who believe (1 John 2:1-2). The Judge is on His throne, and we say, “Praise God.  The All-Powerful is good, just, and merciful. He reigns rightfully as the One that God’s exalted, God Himself in the flesh, the Savior of the world”.

He says, “Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble” (vs165).  They trust Jesus Christ and peace is the result. We don’t stumble over grace and mercy, but we believe it’s free for Christ’s sake (Rom 9:30-31). We don’t stumble over the spiritual nature of the kingdom.  We LOVE what God says, that His kingdom is not of this world, and we give this world to the devil, expecting our fulfillment in the world to come (John 18:36). We go about things His way, trusting and holding onto Him, even when everything else says, “Let Him go”.  

He says, “Lord, I hope for Your salvation, and I do Your commandments” (vs166). He doesn’t hope with the mouth only, but he does what God says, proving that his hope is real.  Paul wrote, “proving the sincerity of your love” (2 Cor 8:8).  Many talk a good game, but there are few who can walk the talk and show their love is real.  We have proof.  He says, “My soul keeps Your testimonies, and I love them exceedingly” (vs167).  How would it look, if he said, “I love what you say, but I won’t obey it”?  That’s like telling someone, “I love you, but I will not help.  I will leave you stranded, though I’m right to help.  I will leave you are cry out”. This fleshly love is not the inheritance of the saints. We love in deed and truth.

Finally, he says, “I keep Your precepts and Your testimonies, for all my ways are before You” (vs168). He openly confesses that he obeys because God sees his heart, and there is no hiding place.  Paul says, “But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts” (1 Thess 2:4). If we could fool Him, then maybe we try it, but God’s not like a gullible parent or a half-asleep boss at work.  He sees everything, holds men accountable, and deception won’t work.  We love Him sincerely and confess our allegiance before the throne.  We don’t say, “I keep Your precepts”, thinking that mouthing the words is the same as doing the deeds. We say, “I keep”, knowing that He knows that we do.  Like Peter, we say, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love you” (John 21:17)