Psalm 119:33-48

Carefully Examining the Text

119:33-40

ה
The alphabetic arrangement lends itself to these hiphil verb forms, but the rest of the psalm reveals a studied effort to demonstrate reliance upon the God of the word as well as the word of God” Miller, 387. These hiphel verbs are in the imperative but, “in these petitions a tone of humility and dependence comes through” VanGemeren, 744.

119:33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes- vs. 12, 26. “God is the teacher (v. 33); the Hebrew verb ‘to teach’ ( ׳רה) underlines the noun torah, which occurs in v. 34.” McCann, 1169.

And I shall observe it to the end- vs. 112 “To the end is one sense of a word which also means ‘consequence’ or ‘reward,’ as in Psalm 19:11 (12, Heb.). Hence NEB here has ‘I shall find my reward’; and in verse 112 ‘they are a reward that never fails’” Kidner, 425. “For the psalmist the road of obedience has no off ramp” Estes, 410.

119:34 Give me understanding- “He recognizes that the ability to observe the law depends on understanding it correctly” Longman, 405.

That I have observe You law and keep it with all my heart- With all my heart in vs. 2, 10. Just like he sought the LORD with all his heart and here he keeps God’s law with all my heart.

119:35 Make me walk in the path of Your commandments- Ps. 23:3

For I delight in it- True happiness is found in walking in God’s path. To him this path is a path of sheer delight- Estes, 410.

119:36 Incline my heart to Your testimonies- The verb is used in 119:36, 51, 112, 157; 141:4; I Kings 8:58. While he prays for God to incline his heart to Him, the other passages the psalmist inclines his heart toward God. Ps. 51:10. Often our hearts default to evil- Jer. 17:9. While Solomon prayed the prayer of I Kings 8:58, his heart turned to evil in I Kings 11:2-4, 9.

And not to dishonest gain- Ex. 18:21; Jer. 6:13; 8:10; Matt. 6:24; Luke 16:13.

119:37 Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity- Ps. 31:6 uses the word vanity for idols.

The problem in this section is “the wayward heart that wants to obey (34), but can so easily be drawn away to selfish ends (36) and follow the enticements of the eyes (37)” Motyer, 567.

And revive me in Your ways

119:38 Establish Your word to Your word to Your servant,

As that which produces reverence for You- The word produces reverence or fear of God- Deut. 17:19.

119:39 Turn away my reproach which I dread- vs. 22.

For Your ordinances are good.

119:40 Behold, I long for Your precepts

Revive me through Your righteousness-Revive is used in vs. 17, 25, 37, 40, 50, 77, 88, 93, 107, 116, 144, 149, 154, 156, 159, 175. Only God can give Him life.
119:41-48

119:41 May Your lovingkindnesses also come to me, O LORD- “The occurrence of ‘steadfast love’ in vv. 41 is the first of seven (see vv. 64, 76, 88, 124, 149, 159)” McCann, 1170.

Your salvation according to Your word-

119:42 So I shall have an answer for him who reproaches me- God’s lovingkindness and salvation seem to the be the answers to the insults hurled his way. Reproaches is the same word used in vs. 22 and 39.

For I trust in Your word- “Through constant meditation upon them (vs. 45b, 48b), he has learned to trust them (vs. 42b) and to hope in them (vs. 43b)” Miller, 388. “To trust God’s word (vs. 42) is to trust God’s very self, the essence of which God revealed to be steadfast love (see <