This is The Way – Devo Day 27

Teth – Psalm 119:65-72

65 You have dealt well with your servant, O LORD, according to your word.
66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments.
67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.
68 You are good and do good; teach me your statutes.
69 The insolent smear me with lies, but with my whole heart I keep your precepts;
70 their heart is unfeeling like fat, but I delight in your law.
71 It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.
72 The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

Psalm 119:65–72 (ESV)

There is a decidedly grateful tone in this stanza. The psalmist is declaring the goodness of God and His Word in a variety of ways:

• V65 God has been good to his servant
• V66 God’s Word is a good source of sound judgment and wisdom
• V68 God is good and He does good
• V71 In the middle of unjust accusations, even the ordeal is good
• V72 God’s Word is so good it is of more value than material riches

65 You have dealt well with your servant, O LORD, according to your word.
66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments.

Psalm 119:65-66 (ESV)

The psalmist is thankful that God has dealt graciously with him all along. It’s not hard for us to agree knowing full well that He has been more gracious to us than we deserve and always working for our good in everything. He has dealt with us not only according to His mercy but also according to His Word. He has been faithful and true to His promises.

The psalmist goes on in verse 66 to ask for discernment (good judgment and knowledge) to be able to distinguish between truth and falsehood, between good and evil. He adds “good judgment” to knowledge because knowledge is not enough. He is asking God to teach him wisdom (the right use of knowledge) so he might be effective in his mission and be able to withstand attack. His prayer is predicated on his trust in God’s goodness and grounded in his past loyalty to the will of God.

67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.

Psalm 119:67 (ESV)

Here the psalmist not only confesses to his past rebellion and sin but also asserts that in spite of his past he is able to keep God’s Word. His past is not an excuse nor a disqualification for his present and future obedience.

68 You are good and do good; teach me your statutes.

Psalm 199:68 (ESV)

This is the high point of the psalm. The psalmist is declaring that God himself is good and everything that God does is good. And because of those truths, the psalmist is confident to ask for God’s instruction, for God to reveal the counsel of His Word and to help the psalmist to apply it to his life.

69 The insolent smear me with lies, but with my whole heart I keep your precepts;
70 their heart is unfeeling like fat, but I delight in your law.

Psalm 119:69-70 (ESV)

The psalmist says that even though his enemies have attacked him with lies, he draws strength and support from God’s Word. In spite of the attacks arrayed against him, the psalmist is able to continue his obedience and trust in God. It was more important that he please and honor God than to try to please people and give in to their demands. His answer to his detractors was increased determination to follow God’s Word.

71 It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.

Psalm 119:71 (ESV)

The psalmist goes so far as to say that the furnace of affliction, trial and pain was actually his school of learning. It was the struggle that helped him grow not just in experience but also in wisdom, learning through the Words of God. He acknowledges that his spiritual growth, character development, and relationship with God deepens in the School of Hard Knocks.

72 The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

Psalm 119:72 (ESV)

In closing the psalmist attests to the personal value of God’s Word. He says that it has become more precious to him than earthly treasure. This is a lesson that must be learned. This is the result of God’s faithfulness to speak to all of the circumstances of his life. This is his accounting of God’s ongoing goodness in spite of him and his past.

The Word of God is more valuable than earthly treasure – This is The Way

QUESTIONS TO PONDER

1. How has God been good to you? How has God’s Word has been good food for your soul? What wisdom have you learned and applied to your life from God’s Word?
2. How do you value God’s Word? What is your measuring stick? Does your dependence on and time with the Word of God reflect what you say is its value to you?

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