Psalm 119.161-168 (6)

Pray Psalm 119.168.
I keep Your precepts and Your testimonies,
For all my ways are before You.

Sing Psalm 119.166-168.
(Hymn to Joy: Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee)
Lord, I hope for Your salvation and I keep Your holy Word.
All Your precepts and commandments I love as I love You, Lord.
All my ways are spread before You; my soul keeps Your holy Word!
More than life itself I love You and Your Word, O righteous Lord.

Psalm 119.161-168; meditate on verse 168.

Preparation
1. How much of the psalmist’s life did God see?

2. What did knowing this move the psalmist to do?

Meditation
We recall that “precepts” are those teachings or doctrines derived from studying God’s Word and comparing Scripture with Scripture (1 Cor. 2.12, 13). “Testimonies” are the written records of what God has spoken, both to His prophets and through them. Like the other words used in Psalm 119 to refer to Scripture – rules, commandments, judgments, statutes, words, etc. – these “parts” of Scripture are meant to stand for the whole of it. So the psalmist is reporting here that he was faithful in keeping all of God’s Word, as much as he possessed in his day.

The reason for this is, as we have seen (cf. v. 159), because God considers and scrutinizes all our ways. God is more serious about us walking the path of righteousness than we are (Heb. 12.3-11). He watches all our ways – every thought, word, and deed. He knows the desires of our heart. And He has given His Spirit to convict us of sin, righteousness, and judgment for all our ways (Jn. 16.8-11).

The simple fact is God knows better than we do how we ought to live. He has prepared a way for us that is full and abundant in righteousness, peace, and joy. And His Word speaks to every aspect of our lives – all our ways – so that in everything we do we might honor Him and increase in His salvation.

Our part is to hear the Word of God as it speaks into all our ways. This requires continuous reading, patient meditation, daily offering ourselves to God according to His Word, resisting temptation and the devil, and walking in God’s pathway. God’s Word shows us the way of life for all of life. Let’s make sure we don’t miss any of what God has in store for us.

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
God’s Laws, as opposed to traffic laws, have a different emotional gravitas for us as believers. We don’t run through red lights because we don’t want to cause an accident; not because we love the State.

We keep God’s Laws because we fear and love Him. And well, OK, He also knows everything that we do: “For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and He ponders all his paths” (Prov. 5.21).

We might be able to get away with a “rolling stop” when a sign beckons; but we will never get away with breaking any of God’s Laws, no matter how minor an infraction we perceive it to be. This is a good thing. Because why would we want to fudge on His precepts, testimonies, commandments, words, judgments, statutes, laws, or anything else? Anything antithetical to God’s ways either disrespect Him or hurt a fellow human being.

“The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good” (Prov. 15.3). He watches us for our good, to keep us from evil. He answers our daily request to “deliver us from the evil one” (Matt. 6.13).

Also, as He watches us, He checks our hearts to see where they stand with Him. “The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the hearts” (Prov. 17.3).

Since “there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” then it is exceptionally wise of us to keep His Laws. All of them.

As we endeavor to hope and do, we will do well to take to heart some helpful words God gave to Zechariah:
“‘These are the things you shall do:
Speak each man the truth to his neighbor;
give judgment in your gates for truth, justice, and peace;
let none of you think evil in your heart against your neighbor;
and do not love a false oath.’” (Zech. 8.16, 17; Ex. 20.1-17).

We do His commandments because we love Him; and because we fear Him. (Jn. 14.15) “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him” (Jn. 15.21).

He watches all your ways. Keep His Word.

For reflection
1. How should knowing that God sees all our ways affect our daily lives?

2. What should be our attitude toward all God’s ways?

3. Whom will you encourage today to walk in God’s ways?

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. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Psalm 119.168

Pray Psalm 119.161, 162.
Ask God to open the treasure of His Word and to give you riches to spend for the souls of others today (2 Cor. 12.15).

Sing Psalm 119.161, 162.
(Hymn to Joy: Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee)
Lord, I take my stand with gladness on Your holy, righteous Word.
I rejoice as with great treasure in Your holy Law, O Lord.
Princes persecute me daily; without cause they seek my harm.
Yet I stand on Your Word squarely; hold me with Your mighty arm.

T. M. and Susie Moore

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (Williston: Waxed Tablet Publications, 2006), available by clicking here.