Verse 65
STROPHE 9
AFFLICTIONS FROM PROUD ENEMIES CANNOT DENY GOD'S GOODNESS; NOR THAT HE IS THE DOER OF GOOD
Teth
"Thou hast dealt well with thy servant,
O Jehovah, according to thy word.
Teach me good judgments and knowledge;
For I have believed in thy commandments.
Before I was afflicted I went astray;
But now I observe thy word.
Thou art good, and doest good;
Teach me thy statutes.
The proud have forged a lie against me:
With my whole heart will I keep thy precepts.
Their heart is as fat as grease;
But I delight in thy law.
It is good for me that I have been afflicted;
That I may learn thy statutes.
The law of thy mouth is better unto me
Than thousands of gold and silver."
"Teach me good judgments ... teach me thy statutes" (Psalms 119:66,68). This is a constantly recurring theme throughout the composition. Psalms 119:12b,26b,33,34,38 and Psalms 119:64b have already stated this either verbatim or in different terminology.
The wonderful new thing in this strophe is the blessing of affliction.
"Before I was afflicted I went astray; but now I observe thy word ... It is good for me that I have been afflicted" (Psalms 119:67,71). "This is language that can be used by many a child of God."[26] Many a person can look back upon some terrible affliction, whether illness, unemployment, financial disaster, death of precious love ones, or whatever, in full recognition of the truth that is written here. The purpose of all human sorrow is that it might turn men unto God. The primeval curse upon the earth itself (Genesis 3:17-19) was designed for the same purpose.
Be the first to react on this!
