Psalms 119:97

STROPHE 13

THE PSALMIST LOVES THE LAW WHICH IMPARTS WISDOM AND HATES EVERY EVIL WAY

Mem

"Oh how love I thy law!

It is my meditation all the day.

Thy commandments make me wiser than mine enemies;

For they are ever with me.

I have more understanding than all my teachers;

For thy testimonies are my meditation.

I understand more than the aged,

Because I have kept thy precepts.

I have refrained my feet from every evil way,

That I might observe thy word.

I have not turned aside from thine ordinances;

For thou hast taught me.

How sweet are thy words unto my taste!

Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth.

Through thy precepts I get understanding:

Therefore I hate every evil way."

This strophe is the one that was made the basis of the hymn, "Oh How Love I thy Law," (See chapter introduction), and from which we selected a title for this entire Psalms 119. Psalms 119:103, here, and also selected lines form several other psalms are woven into the text of that hymn.

Psalms 119:98-100 may be summarized in a single line, "Knowledge of God's law has made him wiser than his enemies, his teachers, and even the old men!" The reason behind this is that, "God is actually his teacher (Psalms 119:102), with the result of love (Psalms 119:97), desire (Psalms 119:103), and sound moral judgment (Psalms 119:104)."[35]