Psalm 119:97-104
Message: Falling in Love with God's Commandments
Time: Psalms, a collection of lyrical poems, with multiple authors. David wrote 73 Psalms, though for 50 or so the author is unknown. Psalms means songs of praise. The writings span 1,000 years. They encourage us to praise God, illuminate the greatness of God, affirm His faithfulness in times of trouble, and remind us of the absolute centrality of His word.
What the Lord is Saying: This was the message today, July 26, 2026, at Hoffmantown Church. I studied this as the preacher spoke. The pastor spoke with words of "We need to" and though I agree with the sentiment, I am not fond of the delivery. Instead I prefer to look at the example of the writer of this Psalm, see what they have done and working from the Word can automatically see the need to respond. The pastor got off on a lot of tangents during the message. I prefer to stay a little closer to the words.
Verse 97 - O How I Love Thy Law!
The cross references in my Bible are of note here. Psalm 119:47, 48, and 127 all say, "Love Thy Commandments." Rather than taking these words to immediately look at our entire Bible, let's get more specific and look at the Law of the writer. The writer of this Psalm is not known. Most of the evidence is Hezekiah or Daniel, but God is mentioned repeatedly and we are told over and over to know, keep, and love God's laws. The Law is the Torah, the first 5 books of the Old Testament. Yes, we can subscribe the entire Bible but it would also be good to narrow our subject matter rather than broadening it. In narrowing it, we can see the riches of the text and God's word. Yes, we have more, but in the Torah is also enough.
It is my Meditation All the Day.
We are not only to be obedient to commands, but love them. We are love God's commands. Look at today's commands - speed limits, traffic signals, stop signs. Do I love at the airport the long ropes that I must weave through even when no one is there? Do I love the traffic signal at 3am when no cars are around? Do I really love God's commands or do I treat them more like obstacles or warnings rather than as loving statements. They are words of protection and they are meant to make me stronger and protect me. Is not life better if I have one God. Isn't life better if I work hard 6 days and then have 1 entire day to rest? Is not life better to dedicate an entire day to Him? Isn't life better when children are obedient to parents? Isn't life better when we do not, lie, murder, steal, covet? Psalm 1:2 - "In His law he meditates day and night."
Verse 98 - Thy Commandments make me wiser than my enemies.
Deut. 4:6 - "So 'KEEP AND DO," for that is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the people's who will hear all these statutes and say, 'Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.'" When I keep these commandments, people notice. They see a difference in me.
For they are even mine (with me).
We know each other's possessions. I know the car my friends drive, the one's that have a boat, the one's with the nice house. But do people no I hold to God's commandments. They may think I do because they know I go to church, but do they know really? Does my life look like I do?
Verse 99 - I have more insight than all my teachers.
Practice makes perfect. This statement speaks of repetition. Our teachers educate us in such a way for us to get ready for life after education. This verse says I have more insight than all my teachers. Insight is a clear understanding of a deep insight. What sets me apart from my teachers is not my intellect but my doing. In high school, Mrs. Romero gave me insight and awakened my desire for accounting and bookkeeping. And yet now I have more insight. But it didn't simply come about from reading books, but my doing and practicing. This all enabled me to have more insight and this mirrors my application to God's words. I get smarter not simply by reading, but by doing.
For Thy testimonies are my meditation.
verse 15 - "Meditate on they precepts." A testimony is a formal statement about a personal experience. A testimony is God at work in me. I meditate on what God has done. And that is what gives me insight, deeper meaning of the things of God. I am to dwell on good works. The church is right now inside these walls, but the true church is outside of these walls. This is a place to educate or encourage and spur one another on. But the real church is in the parking lot.
Verse 100 - I understand more than the aged.
This is the practical advantage of living life and doing things in life in line with God's commands, His Law, the Torah. Our understand eclipses the aged. We all want to be aged and have that level of knowledge, but again, by doing and keeping we have more understanding.
Because I have observed your precepts.
This is the reason. Because I am a "doer of the Word" (James 1:22). This gives me more understanding than those who are simply older. I have experienced life.
Verse 101 - I have restrained my feet from every evil way.
This is the result of loving the Law. There was a famous book called, "Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good people." But how do we define a good person. All of us are sinners. We all have sinned and no one keeps the whole law. To really know God we must abstain from every evil way. And I would say this is impossible. But at times it is our ambition. Proverbs 1:15, "My son, do not walk in the way with them (i.e. "sinners" in verse 10), keep your feet from their path." We need to be careful of how close we are walking near evil ways. How close are we to their paths? It is so easy to get off the path.
That I may keep your Word.
This is my goal. Love thy law, practice it. Love it, practice it, meditate on it, stay clear of the path of the wicked. My goal - keep your word.
Verse 102 - I have not turned aside from thine ordinances.
