Ps 119:126 It is time for the LORD to act, [For] they have broken Thy law.
At the beginning of this section in verses 121 and 122, the Psalmist speaks of those who are deceitful and arrogant. They are wrongfully representing God’s law. It is difficult to continuously see the misrepresentation of Truth. The desire to see God’s justice is strong.
When bad living and bad doctrine cast a slur upon religion, we may importunately beg the Lord to interfere to protect the interests of his own word. Are we not living in precisely such times? Spurgeon Devotional Commentary
Who does the Psalmist plead to for help? It is God’s work to avenge sin.
There is hope and encouragement in knowing God will defend His truth. What can we do when we are discouraged with sin around us?
How has God acted in the past against individuals or nations who have maligned His word?
Deuteronomy 29:20 says God’s anger will burn against them, He will send curses to rest upon them and He will erase their name from heaven.
Hosea 4:17 says He will abandon them.
In Deuteronomy 28:38-40 and Amos 14:10 God will destroy them with disease.
Again in the books of Deuteronomy and Amos, God causes a famine. Accounts of nations being put to the sword and held in captivity are in the books of Exodus, Jeremiah and Ezekiel. God’s destruction of nations and individuals who are enemies of the Truth are numerous. Disobedience is punished again and again because God is righteous. There is no question of God’s judgment. The Psalmist understands this and holds on to God’s promise of righting what is wrong.
All of us are guilty of disobedience yet God has shown us mercy through His grace. The sin spoken of in Psalm 119:126 is an effort to frustrate God’s laws to the point of cancelling it out altogether.
Those that sin through infirmity [weakness] transgress the law, but presumptuous [arrogant,bold] sinners do in effect make void the law, saying, Who is the Lord? What is the Almighty, that we should fear him? It is possible a godly man may sin against the commandment, but a wicked man would sin away the commandment, would repeal God’s laws and enact his own lusts. This is the sinfulness of sin and the malignity of the carnal mind. Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible
Have made void thy law; or, abrogated thy law; have professedly and openly cast off its authority, resolvedly preferring their own wills and lusts before it, trampled upon thy plain commands, and despised both thy promises and thy threatenings. They have not only sinned through ignorance and infirmity, but presumptuously and. maliciously. Matthew Poole’s Commentary
Verse 126: They “make void the law of God,” who deny its obligation and authority, who obscure or explain away its meaning, and who render it of none effect by their traditions, or by their lives. Thomas Scott
What a glorious day it will be when God’s honor is vindicated and judgement comes down upon those who have purposed to disobey Him!
Who do you depend on when sin seems to prevail? How do you react? What is our example in the verses following Ps 119:126?
Ps 119:127-128 Therefore I love Thy commandments above gold, yes, above fine gold. 128 Therefore I esteem right all [Thy] precepts concerning everything, I hate every false way.
Therefore – because God’s word is excellent, I …
— Love God’ and His Truth
v. 121 for its protection
v. 122 for its security
v. 123 for its deliverance, for its righteousness
v. 124 for its mercy, for its instruction
v. 125 for its wisdom
v. 126 for its appointed time
— Hate what is false
v. 121 it is oppressive, it is deceitful
v. 122 it is arrogant, it is presumptuous
v. 126 it frustrates truth
Do you love God’s word more than any treasure on earth?
above fine gold:
Ps 19:10 They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
Ps 12:6 The words of the LORD are pure words; As silver tried in a furnace on the earth, refined seven times.
Ps 119:72 The law of Thy mouth is better to me Than thousands of gold and silver [pieces].
Pr 8:11 “For wisdom is better than jewels; And all desirable things cannot compare with her.
The evidence of loving God’s word is to hate sin. We live in a world where the lines between right and wrong are quickly fading. Sin is justified and even encouraged as being ‘open minded, non-judgmental, and accepting of everyone and everything’. Yet, there can be no compromise in following God’s absolute truth. Are the lines between truth and sin crystal clear in your own life?
Ver. 127. — I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold. The image employed brings before us the picture of the miser; his heart and his treasure are in his gold. With what delight he counts it! With what watchfulness he keeps it! Hiding it in safe custody, lest he should be despoiled of that which is dearer to him than life. Such should Christians be, spiritual misers, counting their treasure which is “above fine gold”; and “hiding it in their hearts,” in safe keeping, where the great despoiler shall not be able to reach it. Oh, Christians! How much more is your portion to you than the miser’s treasure! Hide it; watch it; retain it. You need not be afraid of covetousness in spiritual things: rather “covet earnestly” to increase your store; and by living upon it and living in it, it will grow richer in extent, and more precious in value. –Charles Bridges.
Ps 119:128 Therefore I esteem right all [Thy] precepts concerning everything, I hate every false way.
Because I am trying to follow You (v.121); because of Your protection (v.122), because of my longing for righteousness (v.123), because You are merciful (v.124), because You teach me Truth (v.124), because I desire to serve with understanding and knowledge (v.125), because You avenge those against You (v.126), because I love Your commandments more than anyone or anything else (v.127), therefore I honor Truth and hate sin.
Notice the words ‘all’ and ‘everything’ in verse 128: I esteem right all [Thy] precepts concerning everything …
There can be no exceptions in following God’s commands. There is no room for agreement with one while not adhering to another. This does not mean we are perfect, but our heart desires to perfectly follow God in all His ways.
Ro 7:22-25 For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, 23 but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind, and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.
If it’s from God’s word – love it, study it, do it, guard it;
If it disagrees with God’s word – hate it, don’t waste your time in it, don’t do it, throw it out!
Ps 119:104 From Thy precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.
For the more I consider them, the more I approve every one of them (as the exactest and best rule whereby I square all my action), and abhor all those base and dishonest ways whereby others study to advance themselves to riches and honors. Patrick/Lowth/Whitby/Lowman Commentary
Ps 19:7-8 The law of the Lord is good, giving new life to the soul: the witness of the Lord is certain, giving wisdom to the foolish. The orders of the Lord are right, making glad the heart: the rule of the Lord is holy, giving light to the eyes.
His detestation was as unreserved as his affection; he had not a good word for any practice which would not bear the light of truth. The fact that such large multitudes follow the broad road had no influence upon this holy mail, except to make him more determined to avoid every form of error and sin. May the Holy Spirit so rule in our hearts that our affections may be in the same decided condition towards the precepts of the word. Treasury of David
— every command, however hard; every injunction, however distasteful; every precept, however severe; even cut off thy right hand, pluck out thy right eye; forget thine own people and thy father’s house; take up thy cross daily; sell all that thou hast — yea, Lord, even so, “all thy precepts concerning all things are right.” What a blessed truth to arrive at, and find comfort in! —Barton Bouchier.
Do you hate those things that offend God?
The upright man squares all his actions by a right rule: carnal reason cannot bias him, corrupt practice cannot sway him, but God’s sacred word directs him. Treasury of David
William Cowper uses this description of an animal being led to slaughter: whether it is bound by all four legs or even just by one, it is still led to its death. In the same way, you may not be a slave to all sin but even just bound to one, it is sufficient to damnation. (my wording)
all Thy precepts — concerning everything — every false way
In the Treasury of David, Hints to Preachers, five points are made regarding the Bible.
1. Its science is correct.
2. Its history is true.
3. Its promises are genuine.
4. Its morality is perfect.
5. Its doctrines are divine.
Are you a guardian of Truth, are you living to defend Truth? Who is your Avenger?
