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#9. The blessedness of going on unto perfection (Psa. 119: 1).
pp. 74 - 77
There is need for care in sorting out the passages that speak of blessedness in the
closing book of the Psalms, by reason of their dispensational character. For example, it
would be quite contrary to the calling of the Church to take to itself the blessedness of
Psa. 137: 8, 9. This Psalm is prophetic of the days of vengeance when Babylon shall
suffer at the hand of the Lord. Again, when we read concerning children, in Psa. 127::
"Happy (blessed) is the man that hath his quiver full of them", we must remember that
the blessings of Israel included "basket and store", whereas in the dispensation now
obtaining, the great apostle knew what it was to be homeless, comfortless, hungry and
naked. Psa. 127:, moreover, is one of Hezekiah's Psalms, wherein he praises God for
the added fifteen years of his life and the promise of a son and heir. The whole question,
however, of the Songs of the Degrees is too great a subject for a series such as this, so we
must pass on, without attempting further explanation.
The blessings of the fifth book of the Psalms, that are true for all time, are five in
number, and are found in Psa. 112: 1; 119: 1, 2; 114: 15 and 146: 5. These
passages naturally divide into two groups:--
(1)
The first three speak of blessing in association with the Word.
(2)
The second pair speak of blessing in association with God.
Let us take the first set and consider what is there made a subject of blessing:--
"Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in His
commandments" (Psa. 112: 1).
"Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord. Blessed are
they that keep His testimonies, and that seek Him with the whole heart" (Psa. 119: 1, 2).
Psalm 112: is an alphabetical Psalm, every line beginning with a letter of the Hebrew
alphabet, and in alphabetical order. The following will give the reader some idea of the
arrangement, but must not be taken as a literal translation:--
A blessing is on the man that feareth the Lord,
Because he delighteth in his commandments (verse 1).
*Great shall his seed be upon the earth:
Descendants of the upright shall be blessed (verse 2).
[NOTE: * - G is the third letter in the Hebrew and Greek alphabets.]
The subject of fear needs separate consideration. It is sufficient for the moment to
draw the reader's attention to the fact that this blessed fear is not to be disassociated from
delight: "Blessed is the man that feareth . . . . . that delighteth." This takes us back to
Psa. 1: where we read: "His delight is in the law of the Lord."