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is a lesson to all of us. How easy it is for us to forget all the Lord's benefits (103: 2)! A
constant praising heart is a great antidote to ingratitude and spiritual declension. As we
look back into the past, we can truly say of the Lord's leading that it has always been the
right way (7), though sometimes not of our choosing.
It has been difficult and perplexing at times, as it was with Israel, but the afterward
has always vindicated the Lord's dealing with us, if we obtain the right viewpoint. The
Lord led Israel to Marah, the bitter place, before Elim the place of plenty. But this was to
test them to see how far they would trust Him:
". . . . . thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these 40 years in
the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart,
whether thou wouldest keep His commandments, or no. And He humbled thee, and
suffered thee to hunger . . . . . that He might make thee know that man doth not live by
bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man
live" (Deut. 8: 2, 3).
In verses 4-32 the Psalmist presents the Lord as the great deliverer in times of trouble,
and as a Guide, as we have seen (verse 7). Then as captives, His people need a Rescuer
(10-16). Those with bodily affliction need a Physician (17-22), and storm-tossed seamen
need someone who can still the tempest (23-32). After each of these sections comes the
refrain, "Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness and for His wonderful
works to the children of men!" (15, 21, 31). To such a God we should "sacrifice the
sacrifices of thanksgiving and declare His works with rejoicing" (22) and this reminds us
of Heb. 13: 15.
The theme now changes to the providential goodness of the Lord in the world.
Israel's blessings were earthly, but none the less precious because of this. When they
walked closely with their God He showed His approval by blessing their land and their
possessions (35-38). The reverse happened when they indulged in backsliding (39). The
conclusion of the Psalm calls His people to be wise and observe these things which reveal
the great loving kindness and patience of the Lord in His practical training and guidance
of His redeemed people.
Psalm 119:
We feel we must go back to Psalm 119: It is most significant that this Psalm,
the longest one, has one subject namely the Word of God. This is referred to in
ten different ways, the number corresponding to the Ten Commandments of Exodus.
They are as follows: (1) Way, derek. (2) Testimonies, eduth. (3) Precepts, pikkudim.
(4) Commandments, mizvah. (5) Word (Saying), imrah. (6) Law, torah. (7) Judgment,
mishpat. (8) Righteousness, zedek. (9) Statute, hok and hukka (from hakak, to hew).
(10) Word, dabar. Out of the 176 verses of the Psalm these words occur in 173 of them.
It should be noted that `judgment' in verse 84 is not a designation of the Law, but a
sentence that will be carried out in keeping with it and "faithfulness" in verse 90 is an
attribute of the Law rather than a name for it.