Day 9 of the 119th Psalm, verses 65-72.
“Teth
“65 You have dealt well with Your servant, O YHWH, according to Your Word.
“66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in Your commandments.
“67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your Word.
“68 You are good and do good; teach me Your statutes.
“69 The insolent smear me with lies, but with my whole heart I keep Your precepts;
“70 their heart is unfeeling like fat, but I delight in Your Law.
“71 It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn Your statutes.
“72 The Law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.”
– Psalm 119:65-72
The Breakdown
Verse 65: We will be judged according to God’s Word. 2 Corinthians 5:10 says, “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.”
Verse 66: Good judgment and knowledge comes from God’s commandments.
Verse 67: We will keep His commandments once we come to God.
Verse 68: God is the standard for good, so His statutes are good. We should want God to teach us His laws.
Verse 69: Another example of how persecution should not keep us from keeping God’s Law.
Verse 70: Others may despise or reject God’s Law, but we should delight in it.
Verse 71: The majority of translations use the word afflicted here. It has the connotation of causing pain and suffering. However, the Contemporary English Verse (CEV) makes it more understandable. “When You corrected me, it did me good because it taught me to study Your laws.” Paul told the Roman believers that God’s Law showed him that coveting was a sin. (cf. Romans 7:7). God’s Law corrects us and shows us what He considers sin. And that is good because we can learn from His Law.
Verse 72: The Law of God is more valuable than gold or silver.
Lord, teach me Your ways and correct me so I can learn even more. Cause me to desire Your Law more than any valuables. Amen.
Shalom.