Psalm 119 is a meditation on the Word of God and is divided into 22 sections, corresponding to the Hebrew alphabets. It is noteworthy that each Hebrew letter conveys a specific meaning, and each section of this Psalm elucidates the significance of that letter in relation to the Word of God. For instance, the letter ג Gimel signifies “camel.” In the previous section, the Psalmist expresses the importance of preserving the Word of God in one’s heart to avoid sin. The subsequent section under the heading “camel” offers insight into the remarkable adaptations of the camel, which enable it to thrive in the harsh conditions of the desert.
Open My Eyes To See You LORD
Be good to your servant while I live,
that I may obey your word.
Open my eyes that I may see
wonderful things in your law.
I am a stranger on earth;
do not hide your commands from me. – Psalm 119: 17-19 (NIV)
Each of us desires God to be good and faithful, enabling us to love Him and adhere to His Word. In moments of chastening, He may seem like a wrathful God, leading us to rebel against His commandments. Consequently, the Psalmist implored God to open his eyes to perceive the remarkable aspects of His law. Have you truly witnessed or experienced the real beauty of His law? What do we observe with our eyes throughout our lifetime?
The allure of this world captivates our vision, rendering us incapable of perceiving God and His magnificent creations. Camels possess two rows of remarkably long and thick eyelashes that function as a natural, interlocking barrier against the blowing desert sand, dust, and intense sunlight. God has inscribed His laws upon our hearts, enabling us to resist the impurities of this world. Furthermore, the Psalmist conducted his life as a sojourner in this earthly realm. The duration in which he lived as a fugitive, striving to preserve his life, likely imparted profound lessons regarding the world and God.
While we beseech God not to obscure or postpone our earthly blessings, the Psalmist entreated God not to conceal His commands from him. If the life-giving commands of God remain hidden from our sight, we may not recognize their absence as we become consumed by the fleeting pleasures of this transient world. Nonetheless, the Psalmist remained mindful of his status as an alien in this world. Do we find ourselves in optimal comfort, feeling at home on this earth? If we do not discern the voice of God that nurtures our souls, it becomes evident that we have settled in this world, neglecting the truth that we are, indeed, strangers.
Remove the Envy of Others and Their Judgment Toward Me
My soul is consumed with longing
for your laws at all times.
You rebuke the arrogant, who are accursed,
those who stray from your commands.
Remove from me their scorn and contempt,
for I keep your statutes. – Psalm 119:20-22 (NIV)
The Psalmist expressed that a deep yearning for God’s law encompassed his soul continuously. When temptation arises, do we yearn for His commandments or instead indulge in sin that provides fleeting satisfaction? Do we endeavor to adhere to God’s laws out of fear of God’s rebuke and the potential for His curses? If we approach the resistance to sin with this mindset, it is unlikely that we will ever triumph over it. Setting aside such fears and doubts, if we recognize His unconditional love and begin to love Him wholeheartedly, we will find the strength to overcome the malevolent desires that lead us to sin, even against our will.
Adhering to His statutes may not necessarily cultivate appreciation for our straightforwardness; rather, it may elicit the envy of others, who may speak ill of us and disseminate falsehoods. The Psalmist, consumed by the desire to follow God’s laws, found it difficult to endure the scorn and contempt of envious individuals, prompting him to implore God for the removal of such scorn. This situation is akin to requesting God to eliminate all traffic while driving. The presence of envious and malicious individuals is an enduring reality we must confront. The lesson we must learn throughout our lifetime is whether we can disregard their contempt, setting it aside in the knowledge that God understands us, thereby absolving us from the need to justify our stance to others.
Persevering in the Face of Defamation
Though rulers sit together and slander me,
your servant will meditate on your decrees.
Your statutes are my delight;
they are my counselors. – Psalm 119:23-23 (NIV)
If we want to keep on doing the will of God by meditating on His Word, while people sit together and slander us, we should learn not to expect any appreciation or acceptance for our good deeds from others. Inadvertently, we are leading a righteous life to attract the attention and appreciation of others. When no one is left to admire our lifestyles, would we strive to live righteously? If we learn to live a straightforward life even in the absence of anyone there to see us, the slanders may also become powerless to affect our peace. The more we acknowledge the applause of others, the more we are prone to get hurt through slanders.
As humans, we harbor a desire to be regarded favorably by those in authoritative positions, whether they are clergy, bureaucrats, or political leaders. Consequently, we experience distress when these influential individuals speak ill of us. Our tendency to prioritize the approval of clergy and community leaders often supersedes our devotion to God. When a political leader visits our church, crowds of thousands gather to see and appease him; however, on other Sundays, only a few exhibit a genuine intent to please God.
The Psalmist expressed that the laws of God are a source of delight and serve as more reliable counselors than any authoritative figure. This delight in God’s instructions becomes attainable only when we love God and internalize His words to guard against sin, as mentioned in the preceding section. While we retain many of God’s words in our hearts, reciting them during prayer or invoking them as needed, we often neglect to adhere to their teachings. The question arises: why do we fail to act upon the Word of God? We memorize these words with the intention of utilizing them according to our immediate needs, yet we do not truly embed them in our hearts to transform our lives entirely. Only by immersing ourselves in the Word of God—through our mind, body, and soul—can we genuinely appreciate His counsel; otherwise, we will find ourselves aimlessly seeking comfort.
Camels exhibit a remarkable capability to efficiently store water within their bloodstream, tissues, and oval-shaped red blood cells, enabling them to ingest between 30 to 50 gallons of water in a single drinking session. It is a common misconception that these large quantities of water are stored within their humps; in fact, the significant volume is retained in their bloodstream. Similarly, the substantial amount of the Word that we have committed to memory should be absorbed into our bloodstream so that we may thrive on that Living Word.
Heavenly Father, grant us the wisdom to embrace and embody Your Living Word, allowing it to guide us as our counselors. Amen.
The Jordan Valley 
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