This portion of the Psalm reveals how we can accomplish the will of God in our lives. It shows that when our hearts are filled with God’s love, we begin to perceive the unseen God and carry out His will without stumbling. The same love by which God saves His people enables us to live in obedience. However, to be filled with this love, we must first prepare our hearts by examining ourselves according to the standards of His Word.
The psalmist labels this section with the Hebrew letter “ח” (Heth), which symbolizes a courtyard—a secure and private place where one may enjoy the warmth of the sunlight or the gentle coolness of the breeze amidst the beauty of nature. For the children of God, such a courtyard represents a place of quietness and rest, where the mind is stilled and the heart is prepared to welcome the fullness of God’s love.
Understanding Our Real State
You are my portion, LORD;
I have promised to obey your words.
I have sought your face with all my heart;
be gracious to me according to your promise.
I have considered my ways
and have turned my steps to your statutes.
I will hasten and not delay
to obey your commands.
Psalm 119:57-60 (NIV)
The Psalmist understood God’s promises, and in laying hold of them, he in turn committed himself to obey God’s Word. A promise implies a firm resolve to stand by what we have chosen. Yet, we often fail to keep our own words unless God Himself enables us. However, God’s promises are not mere intentions—they are His unchanging decisions, which He brings to fulfilment at any cost (Job 42:2).
A sincere longing to behold God keeps the heart pure. As Jesus said in the Gospel of Matthew, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God (Matthew 5:8).” Sin builds a barrier between us and God, blurring our spiritual vision (Isaiah 59:1-2). Only when we truly understand Him can we actually repent for our sins. When we acknowledge that we are washed by the blood of Jesus (1 John 1:9), then we will appreciate the depth of His unfailing grace. Otherwise, the world deceives us into believing the lie that we are forever separated from His grace.
God renews His grace toward us every morning. Therefore, we must learn to receive this fresh grace daily instead of depending only on past spiritual experiences. God never promised a life without troubles, but He has promised that His grace and covenant of peace will never depart from us (Isaiah 54:10).
The Psalmist examined his ways in the light of God’s statutes and immediately turned himself back to the right path. In the same way, the grace God renews for us each morning enables us to examine our lives and correct our shortcomings according to His truth. Such correction should not be delayed until Sunday or limited to a place of worship. In this present age, we are the temple of God, and transformation can take place within our hearts wherever we are. What matters most is our readiness to respond promptly to His call and our willingness to receive the cleansing He graciously provides. Furthermore, our standard for self-examination must always be God’s statutes, not the lives of fellow believers who themselves may fall into hypocrisy.
From Falsehoods To The Words Of Truth
Though the wicked bind me with ropes,
I will not forget your law.
At midnight I rise to give you thanks
for your righteous laws.
I am a friend to all who fear you,
to all who follow your precepts.
Psalm 119:61-64 (NIV)
It is true that we are often bound by unseen ropes—the lies of the wicked—yet we seldom strive to break free from that bondage. Having grown accustomed to the world’s falsehoods, the truth of the Gospel loses its impact on us. These lies cause us to forget or ignore God’s law. But the Psalmist declares that even when surrounded and tightly bound by such deception, he did not forget God’s statutes. When we boldly give thanks to God for His Word, the grip of the world’s lies begins to loosen.
We tend to show favouritism based on religion, race, relationships, and friendships. Likewise, the Psalmist aligned himself with those who obey God and walk in His precepts. We often honour long-standing members of our congregation while overlooking newcomers, yet we claim to be children of God—He who gives sunlight and rain equally to both the righteous and the wicked. Jesus calls us to a higher standard: not merely to love those who treat us well, but to love even our enemies. With this understanding as Jesus loves the sinners, we should also learn to have compassion on people who do not fear God.
We Are Sustained By God’s Love
The earth is filled with your love, LORD;
teach me your decrees.
Psalms 119:65 (NIV)
While we see the earth as filled with hatred, anger, and malice, the Psalmist perceived it as overflowing with God’s love. How was he able to recognise God’s love in such a fallen world? In the same way, Jesus saw the world as full of His Father’s love, even when others viewed it as chaotic and broken. Though the Father allowed His Son to suffer, Jesus did not resent Him or think that God favoured sinners more than Himself. These kinds of thoughts stem from our failure to love God.
When we do not love Him, we, however, often question God’s ways and assume that He allows the wicked to prosper unfairly. To eliminate such unnecessary thoughts, it is essential to comprehend what has empowered Jesus to endure suffering without hesitation. It was this: His heart was filled with His Father’s love, and His thoughts were perfectly aligned with the Father’s will. The same love that moved the Father to give His Son also empowered Jesus to lay down His life for us.
For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD
as the waters cover the sea.
Habakkuk 2:14 (NIV)
When our hearts are filled with God’s love, we too will obey His will without resistance. Then our perspective changes: instead of seeing a world consumed by evil, we begin to recognise it as a world still sustained by God’s love. Such an understanding stirs within us a deep desire to learn and follow His decrees.
God, help us examine ourselves according to the standards of Your Word, and guide us in transforming our lives so that we will become a new creation. Amen.
The Jordan Valley 
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