This portion of Psalm is placed under the group heading of the Hebrew alphabet “י”Yodh, which means arm or hand. It is also the smallest letter, which signifies humility. The arm of God rests on us and is manifested through His grace in three ways. It empowers us to earn through working to sustain our life. It sustains us from everything that leads us to eternal destruction. It has also enlightened us to feel a sincere and true reliance on Him, that it is no more we but He who lives in us.
God’s Product And Its Manual
Your hands made me and formed me;
give me understanding to learn your commands.
May those who fear you rejoice when they see me,
for I have put my hope in your word.
Psalm 119:73-74 (NIV)
The Psalmist understood that it was the hands of God that created and gave him life. As he recognized the mighty arm of God, his own hands were instinctively lifted toward Him in surrender. Desiring to understand the purpose for which God had created him, and to fulfill that purpose, he sought God’s guidance through His commandments.
Every electronics company provides a manual to help users operate its product efficiently and effectively. However, many people neglect to read the manual and instead rely on their own understanding and common sense. As a result, they often fail to use the product to its fullest potential. The same is true for many believers. Knowing only a few Bible verses and following religious practices, they attempt to live by their limited understanding rather than fully depending on God. Consequently, they fail to rely on the guidance of the Holy Spirit, through whom God desires to lead and direct their lives.
We should have the wisdom to follow the commands of God. Then, while doing so, we should also learn from Him, rather than mixing our own desires into the execution of His commands. Furthermore, the Psalmist presented himself as a living testimony to those who fear God. There are those who are faithful but still need encouragement to overcome certain challenges and then, there are those who obey God’s commands primarily out of fear of punishment.
The Psalmist fulfilled what Jesus taught us — to live in such a way that others are drawn to see God and glorify Him (Matthew 5:16). The hope we place in God should inspire others to rejoice and be encouraged, rather than discourage them into thinking, “I could never live a life like his.” Ultimately, it is all about how we present ourselves before fellow believers, so that our lives become a source of encouragement, faith, and hope.
Facing The Consequences Of Evil
I know, LORD, that your laws are righteous,
and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
May your unfailing love be my comfort,
according to your promise to your servant.
Let your compassion come to me that I may live,
for your law is my delight.
Psalm 119:75-79 (NIV)
While the Psalmist knew that God had afflicted him, he could have expressed the teachings of God in that manner. The truth is, teaching is required for a child who lacks knowledge and obedience. Mostly, God gives knowledge to everyone without partiality, but obedience differs. Thus, our disobedience invites affliction, and God gently teaches us through our invited troubles.
When a child is warned by his parents not to touch a live electricity wire, as it may cost him his life, he cannot fully understand this until he touches it and receives a mild shock. The knowledge imparted to the child by his parents proves useful only when he has experienced the consequences firsthand. Likewise, for many believers, what God prohibits attracts them more, and they do experience the bad part of it. Yet some continue to dwell on it, thinking it was their comfort, having never tasted the true comfort of God. Hence, the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil serves a purpose — for the disobedient children of God to experience evil and its consequences for a while in their lifetime, but ultimately to turn to God and taste the true comfort found in Him. Just as shade feels most refreshing after a walk under the blazing sun, evil gives us the opportunity to truly appreciate God’s love — and to recognize the stark contrast between the consequences of our wrongdoing and the comfort His love offers, regardless of our failures.
While people seek sympathy from others by appearing helpless, they overlook God’s immense compassion, which far surpasses human sympathy. We often depend on people for help, advice, and encouragement—something undeniable. However, many have found that such expectations can be used against them, discouraging their growth, hindering their relationship with God, and preventing them from experiencing His love and peace.
I Should Not Be Ashamed
May I wholeheartedly follow your decrees,
that I may not be put to shame.
Psalm 119:80 (NIV)
More than seeking fame, protecting our reputation has become a priority, as there are always those eager to tarnish it. Some may act out of personal vendetta, while others resort to defamation for no reason at all. Despite benefiting greatly from a person’s generosity and support, they harbour deep resentment toward them — yet have no desire to distance themselves from their fellowship. They take pride in boasting about their close access to that person, while simultaneously speaking ill of them behind their back, all the while assuming that the person remains blissfully unaware of their two-faced behaviour.
Viewing all the evil in the world, some pray to God that they should not be put to shame before their enemies, and ask for His vindication. Meanwhile, others, despite doing all the wrong things, ask God to cover their wrongdoings and not allow them to be put to shame. Such prayers carry no true substance, and God does not answer them according to our convenience, but according to His justice and sovereign plans. Therefore, it is far wiser to deserve God’s protection than to merely ask for it — and we deserve it by faithfully following His commands. To follow His commands, we must first love Him wholeheartedly. For when the love of God fills our hearts completely, that unconditional, immeasurable, and transforming love will never put us to shame.
Heavenly Father, embrace us with Your mighty arms. We thank You that You have engraved us in the palm of Your hands. As we place our trust in You, guard our trust by Your Spirit, and fill our hearts with Your love and peace, so that we may never be put to shame. Amen.
The Jordan Valley 
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