I typically don't spend weeks hovering over the same text in Scripture. But in God's providence, Psalm 119 has held my heart captive. A Christological gaze has only served to magnify in my affections Christ's worth and the potency of His atoning work. Martin Luther wrote of the psalmist, "[he] looks with spiritual eyes at the law of Moses and sees hidden and enclosed in it the law of faith, the Gospel of grace, and the invisible things promised, like the kernel under the shell or the treasure under the ground" (cf. Matt 13:44).1 With spiritual eyes, then, consider these lines from the Psalm:
vv17-18: Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and keep your word. Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.
v35: Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it.
vv41-42: Let your steadfast love come to me, O LORD, your salvation according to your promise; then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me, for I trust in your word. And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for my hope is in your rules.
v50: This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.
vv57-59: The LORD is my portion; I promise to keep your words. I entreat your favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise. When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to your testimonies; I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandments.
v68: You are good and do good; teach me your statutes.
v73: Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.
v103: How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
v114: You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.
v125: I am your servant; give me understanding, that I may know your testimonies!
v151: But you are near, O LORD, and all your commandments are true.
v160: The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.
One man who deeply reflected on the beauty and truth of God's Word was Charles Wesley. At Providence, we've enjoyed for years the hymns "And Can It Be," "Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus," and "O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing." This week, however, I stumbled upon a long-buried hymn. It is absent from many hymnals, and I've yet to find an audio file. So, until Tabitha Odel (Turn up the pressure, people!) composes a rendition for our church to sing, be stirred by these words of antiquity. May the Lord grant you or renew in you a daily hunger for His Word, His ways.
"Treasury of the Word"
Charles Wesley
1. Inspirer of the ancient seers
Who wrote from Thee the sacred page,
The same through all succeeding years;
To us, in our degenerate age,
The spirit of Thy Word impart,
And breathe the life into our heart.
2. While now Thine oracles we read
With earnest prayer and strong desire,
O let Thy Spirit from Thee proceed,
Our souls to waken and inspire,
Our weakness help, our darkness chase,
And guide us by the light of grace.
3. Whene’er in error’s path we rove,
The living God through sin forsake,
Our conscience by Thy Word reprove,
Convince and bring the wanderers back,
Deep wounded by Thy Spirit’s sword,
And then by Gilead’s balm restored.
4. The sacred lessons of Thy grace,
Transmitted through Thy Word, repeat,
And train us up in all Thy ways
To make us in Thy will complete;
Fulfill Thy love’s redeeming plan,
And bring us to a perfect man.
5. Thus furnished from Thy treasury,
O may we always ready stand
To help the souls redeemed by Thee,
In what their various states demand
To teach, convince, correct, reprove,
And build them up in holiest love!
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Luther, Luther's Works, 11:414.
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