Psalms 119:120

Verse Psalms 119:120. My flesh trembleth for fear of thee] I know thou art a just and holy God: I know thou requirest truth in the inner parts. I know that thou art a Spirit, and that they who worship thee must worship thee in spirit and in truth; and I am often alarmed lest I fall short. It is only an assurance of my interest in thy mercy that can save me from distressing fears and harassing doubts. It is our privilege to know we are in God's favour; and it is not less so to maintain a continual filial fear of offending him. A true conception of God's justice and mercy begets reverence.

ANALYSIS OF LETTER SAMECH. - Fifteenth Division

In this section the psalmist -

I. Declares his hatred to wickedness, and his detestation of wicked men.

II. Expresses his love to God's law.

III. Prays for grace to sustain him in the observance of it.

IV. Foretells the destruction of the wicked.

I. "I hate vain thoughts;" not only evil itself, but the thought that leads to it.

II. 1. "Thy law do I love:" I strive to keep every affection exercised on its proper object.

2. This is my privilege: for thou art, 1. "My hiding-place," that public evils may not reach me; and 2. "My shield," to ward off the fiery darts of the wicked one.

3. To God, therefore, and his word, he would adhere in all extremities; and would have no communion with the wicked. 1. These he would drive away as the pests of piety: "Depart from me." 2. Because he would "keep the commandments of God," while the others were bent on breaking them.

III. He prays for the grace of God to sustain him.

1. "Uphold me:" if thou do not, I fall.

2. "Hold thou me up:" for I am falling. One part of this prayer is against the occurrence of evil; the other, against evil as actually taking place.

IV. He foretells the destruction of wicked men.

1. "Thou hast trodden down:" they who tread thy commandments under their feet shall be trodden down under thy feet. The first treading shall bring on the second.

2. They deceive themselves in supposing thou wilt not resent this. This is a deception, and a dangerous one too, for it is against the most positive declarations of thy truth, therefore it is falsehood.

3. This is most certain, for "thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross;" they are utterly vile, and of no account in thy sight.

4. "Therefore I love thy testimonies." And for this, among others reasons, that I may avoid their judgments.

5. Foreseeing the judgments to fall on the wicked, it was necessary that he should be filled with a salutary fear. 1. "My flesh trembleth." Happy is he who by other men's harms learns to be wise. 2. We should work out our salvation with fear and trembling. God is holy and just as well as merciful; therefore we should fear before him. 3. Because he saw those judgments coming on the wicked, he desired to be established in God's holy fear. In all cases the old proverb is true: "Too much familiarity breeds contempt."