Psalms 119:81-88

Psalms 119:81. My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word.

The psalmist was so full of longings, hungerings, thirstings, for God's salvation that he had come even to faintness through the strength of his desire. Yet, in his faintness, he was not too far gone to hope; and we also have good ground for hoping and believing that God, who gave us his Word, will stand to it, for he is both able and willing to fulfill all that he has promised.

Psalms 119:82. Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me?

He looked out for a message from God as the watchers of the night looked for the breaking of the morning. His eyes ached to behold the comforts of his God. Oh, blessed state of strong desire! I pray God that we may all experience it

Psalms 119:83. For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget thy statutes.

When an empty skin bottle was hung up in one of the smoky dwellings of the East, it became withered, cracked, useless; and the psalmist says, «‘I am become like a bottle in the smoke,' I seem to be good for nothing, withered, dried up; ‘yet do I not forget thy statutes.'» A good memory is one of the best of things for us to possess; but a good memory for that which is good is better still.

Psalms 119:84. How many are the days of thy servant? when wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me?

«I am not going to live here for ever, Lord; let me not have to wait to be vindicated until I am in my grave. O my God, hasten the day of my deliverance!»

Psalms 119:85. The proud have digged pits for me, which are not after thy law. All thy commandments are faithful: they persecute me wrongfully; help thou me.

God's Word is all true; the longer we test and try it, the more shall we find it to be worthy of our fullest confidence. Those who doubt its truth have never really proved its power. Those who mistrust it, in any degree, are as yet like inexperienced mariners who are constantly doubting and fearing what is going to happen; but those who have long done business on the great waters of the ocean of divine inspiration, and who have seen the wonders of the Lord there, will fell you that, though heaven and earth shall pass away, God's Word shall endure for ever. We have seen a thousand things in the course of our earthly pilgrimage, but there is one thing that we have never seen, and that we never shall see, namely, God proving unfaithful to his promise, and deserting his people in their time of need. What a short yet comprehensive prayer the psalmist prayed when he uttered those three words, «Help thou me!» «‘Help thou me,' that I may never be frightened by those who wrongfully persecute me; that I may never do anything to deserve their persecution; that I may be able to behave myself wisely while they are plotting against me.» If you are in business, write this prayer on your shops, your offices, and your ledgers; if you are sick, have this petition hanging before your eyes, that you may be constantly reminded to cry to the Lord, «Help thou me.»

Psalms 119:87. They had almost consumed me upon earth; but I forsook not thy precepts.

Therefore his enemies could not consume him. As long as the believer holds fast to God's precepts, he is indigestible even to the old dragon himself; and no adversary shall ever be able to devour him as long as the Word of God is in his heart.

Psalms 119:88. Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.

Give me more true spiritual life, inspirit me, revive me, ‘quicken me.' At this very moment, good Lord, if I am cold, and half frozen, and almost dead, yet since I am like the trees, whose life is in them even when they have lost their leaves, give me a new spring-time: «Quicken me after thy lovingkindness.» We all need this quickening if we are to hold on and hold out to the end; and, blessed be the name of the Lord, «New supplies each hour we meet while pressing on to God.»