Psalm 119:41-48 Waw
Waw – Trusting in the Law of God
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.
I will keep your law continually, forever and ever,
and I shall walk in a wide place, for I have sought your precepts.
I will also speak of your testimonies before kings and shall not be put to shame,
for I find my delight in your commandments, which I love.
I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes.
We continue through Psalm 119 remembering it was originally written as an acrostic poem with each of these verses starting with the letter of the Hebrew alphabet, “Waw.”
Rabbin Deborah Brandt points out in her book, “A Devotional Study in Psalm 119,” that “Waw” is the sixth letter of the Hebrew “alef-beis.” Six stands for connection and completion. It is a subtle reference to Genesis and that God created the world in six days.
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth – Genesis 1:1 ESV
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
— John 1:1-3 ESV
Charles Spurgeon characterizes Psalm 119:41-48 in this way:
“In these verses, holy fear is apparent and prominent. The man of God trembles for fear that in any way or degree the Lord might remove His favor from him. The eight verses are one continuous pleading for God’s grace to abide in his soul, and here he wants the Lord’s mercies to come to him. There he sought grace to persevere in faith, and here he seeks the goal of his faith – even the salvation of his soul.”
In his book “Counsel from Psalm 119,” Jay Adams summarizes these verses this way:
“The lovingkindness (steadfast love) of God are His gracious acts towards men. The word roughly equivalent to the New Testament term “grace.” Here the Psalmist is asking that the grace of God that flows from salvation be given to him, and that it be given in accordance with the promises found in His Word.”
We see in these verses and these associated commentaries, a focus on the completion of God’s work in salvation and the connection He wants to have with us, His children. His character is full of loving kindness.
The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin,
— Exodus 34:6-7a
God is calling us to trust in His ways. We are not called to achieve but receive. We are not called to strive but abide. The God of the Bible does not ask us to pursue Him. He pursues us. God, the Father, sent His Son, Jesus, to reconcile His child back to Him. That is incredibly good news.
Father, You are so kind and generous. You are full of loving kindness and mercy. Your mercies are new every morning. Cause me to fear You more than I fear others. Keep me in Your will and persevere me in faith to the end. Make me abide in You when I want to run and hide. Keep me close. Amen
Application Questions:
Why does so much of my life feel incomplete and disconnected?
What is my first response to unmet expectations?
Why do I expect perfection from myself (and others) when I know how broken I am?
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