Psalms 119:161-176: a reflection

161Princes have persecuted me without a cause, but my heart stands in awe of your words. 162I rejoice at your word, as one who finds great plunder. 163I hate and abhor falsehood. I love your law. 164Seven times a day, I praise you, because of your righteous ordinances. 165Those who love your law have great peace. Nothing causes them to stumble. 166I have hoped for your salvation, LORD. I have done your commandments. 167My soul has observed your testimonies. I love them exceedingly. 168I have obeyed your precepts and your testimonies, for all my ways are before you. 169Let my cry come before you, LORD. Give me understanding according to your word. 170Let my supplication come before you. Deliver me according to your word. 171Let my lips utter praise, for you teach me your statutes. 172Let my tongue sing of your word, for all your commandments are righteousness. 173Let your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts. 174I have longed for your salvation, LORD. Your law is my delight. 175Let my soul live, that I may praise you. Let your ordinances help me. 176I have gone astray like a lost sheep. Seek your servant, for I don’t forget your commandments.

This long psalm in praise of God's word, full of the psalmist's love for God's law and his devotion to it, ends on a note of surprising humility. After all his declarations of love for God's word and obedience to it, the psalmist confesses: I have gone astray like a lost sheep. Seek your servant, for I don't forget your commandments. Even this devout lover of God's word admits he has strayed, and asks God to seek him, like a shepherd seeking a lost sheep. He does not end in self-confidence, but in a plea for God to come after him.

Notice how the psalmist ends: not in self-confidence, but in a plea to be sought. For all his love of God's word and his devotion, he knows he has strayed, wandered like a lost sheep; and he does not pretend otherwise. Instead he asks God to seek him, to come after him as a shepherd goes after a straying sheep. He knows that even he, who loves God's word, needs God to seek him when he wanders; his hope is not in his own steadfastness, but in God's seeking. Even the devout stray, and need God to come after them.

That humble ending is worth taking to heart, for we too, even when we love God's word, can stray, and need God to seek us. We might imagine that those who love God's word and seek to obey it do not wander; but the psalmist, for all his devotion, confesses he has strayed like a lost sheep, and asks God to seek him. Do not imagine that your love of God's word means you never stray; even the devout wander, and need God to come after them. When you have strayed, do not despair, but ask God to seek you, as the psalmist asked, seek your servant; the Shepherd comes after his straying sheep. Rest not in your own steadfastness, which fails, but in the God who seeks his straying servants; when you wander, pray with the psalmist, I have gone astray like a lost sheep, seek your servant, trusting the Shepherd to come after you and bring you back, as he seeks all his sheep who stray.

Lord, this long psalm in praise of your word, full of the psalmist's love for your law and his devotion to it, ends on a note of surprising humility. After all his declarations of love for your word and obedience to it, the psalmist confesses: I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for I don't forget your commandments. Even this devout lover of your word admits he has strayed, and asks you to seek him, like a shepherd seeking a lost sheep. He does not end in self-confidence, but in a plea for you to come after him. Show me how the psalmist ends: not in self-confidence, but in a plea to be sought. For all his love of your word, he knows he has strayed; and he does not pretend otherwise. Instead he asks you to seek him, to come after him as a shepherd goes after a straying sheep. His hope is not in his own steadfastness, but in your seeking. Even the devout stray, and need you to come after them. Take that humble ending to my heart, for I too, even when I love your word, can stray, and need you to seek me. I might imagine that those who love your word do not wander; but the psalmist confesses he has strayed. Keep me from imagining that my love of your word means I never stray; even the devout wander. When I have strayed, keep me from despairing; help me ask you to seek me, as the psalmist asked. Help me rest not in my own steadfastness, which fails, but in the God who seeks his straying servants; when I wander, Lord, seek your servant, and bring me back.