Psalms 119:129-144: a reflection

129Your testimonies are wonderful, therefore my soul keeps them. 130The entrance of your words gives light. It gives understanding to the simple. 131I opened my mouth wide and panted, for I longed for your commandments. 132Turn to me, and have mercy on me, as you always do to those who love your name. 133Establish my footsteps in your word. Don’t let any iniquity have dominion over me. 134Redeem me from the oppression of man, so I will observe your precepts. 135Make your face shine on your servant. Teach me your statutes. 136Streams of tears run down my eyes, because they don’t observe your law. 137You are righteous, LORD. Your judgments are upright. 138You have commanded your statutes in righteousness. They are fully trustworthy. 139My zeal wears me out, because my enemies ignore your words. 140Your promises have been thoroughly tested, and your servant loves them. 141I am small and despised. I don’t forget your precepts. 142Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness. Your law is truth. 143Trouble and anguish have taken hold of me. Your commandments are my delight. 144Your testimonies are righteous forever. Give me understanding, that I may live.

This portion of the great psalm in praise of God's word marvels at the light it gives: The entrance of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. God's words, when they enter, bring light, illumination, understanding, even to the simple, those without great learning or wisdom. The word of God is not dark or confusing to the humble; its entrance gives light, opening understanding to those who receive it, even the simple. Where God's word enters, it brings light.

Notice what the entrance of God's word does: it gives light and understanding, even to the simple. The word of God, when it enters the heart, is not obscure or reserved for the learned; it gives light, illuminating, bringing understanding, even to the simple and unlearned. Its entrance opens the eyes, brings understanding, sheds light on the way. And it does this not only for the wise and learned, but for the simple; the humble who receive God's word find it giving them light and understanding. God's word illuminates those who take it in.

That is worth taking to heart, for we can approach God's word as though it were too obscure for us, or reserved for the learned. We can feel that we are too simple, too unlearned, to understand God's word, that its light is for others wiser than we; but the psalmist says the entrance of God's word gives understanding to the simple. God's word gives light and understanding to all who receive it, even the simple and unlearned, not only the wise. Do not think God's word too obscure for you, or its light reserved for the learned; its entrance gives understanding even to the simple. Receive God's word, taking it into your heart, and let its entrance give you light and understanding, as the psalmist found, for the entrance of God's words gives light and understanding to the simple, illuminating the way for all who humbly receive it, not only the wise and learned.

Lord, this portion of the great psalm in praise of your word marvels at the light it gives: the entrance of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. Your words, when they enter, bring light, illumination, understanding, even to the simple, those without great learning or wisdom. Your word is not dark or confusing to the humble; its entrance gives light, opening understanding to those who receive it. Show me what the entrance of your word does: it gives light and understanding, even to the simple. Your word, when it enters the heart, is not obscure or reserved for the learned; it gives light, bringing understanding, even to the simple and unlearned. Its entrance opens the eyes, sheds light on the way. And it does this not only for the wise, but for the simple. Take that to my heart, for I can approach your word as though it were too obscure for me, or reserved for the learned. I can feel that I am too simple, too unlearned, to understand your word, that its light is for others wiser than I; but the psalmist says the entrance of your word gives understanding to the simple. Your word gives light to all who receive it, even the simple. Keep me from thinking your word too obscure for me, or its light reserved for the learned; its entrance gives understanding even to the simple. Help me receive your word, taking it into my heart, Lord, and let its entrance give me light and understanding.