Psalms 119:113-128: a reflection

113I hate double-minded men, but I love your law. 114You are my hiding place and my shield. I hope in your word. 115Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commandments of my God. 116Uphold me according to your word, that I may live. Let me not be ashamed of my hope. 117Hold me up, and I will be safe, and will have respect for your statutes continually. 118You reject all those who stray from your statutes, for their deceit is in vain. 119You put away all the wicked of the earth like dross. Therefore I love your testimonies. 120My flesh trembles for fear of you. I am afraid of your judgments. 121I have done what is just and righteous. Don’t leave me to my oppressors. 122Ensure your servant’s well-being. Don’t let the proud oppress me. 123My eyes fail looking for your salvation, for your righteous word. 124Deal with your servant according to your loving kindness. Teach me your statutes. 125I am your servant. Give me understanding, that I may know your testimonies. 126It is time to act, LORD, for they break your law. 127Therefore I love your commandments more than gold, yes, more than pure gold. 128Therefore I consider all of your precepts to be right. I hate every false way.

This section of the great psalm of God's word is marked by wholehearted devotion. I hate the double-minded, the psalmist says, but I love your law. He has no patience with a divided, half-committed heart, whether in others or himself; he wants to belong wholly to God. And he finds his security there: you are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word. God, known through his word, is where he takes refuge from all that threatens him.

The psalmist's love for God's commands is intense and personal. I love your commandments more than gold, he says, more than pure gold; I consider all your precepts right, and I hate every false way. Notice that his obedience flows from love, not grudging duty. He treasures God's word as more valuable than the most precious thing he can imagine. And he cries out for help to live by it: uphold me according to your word, hold me up and I will be safe.

Two things worth taking from this. First, God, known through his word, is your hiding place and shield, a refuge for a whole-hearted, single-minded soul in a world that pulls us toward being divided and double-minded. Run to him. Second, the psalmist's love for God's word more than gold is worth praying toward. Ask God to make his word that precious to you, so that obeying him becomes not grudging duty but the glad response of a heart that treasures him above all. Love his word, hide in him, and ask him to hold you up.

Lord, you are my hiding place and my shield, and I would take refuge in you with a whole and undivided heart. Guard me from being double-minded. And make your word precious to me, more than gold, so that my obedience flows from love and not grudging duty. Hold me up according to your word, that I may be safe, and teach me to treasure you above all. Amen.