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(See: pronunciation guide
for the Hebrew vowels)
PSALM 119:113-120
THE STABILITY FILE
Each verse in this file begins with the letter, sAmek. This
letter means a vulcrum or support mechanism, and indicates stability. The
verb, sAmak, means to support, uphold, sustain. That verb occurs at verse 116,
“sustain (support) me.” It is to be called the sAmek file or the STABILILTY
FILE.
Verse 113, The Value Entry (love vs. hate)
1. I hate: the verb is sAn’ā, and refers to an attitude of
disapproval from the perspective of divine viewpoint.
2. those who are double minded: the word is the adjective, sā`āph, and means
divided.
The only other place the word group occurs is the noun,
seippAh, at 1 Kings
18:21, “how long will you hesitate between two DIVISIONS.” The issue is the
choice between God or Baal; two mutually exclusive issues.
A. The issue is not simple indecision.
B. But it should probably not be viewed as at James 1:8 and 4:8.
C. It is probably best to take it as it is used in the
context of 1 Kings 18:21, where the
issue is true vs. false worship.
D. And of course, true worship centers around God’s
revealed word.
This believer has a strong rejection of those who worship
other than the true God.
This is what righteous hatred is.
The believer who loves God’s word, characteristically reflects the attitude of
divine hatred toward the spiritual rebels.
See Topic: HATRED: Believer’s attitude
3. But I love your law: The verb is
’Ahabh + torAh. This is
the attitude that recognizes value and expresses strong dedication to
something.
The more VALUE FACTORS that can be recognized and accepted,
the stronger will be the attitude of love toward God and the resultant reality
of sinless consistency.
Value factors revolve around the expressed character of God and the INTENT of
His plan, and the experiential benefits realized in the believer’s life as he
learns and consistently uses God’s word. Value factors are found in the
PROMISES of God.
Verse 114, The Protection Entry
1. You (are) my hiding place: The noun is sāther, and
communicates both secrecy and privacy. The personal pronoun,
’attAh, without
the verb, “are,” gives an emphatic recognition of God as the source for the
believer’s protection.
A. The verb: Psalm 17:1-12; 27:4-6; 31:19-24
B. The noun: Psalm 27:5; 31:20; 32:1-7; 61:1-4; 91:1-4
Sometimes our protection involves total avoidance of the
danger through HIDING and maintaining privacy in our lives. We HIDE in God’s
character and plan, depending on HIM for guidance as to what, when and how to
fulfill our ambassadorship.
2. And my shield: the noun is mAgān, and is a protective device to neutralize
attack; in this case, the attack of darkness via the violent persecutors.
Sometimes our protection involves direct neutralization of the attackers
offense
And of course, sometimes God chooses to allow the believer to be the victim of
the violent persecutors in order to bring glory to Himself, such as in the
case of Stephen and James at the beginning of the church age, and certain
prophets in the Old Testament as is summarized at Matthew 23:35.
3. I wait for your word: The verb is yAchal, which is one of the main words to
express the faith-rest life; the life of total trust and relaxation in the
character and plan of God.
In this case, in the context of “hiding place” and
“shield,” the believer is expressing total trust in God’s plan; his wisdom and
timing, to provide protection from his many spiritual enemies.
WORD, is dAbhAr to refer to the entire gambit of God’s word
as is represented by the 6 other words for God’s truth that occur in this
psalm.
The basis for the believer’s confidence in God’s character and plan for
protection is knowledge of His word.
Verse 115, The Dedication Entry
-
Depart from me evil
doers: the verb is sur as a qal imperative and means to turn aside, and
thus, DEPART. This psalm is written as though the believer is addressing
God. This manner of writing expresses his strong devotion to God. In some
verses, he simply states a principle of truth, but is still “addressing”
God. Here he uses a figure of speech, for he is not really expecting the
“evil doers” to READ this and respond. Instead, the “rhetorical” command
expresses his intent to focus on DOING God’s word.
The evil doers, is the hiphil participle of rA`Ah. The emphasis is on the
CHARACTER of these people; a character which is non-beneficial and operates
contrary to the principles of worship and service to God.
Any association with these types will distract the believer from his
dedication to God.
The “command” expresses his understanding of the doctrine of separation; the
need to stay aloof from those who will influence him away from his worship
and service.
Diligence in separating from those who are negative to God allows the
believer to spend a maximum amount of time in the pursuit and application of
God’s word.
2. That I may observe the commandments of my God: The verb is nAtsar and
means to examine carefully. It includes acceptance and application of these
truths. The phrase is preceded by the WE, which functions to state a result.
The result of separation is greater involvement with the study and
application of God’s word.
The commandments, mitswAh, refers to all the specific “dos” and “don’t” of
God’s instruction to His people.
Verse 116, The Life Entry
1.Sustain me according to Your word: The verb is sAmak as a
qal imperative; again the command of humility dependence on God. The word
means, to support or uphold and sustain. The support in view is what is needed
because of the danger from the violent persecutors. The support is based on or
“according to” (ke +
’imrAh) God’s word, with emphasis on His PROMISES, and
comes in two ways.
(A) support for the soul so that the believer might be encouraged and stable
in the face of the danger. This is based on knowledge and application of the
word.
(B) and actual physical protection to that the believer will stay alive to
continue to fulfill his ambassadorship. This is based on the character and
plan of God which is delineated within His revealed word.
2. That I may live: This is chAyAh as a qal imperfect, introduced by WE (and),
and stresses the maintenance of physical life.
3. And do not let me be ashamed of my hope: This statement is the RESULT of
experiencing the support from God. The verb is bOsh as a hiphil imperfect plus
the negative, and functions as a further humility-command expressed toward
God. As God fulfills his promised support, the soul I strengthened to continue
faith-rest and to resist the temptations of doubt and worry (all aspects of
shameful intimidation and fear).
4. My hope: the noun is sābher, and occurs only here and Psalm 146:5, “how
happy is the one who's HOPE is in Yahweh his God.”
It means confident trust and refers to the fact and experience of faith-rest.
The verb occurs only 8 times.
A. the qal stem at Neh. 2:13, 15.
B. The piel stem (to look toward with expectation) occurs at, Esther 9:1;
Psalm 104:27; 145:15; 119:166; Ruth 1:13 and Isaiah 38:18.
Verse 117, The Deliverance Entry
The context of protection from physical death continues.
1. Uphold me that I may be safe: The verb is sA`adh as a qal
imperative; the humility-command of dependence on God. Psalm 18:35; 94:17-19
God provides “crisis neutralizers” – grace provision and comfort. Rom. 15:4
and Proverbs 1:33. The verb, “be safe,” is WE (result) + yAsh`a as a qal
imperfect. It means to be safe or DELIVERED. The context is still the presence
of violent persecution.
This is more repetition for emphasis. Protection from God in the face of
almost certain physical death encourages the believer to perpetuate the
FOREVER ATTITUDE for the practice of sinless consistency.
2. And I shall have regard for your statues continually: This is a statement
of the FOREVER ATTITUDE; the attitude that affirms the believer will be
faithful throughout all his life; perpetually – “forever.”
The verb is shah as a qal imperfect, with WE (result) introducing it again. It
means to gaze upon or focus on. It refers to the continued study of God’s
word.
Statutes, is chuqqAh, and refers to God’s assigned standards for fulfilling
the Christian way of life.
The adverb, continually, is tAmiydh. This does not mean that the believer will
NEVER sin, but that his ATTITUDE is one that DESIRES never to sin, and INTENDS
to avoid sin as much as possible. The FOREVER ATTITUDE is the KEY for
perpetuating sinless consistency.
Verse 118, The Reversion Entry
1. You have rejected: The verb is sAlAh as a qal perfect
and occurs only here. The piel stem occurs at Lamentations 1:15. It means to
make light of or minimize, and thus to evaluate as insignificant and to
reject. God’s evaluation of the spiritual rebels is that they are USELESS and
He rejects them.
2. those who wander from your statutes: The verb is shAgAh as a qal active
participle, and describes the characteristic flaw of the spiritual rebels;
they reject and deviate from God’s word (chuqqAh), but also, will often give
it lip-service.
WANDERING -
(A) is a concern of the domestic file: Verses 9-12
(B) is characteristic of the arrogant: Verse 21
3. because their deceitfulness is falsehood (useless): The word KIY (because)
gives the reason God has rejected the spiritual rebels; and explains their
character and motives as being deceitful. This word is tarmiyth and occurs
only 5 times. It refers to deceitful hypocrisy which is usually accompanied
with lip service.
The nature of their deceitfulness is FALSEHOOD (shequer).
(A) This word occurs 36 times in Jeremiah, which is characterized by
Jeremiah’s confrontation with the deceitfulness of the political and religious
leaders.
Jeremiah 8:4-12; 14:14; 22:2;
23:25-32
(B) In the Isaiah generations: Isaiah 1:10-15; 29:13; 48:1
4. Lips service in Messiah’s first advent generation:
(A) the religious crowd: Mat. 23:1-31
(B) the pseudo-disciple: John 2:23-24; 6:60-66
(C) The traitor, Judas: John 6:67-71; 12:3-6; Mat. 26:21-25
(D) The first generation of the church: 2 Tim. 3:5; Acts 5:1-11; 8:13-24
5. The reality of divine rejection: Prov. 1:24-28; Rom. 1:24, 28; James 4:4, 6
God evaluates the spiritual rebels as deceitful advocates of falsehood and
rejects them.
Verse 119, The Justice Entry
1. You have removed like dross: The verb is shAbhat as a
hiphil perfect; you have caused to cease, plus the noun siyq (dross).
The phrase, “all the wicked of the earth” refers to the spiritual rebels as a
classification of humanity, and has a COMPLETE and TOTAL judgment in view.
This is a reference to divine justice and righteousness accomplishing a
smelting and purifying process that has taken place all throughout history,
and will reach its culmination during the Day of the Lord judgments at the
second coming of the Messiah.
This is recognition of divine timing for judging the wicked, and prophetic
anticipation of God’s plan being completed in the future. Psalm 9:5-6
The purpose of God in allowing the wicked TEMPORARY victory is so that in the
end, they might be judged and destroyed forever. Psalm 92:5-7
2. Therefore (lAkān) I have loved your testimonies (`ādAh): The verb,
’Ahabh,
places value on something and expresses dedication to it.
The VALUE FACTOR of divine justice promotes further dedication to the word of
God.
Verse 120, The Humility Entry
1. My flesh trembles in reverence for you: The verb is
sAmar as a qal perfect, and means to bristle up (as in goose bumps). This
refers to the emotional and intellectual impact that truth has on the physical
body. The perfect tense recognizes both a PAST and present effect on this
believer, but the PAST idea should be what is translated.
CT: my flesh has bristled up.
The noun is pachad and refers to the attitude of humble AWE toward the
character of God that has characterized this believer in the past.
2. And (we) I have reverenced your judgments: The verb, yAr’ā means FEAR or
REVERENCE depending on the context. The “fear of the Lord” is recognition and
acceptance of divine authority and viewpoint. PAchad and yAr’ā are basically
synonymous, and are used here to portray first the PHYSICAL impact in the life
and then the impact on the soul.
The word, mishpAt refers to the standards of divine justice.
Spiritual stability is based on reverence and devotion to the character of God
and His word.
SUMMARY OF THE STABILITY FILE
Verse, 113, The Value Entry
The believer who loves God’s word, characteristically reflects the attitude of
divine hatred toward the spiritual rebels.
Verse 114, The Protection Entry
The basis for the believer’s confidence in God’s character and plan for
protection is knowledge of His word.
Verse 115, The Dedication Entry
Diligence in separating from those who are negative to God allows the believer
to spend a maximum amount of time in the pursuit and application of God’s
word.
Verse 116, The Life Entry
As God fulfills his promised support, the soul I strengthened to continue
faith-rest and to resist the temptations of doubt and worry (all aspects of
shameful intimidation and fear).
Verse 117, The Deliverance Entry
Protection from God in the face of almost certain physical death encourages
the believer to perpetuate the FOREVER ATTITUDE for the practice of sinless
consistency.
Verse 118, The Reversion Entry
God evaluates the spiritual rebels as deceitful advocates of falsehood and
rejects them.
Verse 119, The Justice Entry
The VALUE FACTOR of divine justice promotes further dedication to the word of
God.
Verse 120, The Humility Entry
Spiritual stability is based on reverence and devotion to the character of God
and His word. | 
