Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors.

The Holy Spirit is called a the Counselor, the Comforter.  He is an advocate.

Jesus, too, is called counselor.

Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

How appropriate!  He is the Word of God!

Psalm 119:23

Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statutes.

Psalm 119 also has these additional verses that mention those in positions of rulership:

• I will also speak of your testimonies before kings and shall not be put to shame, 
• Princes persecute me without cause, but my heart stands in awe of your words.

  Authority was ordained by God to punish evil and to reward good.  But even in those times when authority itself is dominated by evil, a heart anchored in God;s word will find light.

Psalm 119:22

Take away from me scorn and contempt, for I have kept your testimonies.

Whose opinion matters?  In the grand scheme of things, contempt and scorn from others does not change the facts.  Truth is still truth.

“One and God make a majority.” - Frederick Douglass

Psalm 119:21

You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones, who wander from your commandments.

Insolent
Now there is a word I don't use very often (or ever).  In listening to Psalm 119 today, I did notice that the insolent are mentioned a number of times.  In addition to verse 21, above, here are the other mentions:

 Psalm 119:51 The insolent utterly deride me, but I do not turn away from your law.

Psalm 119:69 The insolent smear me with lies, but with my whole heart I keep your precepts;

Psalm 119:78 Let the insolent be put to shame, because they have wronged me with falsehood; as for me, I will meditate on your precepts.

Psalm 119:85 The insolent have dug pitfalls for me; they do not live according to your law.

Psalm 119:122 Give your servant a pledge of good; let not the insolent oppress me.

So a total of six mentions in this Psalm....I wonder how many times all together in the Bible?

...16...

So, not all that common.  I feel better about not having a totally firm grasp on the word's meaning.  I could tell from the verses that insolence is not a virtue!

Dictionary.com to the rescue!


 in·so·lent
[in-suh-luhnt]

adjective
1. boldly rude or disrespectful; contemptuously impertinent; insulting: an insolent reply.

noun
2. an insolent person.

Next: how to picture insolence...

I have worked in computer support, and I have seen both ends of the spectrum...from humble servant leadership...to arrogant, insolent, rudeness. God rebukes the insolent.

 1 Timothy 1:12-14 English Standard Version (ESV) Christ Jesus Came to Save Sinners  I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service,  though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

Grace trumps insolence.

Psalm 119:20

My heart aches with longing; I want to know your judgments at all times.




Desparate...thirsty....hungry...longing. 

Psalm 119:19

I am a sojourner on the earth; hide not your commandments from me!

I recall a hymn that we would sing occasionally at church when I was a kid:

I'm but a stranger here.

Heaven is my home.

Earth is a desert drear.

Heaven is my home.
Danger and sorrow stand
Round me on every hand;
Heaven is my fatherland,
Heaven is my home.

Where do I go to find a picture that depicts being a stranger or sojourner?  "Sojourner" yielded mostly the Mars Pathfinder's mini robotic rover.  "Foreigner" yielded mostly pictures of the band.  "Stranger" gave me stranger danger. 

Then I came upon the right search term:  refugee.  I am a refugee while I am on this earth.  I am away from my home.  

I am not the first refugee, however, the first sojourner.  In John 1 I read "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us."  The Greek word translated here as "dwelt" is εσκηνωσεν.  He made his tabernacle among us.  He camped out here. 

Jesus coming from his home in heaven to our world and camping here as a man means that this is no longer my home, once Jesus has taken up residence in my heart.  I have a new, a heavenly home. 

The Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God. - C. S. Lewis

Psalm 119:18

Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.

 

When I think of this verse, I think also of the work of Jesus as he touched the blind and gave them sight.

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me

I once was lost, but now I'm found

Was blind, but now I see!

Like Bartimaeus, we cry out, "Lord, I want to see!"

 I don't want to be one who looks into God's Word and sees "men as trees walking".  Spirit of God, touch me again so that "I can see all things clearly."

Psalm 119:17

Deal bountifully with Your servant,
That I may live and keep Your word.

Verse 17 links the bounty of God's mercy and grace with life and with obedience. Following God's Word is not something that you do for God.  It is the result of His love at work in our lives.

Psalm 119:16

I relish everything you’ve told me of life, I won’t forget a word of it.

I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.

Where do you find delight?  Where can you simply release yourself with joy?  Every word of God is can flood you with delight.

I will delight in You, Lord, Your Law, Your will, Your heart toward me.

But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.(James 1:25)

Psalm 119:15

I will meditate on your precepts and keep my eyes on your ways.

What does it mean to meditate?  This is not just a casual listening or reading.  I will ponder, tumble your word around in my heart and mind.  I want your word to have the opportunity to touch every part of me.

God, I will examine closely what you say.

I am not a wine connoisseur. I haven't studied the nuances of different grapes, the right temperature, the kind of glass that is used, the color, the swirl, the bouquet, and so on.  A wine connoisseur has a whole vocabulary that is foreign to me.

Because they have invested themselves in the world of wine tasting, they are able to more fully experience and describe the nuances of each variety.

God, may I invest myself in knowing you, savoring your heart, your word, the gentle breeze and the blazing glory of your Spirit!

Psalm 119:14

In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches.

Have you seen "infographics" on web pages, TV or facebook?  They help with getting a better grasp on a concept by displaying it in a catchy way.  Here is one example:



This illustrates the national debt - an important and serious topic. It is an enormous amount of money, more than our minds can fully comprehend.

I thought of this infographic when I read this verse.  Think of comparing "all riches" with the delight, the joy and celebration of God's way, his testimonies. Maybe there could be a scale with all the wealth of the entire world on one side - a tiny speck compared to the immeasurable weight of the joy of walking with God in his ways.