567_Loving God is also loving His commandments (Psalm 119:121-128) Psalm 119:121-128 I have done what is just and right; do not leave me to my oppressors. 122 Give your servant a pledge of good; let not the insolent oppress me. 123 My eyes long for your salvation and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise. 124 Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love, and teach me your statutes. 125 I am your servant; give me understanding, that I may know your testimonies! 126 It is time for the Lord to act, for your law has been broken. 127 Therefore I love your commandments above gold, above fine gold. 128 Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right; I hate every false way. There’s a story told about a young craftsman who worked in a small jewelry shop. His master was known across the land for creating ornaments of breathtaking beauty. Every morning, the apprentice would rush to his workbench, eager to learn from the master. But what struck others was not just his skill, but his devotion. He would spend hours polishing a single piece, carefully following every instruction his teacher gave. One day, a friend asked him, “Why do you take such pains to obey every word your master says? Surely you’ve learned enough to work your own way by now.” The young man smiled and replied, “It’s not just his craft I love—it’s him. And because I love him, I can’t help but love everything he teaches me.” That simple answer captures the heart of Psalm 119:121–128. True love for God is not shown in loud professions or lofty words, but in loving His commandments—in delighting to do what is right, simply because it pleases Him. Loving God and loving His Word are not two different affections; they are one and the same. In this section of Psalm 119, we see a soul in love with God, not in theory but in life. The psalmist’s heart beats with longing for righteousness and for God’s truth to triumph. He begins by saying, “I have done what is just and right; do not leave me to my oppressors.” (v. 121) Here is not the cry of a self-righteous man, but of one whose love for God has moved him to live uprightly. He is saying, “Lord, I have sought to walk in Your ways; now be my defender.” He doesn’t claim perfection—he claims loyalty. His obedience springs from affection, not obligation. Love for God had taken deep root in his heart, and it bore fruit in just and righteous living. He pleads, “Give your servant a pledge of good; let not the insolent oppress me.” (v. 122) In other words, he is asking God to stand surety for him—to take responsibility for his good name and his welfare. The psalmist knows that in a world filled with the proud and the wicked, only God can be the true defender of those who love righteousness. There is humility in that prayer: a recognition that our strength to live rightly—and to stand firm when we are wronged—comes only from
