572_Great peace to those who love God’s law (Psalm 119:161-168) Psalm 161-168 Princes persecute me without cause, but my heart stands in awe of your words. 162 I rejoice at your word like one who finds great spoil. 163 I hate and abhor falsehood, but I love your law. 164 Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous rules. 165 Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble. 166 I hope for your salvation, O Lord, and I do your commandments. 167 My soul keeps your testimonies; I love them exceedingly. 168 I keep your precepts and testimonies, for all my ways are before you. There is a story about a famous musician who was once asked what gave him the ability to perform with such calm confidence before thousands. He explained that early in his life, his mentor taught him a simple exercise: whenever he felt anxious or overwhelmed, he was to place his hand on the strings of his violin—not to play, but simply to touch the instrument he loved—and breathe. He said that even in adulthood, before stepping onto any great stage, he still did that. “When my hand is on these strings,” he said, “I remember who I am, what I love, and where I belong. Peace returns.” For him, peace was found in touching something deeply loved. For the psalmist in Psalm 119:161–168, peace is found in something infinitely more secure—the law, the words, the very voice of God. The world around him is raging; powerful people oppose him; uncertainties abound. Yet every time he returns to the Word of God, he remembers who he is, what he loves, and to whom he belongs. And peace—great peace—returns. As we listen to the psalmist in this passage, we are given a window into his heart. We hear not just theology but testimony. He speaks from experience, not theory. He has discovered that the peace of God, the kind that “passes all understanding,” belongs to those who love God’s law—those who stand in awe of His words, anchor their hope in His promises, and shape their daily walk around His truth. This peace is not fragile; it is not threatened by circumstances. Nothing, he says, will make them stumble. The psalmist begins with a startling confession: “Princes persecute me without cause, but my heart stands in awe of your words.” (v.161) The affliction he faces is not from common people but from those who are influential, powerful, and high in society. Their opinions carry weight; their decisions can alter the course of his life. Yet even as they rise against him unfairly, his heart does not crumble beneath their pressure. Instead, it stands in awe—not of them, but of the Word of God. It is as if he says, “Their power intimidates, but Your Word steadies me. Their threats unsettle, but Your truth anchors me.” His delight in the Word surpasses the fear of earthly powers. In fact, it surpasses every earthly joy. “I rejoice at your word like one who finds great spoil.” (v.162) Imagine a soldier stumbling upon
