Psalm 119:119

[Welder4Christ]

You put away the wicked of the earth like dross;
Therefore I love your testimonies

Hey, everyone;

I'd love some insights into this passage of Scripture.

First of all, could someone farmiliar with the Hebrew text tell me what the word love here implies? Does it imply a conscious decision to respect and honor the testimonies of God, or does it imply a more emotional, soulful love?

In other words, does David make a conscious decision to love God's testimonies, because he knows what will happen to the wicked, or does his love of God's testimonies imply the condition of his heart?

Also, is David saying that he loves God's testimonies because he does not want to be put away like the wicked, or is it because they testify to God's dealings with the wicked?

In many of his psalms, David talks about how much he hates the wicked, and loves God...not surprising for a man after God's own heart. So, then, in this verse, is David saying that he loves God's testimonies because of how God deals with the wicked, or is he saying that he loves God's testimonies because he doesn't want to be brought down like the wicked, who abhor God's testimonies.

Any insights would be appreciated. Many thanks!!!

[Ta-An]

Hi Welder4Christ.
The Hebrew word used is : אָהַבְתִּי so by the looks of it, Yes, it is used in a way David makes a conscious decision to love.... he chooses to love G_d's testimonies.

Verses 113-120 makes a unit of 8 verses, you'll find that every 8 verses of this psalm is grouped together

The Word of G_d and the peoples reaction to His Word , is what differentiate between believers and unbelievers. David distances himself from the unbelievers because they disturb him in his worship (v 115) of G_d...... So I'll say Yes, he chooses to love G_d's testimonies :)

[Welder4Christ]

Hi Welder4Christ.
The Hebrew word used is : אָהַבְתִּי so by the looks of it, Yes, it is used in a way David makes a conscious decision to love.... he chooses to love G_d's testimonies.

Verses 113-120 makes a unit of 8 verses, you'll find that every 8 verses of this psalm is grouped together

The Word of G_d and the peoples reaction to His Word , is what differentiate between believers and unbelievers. David distances himself from the unbelievers because they disturb him in his worship (v 115) of G_d...... So I'll say Yes, he chooses to love G_d's testimonies :)


Excellent....that really helps. Thank you so much for that clarification.

This makes a great deal of sense, in the context of the following verse:

My flesh trembles for fear of You
and I am afraid of your judgements

David has seen how the Lord deals with the wicked, and it makes Him afraid; likewise, he chooses to love God's testimonies, so he doesn't suffer the same fate.

It does appear that David's reverence for God was as much out of fear as love. What a stark contrast to humanity today. No longer do we see first-hand the judgement of the wicked, or God's wrath, as was prevalent in that day.

Obviously, God's judgements made David afraid. It appears that in this age of grace, we have lost sight of this aspect of God.

[Ta-An]

Remember 'love' is a verb :) I do not think that any other word in the OT opens the law of G_d more, than this word: Love. To David, the law was NOT a burdensome legal imposition as we sometimes get the idea in the NT ;) it was a delight to obey the law, even liberating ... this love was all absorbing, so , this love was ..... fostered by reverent fear (worship) and it is like pushing the dross away, he does not want the lawbreakers to interfere with his worship... his worship of G_d, the following of the law is an act of love that he chooses to do :)

[Ta-An]

It does appear that David's reverence for God was as much out of fear as love. Yet it is a reverent fear...
Obviously, God's judgements made David afraid. It appears that in this age of grace, we have lost sight of this aspect of God. Indeed so, we do not abhor the lawbreakers, we rather say the law has no longer any effect :rolleyes: I do not want to hi-jack this tread to make it a law/no-law thread, but rather, we allow others who do not worship G_d to influence us in our worship of G_d :cry:

Many (even Christians :() allow sinners to hinder their worship / reverent fear of G_d... we have become desensitized :cry:

[Mograce2U]

David's love for the testimonies of God is for His acts in the earth. He has made these testimonies his friends and spends his time meditating on them. Here he speaks of God's judgments which the law reveals the justice of. This is what brings him light for the works of God he witnesses. David shows his heart is in line with the justice of God as the king the Lord has chosen who lets the word of the Lord guide him as the ruler of Israel. He loves what the Lord loves and hates what the Lord hates, showing he has good discernment in the things of the Lord.

[Welder4Christ]

David's love for the testimonies of God is for His acts in the earth. He has made these testimonies his friends and spends his time meditating on them.
Hi, MoGrace;

Thank you for that, and I agree, but I guess the question I was getting at was why he loves them. In this verse, the acts that David is referring to, specifically, are the ways by which God deals with the wicked. David states that because God puts away the wicked, he loves God's testimonies....which leads to the second question, is it because of David's hatred for the wicked, or his fear of the Lord?

That is why I had inquired of the meaning of the word love, and ACCM replied that it is a conscious decision on David's part. In other word, it's not just an emotion, but an act of the will:

You put away the wicked of the earth like dross;
Therefore I love your testimonies

.....and the reason why David wills to love them is because he doesn't want to be put away like the wicked.

What I am getting is that this is because, in his heart, David loved God. It was a passionate and reverent kind of love....an all-consuming love. In no way did he want the Lord to reject him, or to put him away, which is why he made a conscious effort to love His testimonies.

He loves what the Lord loves and hates what the Lord hates, showing he has good discernment in the things of the Lord.

Yes.....and I do believe this is what is meant by the term "a man after God's own heart." He loved the Lord in his heart, and his will was perfectly aligned with the Lord's.

[Welder4Christ]

Yet it is a reverent fear... Indeed so, we do not abhor the lawbreakers, we rather say the law has no longer any effect :rolleyes: I do not want to hi-jack this tread to make it a law/no-law thread, but rather, we allow others who do not worship G_d to influence us in our worship of G_d :cry:

SO TRUE
I agree. A lot of people don't immediately equate worship with obedience, but that's exactly what it is. Something that the Lord has really been teaching me lately is that worship is something that should entail each and every aspect of our lives.....everything should be done in obedience and with thankfulness. This is true worship.

Many (even Christians :() allow sinners to hinder their worship / reverent fear of G_d... we have become desensitized :cry:

I agree....absolutely. This is something that I notice has become very prevalent, is that a lot of reverence for God has dwindled.

David had a very deep reverence for God, and a deep desire to honor and to obey Him. David seemed to have a very deep understanding of God...we gain understanding through obedience:

In understand more than the ancients
Because I keep Your precepts

David's understanding of God is a direct result of His obedience.

[Mograce2U]

Welder4Christ,
Perhaps I was too brief. The acts of God's judgments in the earth teaches David about what justice is - according to God's laws. When the wicked are judged and the righteous delivered, David knows He can trust the Lord to do what He has said.

Psalm 51 is David's response to the judgment that came upon him for his own sin with Bathsheba and Uriah. David knows that with the Lord there is mercy and justice, and he takes great comfort in the Lord whom he trusts to do right, because of what He has revealed about such things. David was able to submit to his own punishment without losing his hope in the Lord at all. In fact, his faith was increased by it as he meditated upon what he knew of the Lord's goodness - because of these witnesses (testimonies).

[Welder4Christ]

Psalm 51 is David's response to the judgment that came upon him for his own sin with Bathsheba and Uriah. David knows that with the Lord there is mercy and justice, and he takes great comfort in the Lord whom he trusts to do right, because of what He has revealed about such things.

v 152 Concerning Your testimonies
I have known of old that You have founded them forever

v 52 I remembered Your judgements of old, O Lord,
And have comforted myself

David was able to submit to his own punishment without losing his hope in the Lord at all. In fact, his faith was increased by it as he meditated upon what he knew of the Lord's goodness - because of these witnesses (testimonies).

YES!!

v 67 Before I was afflicted I went astray
But now I keep your word

v 71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted,
That I may learn Your statutes

MoGrace....considering what you said above, in vs. 71, what does the word learn mean? It doesn't appear that he is talking about head knowledge so much as knowledge learned through experience.

What is your take on this?

[Mograce2U]

MoGrace....considering what you said above, in vs. 71, what does the word learn mean? It doesn't appear that he is talking about head knowledge so much as knowledge learned through experience.

What is your take on this?I think perhaps it is both. Israel experienced God in a very visible way - the Jews require a sign... And those prophecies which have been fulfilled about Jesus are given more light to us because we know Christ and what He has done. This should affect our worship as well - as we experience His goodness in our life. Knowledge and experience, yep that seems to be what David is talking about.

[OrdainedLady]

You put away the wicked of the earth like dross;
Therefore I love your testimonies

Hey, everyone;

I'd love some insights into this passage of Scripture.

First of all, could someone farmiliar with the Hebrew text tell me what the word love here implies? Does it imply a conscious decision to respect and honor the testimonies of God, or does it imply a more emotional, soulful love?

In other words, does David make a conscious decision to love God's testimonies, because he knows what will happen to the wicked, or does his love of God's testimonies imply the condition of his heart?

Also, is David saying that he loves God's testimonies because he does not want to be put away like the wicked, or is it because they testify to God's dealings with the wicked?

In many of his psalms, David talks about how much he hates the wicked, and loves God...not surprising for a man after God's own heart. So, then, in this verse, is David saying that he loves God's testimonies because of how God deals with the wicked, or is he saying that he loves God's testimonies because he doesn't want to be brought down like the wicked, who abhor God's testimonies.

Any insights would be appreciated. Many thanks!!!

The love spoken of in verse 119 is the Hebrew "ahav" or "ahava". It's used 250 times in the Old Testament and is an impulsive, spontaneous kind of love.

The best way I can describe "ahav" from my personal perspective is like this: when I read the Bible and just feel an immediate excitement at how wonderful and wondrous and awsome it is to be reading the thoughts and precepts and principles of Almighty God, the King of the universe, I become spontaneously overjoyed by the love I have for His testimonies and Himself revealed in His Word! :pp It's kind of like when you turn to someone you love deeply and just get an overwhelming feeling of "Gosh, I love them so much" and you want to reach out and just hug them :hug: and kiss them on the cheek.:kiss:

I suppose that could sound kinda stupid on its face, but it's the best I could do at the moment. <shrug>

[Emanate]

The love spoken of in verse 119 is the Hebrew "ahab" or "ahava". It's used 250 times in the Old Testament and is an impulsive, spontaneous kind of love.

The best way I can describe "ahab" from my personal perspective is like this: when I read the Bible and just feel an immediate excitement at how wonderful and wondrous and awsome it is to be reading the thoughts and precepts and principles of Almighty God, the King of the universe, I become spontaneously overjoyed by the love I have for His testimonies and Himself revealed in His Word! :pp It's kind of like when you turn to someone you love deeply and just get an overwhelming feeling of "Gosh, I love them so much" and you want to reach out and just hug them :hug: and kiss them on the cheek.:kiss:

I suppose that could sound kinda stupid on its face, but it's the best I could do at the moment. <shrug>


Curious this is the love David had for Torah.

[OrdainedLady]

Curious this is the love David had for Torah.

Are you saying that you're curious *if* this is the love David had for Torah or are you saying that it *is* curious this is the love David had for Torah? :help:

[Ta-An]

The love spoken of in verse 119 is the Hebrew "ahab" or "ahava". It's used 250 times in the Old Testament and is an impulsive, spontaneous kind of love.

The root word there is "ahav" thre chirik yud at the end is first person singular.... I love, the 'bet' loses it's dagesh and becomes a 'vet'

[Ta-An]

I was reading last night, and this fits just so perfectly with this piece.... when we draw close to G_d, He'll draw close to us...The Spirit within us yearns for fellowship with G_d. :pp

I can hear David saying through James's words: clean your hands, purify your hearts you double minded!! lament and mourn and weep!!! Humble yourselves in the site of the L_rd and He will lift you up!!

So often when people complain... we want to shake them by the shoulders and say :::: It happens when you do not walk with G_d.... wake up, smell the roses and walk the narrow path!! Draw close to Him, it is not He who moved away from you!! ;)

[OrdainedLady]

The root word there is "ahav" thre chirik yud at the end is first person singular.... I love, the 'bet' loses it's dagesh and becomes a 'vet'

It was a typo on my part.

[Ta-An]

It was a typo on my part.
Many a time people say 'ahab' because they do not know the Hebrew language, I even find the incorrect translation in textbooks :rolleyes:
the consonant is exactly the same, it just loses the dagesh forte which changes the sound :D

[threebigrocks]

I was reading last night, and this fits just so perfectly with this piece.... when we draw close to G_d, He'll draw close to us...The Spirit within us yearns for fellowship with G_d. :pp

I can hear David saying through James's words: clean your hands, purify your hearts you double minded!! lament and mourn and weep!!! Humble yourselves in the site of the L_rd and He will lift you up!!

So often when people complain... we want to shake them by the shoulders and say :::: It happens when you do not walk with G_d.... wake up, smell the roses and walk the narrow path!! Draw close to Him, it is not He who moved away from you!! ;)


Amen, sister! So very true. :)

[Welder4Christ]

Okay, now I am a bit confused....is the love spoken of here a spontaneous emotional love, or a willful pre-meditated love?

It appears that I have gotten 2 different interpretations.

Thanks so much....Your responses have helped tremendously

[OrdainedLady]

Okay, now I am a bit confused....is the love spoken of here a spontaneous emotional love, or a willful pre-meditated love?

It appears that I have gotten 2 different interpretations.

Thanks so much....Your responses have helped tremendously

The Hebrew word for "love" used in verse 119 is "ahav", and "ahav" is spontaneous and emotional love. :) Hey - if you're so inclined, do a Google search on "ahav" and "ahava" and see what you come up with! ;)

[Emanate]

Are you saying that you're curious *if* this is the love David had for Torah or are you saying that it *is* curious this is the love David had for Torah? :help:


That it is the love David had for Torah

[Welder4Christ]

The Hebrew word for "love" used in verse 119 is "ahav", and "ahav" is spontaneous and emotional love. :) Hey - if you're so inclined, do a Google search on "ahav" and "ahava" and see what you come up with! ;)


So, then, are we now saying that David loved God's testimonies because of his hatred for the wicked, because the word therefore does seem to indicate that his love for God 's testimonies is a result of His dealings with the wicked.

At first, I thought David was saying that he didn't want to be put away like the wicked, which was why he chose to love God's testimonies, but now I am beginning to think that his love for God's testimonies was an emotion resulting from his happiness that the wicked are being put away.

Wow, mercy definitely wasn't one of David's most endearing qualities, was it?!

[Mograce2U]

So, then, are we now saying that David loved God's testimonies because of his hatred for the wicked, because the word therefore does seem to indicate that his love for God 's testimonies is a result of His dealings with the wicked.

At first, I thought David was saying that he didn't want to be put away like the wicked, which was why he chose to love God's testimonies, but now I am beginning to think that his love for God's testimonies was an emotion resulting from his happiness that the wicked are being put away.

Wow, mercy definitely wasn't one of David's most endearing qualities, was it?!Apparently you are missing the point because none of our posts have brought you any enlightenment so far! Have you read them all?

[Ta-An]

Okay, now I am a bit confused....is the love spoken of here a spontaneous emotional love, or a willful pre-meditated love?

It appears that I have gotten 2 different interpretations.

And I probably caused that :D
My apologies :blush:

What I meant by "Choose to love" is actually the same as what others will use the word :"spontaneous" (Different culture and language background from my side ;) ) David's love for Torah is spontaneous

[OrdainedLady]

So, then, are we now saying that David loved God's testimonies because of his hatred for the wicked, because the word therefore does seem to indicate that his love for God 's testimonies is a result of His dealings with the wicked.

At first, I thought David was saying that he didn't want to be put away like the wicked, which was why he chose to love God's testimonies, but now I am beginning to think that his love for God's testimonies was an emotion resulting from his happiness that the wicked are being put away.

Actually, I believe that David just loved the precepts and testimonies of God just because they were of God. David had a deep and abiding love of God that transcended everything in His life. David certainly wasn't perfect, but God saw Him as the apple of His eye.


Wow, mercy definitely wasn't one of David's most endearing qualities, was it?!

No, it wasn't - David was a great example of being completely human yet completely sold out for God.

[Welder4Christ]

Apparently you are missing the point because none of our posts have brought you any enlightenment so far! Have you read them all?

....................Yes

[Welder4Christ]

Actually, I believe that David just loved the precepts and testimonies of God just because they were of God. David had a deep and abiding love of God that transcended everything in His life. David certainly wasn't perfect, but God saw Him as the apple of His eye.



No, it wasn't - David was a great example of being completely human yet completely sold out for God.

I agree with all of that, but I really do think that we get a clearer picture of David's disdain for the wicked here. I believe that David loved God's testimonies for many reasons, and one of them was because they attest to God's treatment of the wicked.

Anyhow, I definitely get a clearer understanding of this passage now. Thank you so much, everyone.