Waw
41 Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord,
your salvation according to your promise;
42 then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me,
for I trust in your word.
43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth,
for my hope is in your rules.
44 I will keep your law continually,
for ever and ever,
45 and I shall walk in a wide place,
for I have sought your precepts.
46 I will also speak of your testimonies before kings
and shall not be put to shame,
47 for I find my delight in your commandments,
which I love.
48 I will lift up my hands towards your commandments, which I love,
and I will meditate on your statutes.
Zayin
49 Remember your word to your servant,
in which you have made me hope.
50 This is my comfort in my affliction,
that your promise gives me life.
51 The insolent utterly deride me,
but I do not turn away from your law.
52 When I think of your rules from of old,
I take comfort, O Lord.
53 Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked,
who forsake your law.
54 Your statutes have been my songs
in the house of my sojourning.
55 I remember your name in the night, O Lord,
and keep your law.
56 This blessing has fallen to me,
that I have kept your precepts.
Heth
57 The Lord is my portion;
I promise to keep your words.
58 I entreat your favour with all my heart;
be gracious to me according to your promise.
59 When I think on my ways,
I turn my feet to your testimonies;
60 I hasten and do not delay
to keep your commandments.
61 Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me,
I do not forget your law.
62 At midnight I rise to praise you,
because of your righteous rules.
63 I am a companion of all who fear you,
of those who keep your precepts.
64 The earth, O Lord, is full of your steadfast love;
teach me your statutes!
The third stanza in this series (57-64) is described by one commentator as speaking of the happiness of resting on the Word from day to day. This is an important consideration for long-term Christian living, whereas 49-56 deal with a short-term experience of affliction. The verses speak of the main direction of our lives. How, then, are we to get to this happy place? The answer to this question is found in 59: we take stock of ourselves, we take a 'tumble' to ourselves, and we betake ourselves to God, and His ways, and His Word. To look at oneself in the light of the Word is to be seeing clearly, perhaps for the first time. We should note particularly the sense of urgency about doing this, expressed in 60. Maclaren comments: 'Such turning of our feet to the right road has many foes, and chief among them is lingering delay. Therefore resolve must never be let cool, but be swiftly carried into action.' We should also note what is said in 63. Having one's portion in God does not mean 'solitary religion': on the contrary, it draws us to the fellowship of like-minded people. This is something very important: it is a corporate experience, 'with all saints' (cf Ephesians 3:18), not something one can comprehend on one's own, but only in the fellowship of God's people. The section ends with the outburst of a full heart (64). The hymn says,
'Everywhere His glory streameth, God is wisdom, God is love'
- this whole hymn (RCH 33), especially its last two verses, expresses the thought of 64 beautifully. Ah yes, but eyes need to be opened to see this. It is not self-evident. It is the man who through the Word has found God to be His portion that discovers this. It is through the Word that we learn that even in our affliction the mercy of God is at work. One last word: in these three stanzas we see that the experience of affliction is encompassed on the one hand by the victory expressed in 41-48, and on the other by the satis- faction of living under the mercy of God, in 57-64. It is ever so. We only need eyes to see it.