Your testimonies are my heritage forever… Psalms 119:111

Kirk

Jul 29

Related Verses

I rejoice in the way of Your testimonies
as much as in all riches.

Psalms 119:114

Select Commentary

Thy testimonies - Thy law; thy revealed will; the revelation which thou hast given considered as thy solemn "testimony" as to what is true and right.

Have I taken as an heritage for ever - As my inheritance; as my property; as that which I consider to be of real and permanent value. The Hebrew word used here - נחל nachal - means to receive as a possession; to acquire; to possess as wealth; and then, to inherit. It is usually applied to the possession of the promised land as an inheritance. Here it means that the law of God was to him as such a possession. He regarded it as one does a rich inheritance. He chose it as his portion above all things else.

For they are the rejoicing of my heart - My happiness is in them. I find constant comfort in them. See Psalm 119:77, Psalm 119:92. Compare the notes at Psalm 1:2.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

My Pondering

The psalmist 'names it and claims it'. That phrase has been abused by some and derailed unfairly by others. In its purest sense, it is powerful. He names it, 'God's testimonies' (His mighy works and character) and claims it, 'my heritage forever'. Then he emotional internalizes by making it the, 'joy of my heart'.

Then in 112 he proclaims, 'I incline my heart to perform Your statutes forever'. I love this!

in·cline verb inˈklīn/
1.feel willing or favorably disposed toward (an action, belief, or attitude).
synonyms: disposed, of a mind, willing, ready, prepared; predisposed

have a tendency to do something.

First, the state of the verb incline suggests to me that its 'ongoing'. Its a continually process like a heart beating and lungs breathing and we need to internalize it until it is consistent as beating and breathing. It isnt past or present but just 'is'. He fervently wills it because he knows its right. Emotions needs to be servant of intellect and intellect under truth with the purest truth emminating from the very Creator of it. Jesus evens tells us He is truth, the essence of it.

What a powerful combination of keen intellect, fervent emotion based on essential truth that is on display here.

Let's Pray

Lord in the Book of 1 Peter 1:22 Your word says , "Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart". Help me do adhere and incline my heart in like manner. LORD, may this be a giant pillar in my life's mission.

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