Psa 119:132-135 | KingComments | STEP | The letter pe has the pictogram and meaning of the (opened) mouth. This letter follows the letter ayin , the eye. The letter ayin speaks of understanding. That must first be present before the mouth can be opened – of which the letter pe speaks – to speak the truth. The mouth must also be opened to feed on the Word of God ( ). Who knows God’s Word to some extent, will be impressed again and again and again by the wonders of God’s testimonies ( ). Who studies God’s creation, will marvel at its perfection. It towers above what man has made. The Word of God also brings us to wonder: it is truth, its opening spreads light ( ), it begets life, it is full of wisdom, perfect, and it towers over all the books ever written by men. When the LORD opens His mouth and utters His testimonies, His words will work admiration in the hearts of believers. This cannot be otherwise, for one of the names of the Author is “Wonderful” ( ). He is also the God Who works wonders ( ). It strengthens the soul’s desire to heed the testimonies of such a God. Life is complicated and there are many questions. What a precious gift the Word is then. When the Word is opened – figuratively, or also literally, when a scroll is rolled open – its light shines out on all the situations in which the righteous can be ( ). It also illuminates man’s mind and heart. He sees himself in the light of God, and he also sees the Light in the light of the Word. Then “the simple” get “understanding”. The “simple” are believers who lack understanding and turn to God’s Word for understanding the circumstances. The Word is hidden from religious, but not born-again wise and intelligent people, such as modern theologians, while the Father reveals it to simple children (cf. ). The letter pe means, as mentioned, ‘opened mouth’. In we find the opened Word and in we find a mouth opened of wonder ( ). The result is that the light of the Word illuminates and gives understanding to the psalmist. The psalmist is such a simple one. He has intense hunger for the Word of God ( ). This underscores the significance of the letter pe . He does not merely open his mouth, but opens it wide like young birds do when the mother comes with food. He also panted, for he longed to take in the commandments. That great is his desire for them (cf. ; ). Panting can also be translated ‘yearning’. He yearns for God’s commandments. The psalmist has not yet taken the Word to himself. He does strongly desire that Word ( ), but he understands that understanding the Word is only possible through prayer. In he prays. He prays for grace “after Your manner” to understand the Word ( ); he prays for a walk in accordance with the Word ( ); he prays especially for the presence of the LORD ( ) to teach him. The righteous has read in God’s Word that it is in accordance with the justice of God when God is asked to turn to the one who prays and the prayer is done by one who loves His Name. God’s right has been satisfied through His Son on the cross for all who believe in Him. There are two sides to the life of the lover of God’s Name. One side is that his footsteps are established in God’s Word ( ). He asks that this may be so, that he will live according to the will of God revealed in His Word. On the other hand, he realizes that he is living in the midst of a world full of iniquity, which can easily adhere to him. Therefore, he asks that God keeps him from this and that “not … any iniquity” has dominion over him. If God turns to him, the latter will also happen. There is pressure from people on him to make him bow to iniquity. He feels his weakness and asks God to redeem him from that oppression ( ). Because of that oppression, he feels an impediment to obeying God’s precepts. When God delivers him from that, he is free to observe His precepts. Together with the desire for God’s Word there is also desire for the light of God’s face upon him ( ), that is, that God would be gracious to him ( ). We know that we have become pleasing to God in Christ because He looks upon us in Christ. Therefore, God can be gracious to us. In expressing his desire for the light of God’s face, he asks for the light of God’s presence, for His presence in his life as God’s servant. The light of God’s presence is the only good light in which God can teach His statutes. While he is in God’s light, he feels more than anywhere else that God’s law is not kept ( ) by his oppressors, of whom he spoke in , that is, the antichrist and his followers. By despising the gift of the law, the Lawgiver Himself is despised. When he is in God’s presence, he is particularly sensitive to this. It causes a stream of water to flow from his eyes, so deeply saddened is he about the contempt of the law. As a result, the people perish (cf. ; ). We also see this sorrow in Christ ( ).

‏ Psalms 119:132-135

/pe/ The Opened Mouth

The letter pe has the pictogram and meaning of the (opened) mouth. This letter follows the letter ayin, the eye. The letter ayin speaks of understanding. That must first be present before the mouth can be opened – of which the letter pe speaks – to speak the truth. The mouth must also be opened to feed on the Word of God (Psa 119:131).

Who knows God’s Word to some extent, will be impressed again and again and again by the wonders of God’s testimonies (Psa 119:129). Who studies God’s creation, will marvel at its perfection. It towers above what man has made. The Word of God also brings us to wonder: it is truth, its opening spreads light (Psa 119:130), it begets life, it is full of wisdom, perfect, and it towers over all the books ever written by men.

When the LORD opens His mouth and utters His testimonies, His words will work admiration in the hearts of believers. This cannot be otherwise, for one of the names of the Author is “Wonderful” (Isa 9:6). He is also the God Who works wonders (Psa 72:18). It strengthens the soul’s desire to heed the testimonies of such a God.

Life is complicated and there are many questions. What a precious gift the Word is then. When the Word is opened – figuratively, or also literally, when a scroll is rolled open – its light shines out on all the situations in which the righteous can be (Psa 119:130). It also illuminates man’s mind and heart. He sees himself in the light of God, and he also sees the Light in the light of the Word.

Then “the simple” get “understanding”. The “simple” are believers who lack understanding and turn to God’s Word for understanding the circumstances. The Word is hidden from religious, but not born-again wise and intelligent people, such as modern theologians, while the Father reveals it to simple children (cf. Mt 11:25).

The letter pe means, as mentioned, ‘opened mouth’. In Psa 119:130 we find the opened Word and in Psa 119:131 we find a mouth opened of wonder (Psa 119:129). The result is that the light of the Word illuminates and gives understanding to the psalmist.

The psalmist is such a simple one. He has intense hunger for the Word of God (Psa 119:131). This underscores the significance of the letter pe. He does not merely open his mouth, but opens it wide like young birds do when the mother comes with food. He also panted, for he longed to take in the commandments. That great is his desire for them (cf. Psa 42:1b-2; 1Pet 2:2). Panting can also be translated ‘yearning’. He yearns for God’s commandments.

The psalmist has not yet taken the Word to himself. He does strongly desire that Word (Psa 119:131), but he understands that understanding the Word is only possible through prayer. In Psa 119:132-135 he prays. He prays for grace “after Your manner” to understand the Word (Psa 119:132); he prays for a walk in accordance with the Word (Psa 119:133-134); he prays especially for the presence of the LORD (Psa 119:135) to teach him.

The righteous has read in God’s Word that it is in accordance with the justice of God when God is asked to turn to the one who prays and the prayer is done by one who loves His Name. God’s right has been satisfied through His Son on the cross for all who believe in Him.

There are two sides to the life of the lover of God’s Name. One side is that his footsteps are established in God’s Word (Psa 119:133). He asks that this may be so, that he will live according to the will of God revealed in His Word. On the other hand, he realizes that he is living in the midst of a world full of iniquity, which can easily adhere to him. Therefore, he asks that God keeps him from this and that “not … any iniquity” has dominion over him. If God turns to him, the latter will also happen.

There is pressure from people on him to make him bow to iniquity. He feels his weakness and asks God to redeem him from that oppression (Psa 119:134). Because of that oppression, he feels an impediment to obeying God’s precepts. When God delivers him from that, he is free to observe His precepts.

Together with the desire for God’s Word there is also desire for the light of God’s face upon him (Psa 119:135), that is, that God would be gracious to him (Num 6:25). We know that we have become pleasing to God in Christ because He looks upon us in Christ. Therefore, God can be gracious to us.

In expressing his desire for the light of God’s face, he asks for the light of God’s presence, for His presence in his life as God’s servant. The light of God’s presence is the only good light in which God can teach His statutes.

While he is in God’s light, he feels more than anywhere else that God’s law is not kept (Psa 119:136) by his oppressors, of whom he spoke in Psa 119:134, that is, the antichrist and his followers. By despising the gift of the law, the Lawgiver Himself is despised. When he is in God’s presence, he is particularly sensitive to this. It causes a stream of water to flow from his eyes, so deeply saddened is he about the contempt of the law. As a result, the people perish (cf. Lam 3:48; Rom 9:1-5). We also see this sorrow in Christ (Lk 19:41-44).