Psalm 119:165 Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.
Psalm 119 is the longest psalm in the book and the longest chapter in the Bible. It also falls at exactly the middle of the Bible. Each of the 22 stanzas of the chapter begin with the same Hebrew letter. Today’s verse falls under Shin, which is composed of verses 161-168. This section focuses on standing strong under pressure and finding peace in the law (God’s instruction, teaching, and truth, not just the Law or legal code), despite facing unfair persecution from others.
We see in this verse that having peace is dependent upon one thing – loving the law. Peace doesn’t just come to those who fear punishment so obey, but instead, it comes to those who seek the Lord and His will for their lives. But notice that it doesn’t just come to those who follow the law or seek the law. It comes to those that love the law.
And when we love the law and seek His ways, nothing can make us stumble. In the context of the psalm from which our verse was drawn, the author spoke of his dislike of falsehood. He demonstrated a clear divide between worldly practices and the truth of God’s grace (Psalm 119:163). He praised God constantly (Psalm 119:164) and then waited on Him, actively obeying His commands (Psalm 119:166). His obedience stemmed from obedience and love and he received peace for it.
Today let’s pause and ask ourselves some deep questions. Really ponder these questions and be honest with yourself.
Do you love God’s ways? Do you thrive in the peace and joy that His will for your life brings? Or are you fearful of judgement or condemnation? Are you simply playing the part of a faithful child but not really feeling it in your heart?
Spend some time in prayer today and talk to God about what you learned about yourself. Ask Him to help you to make the changes in your life to help you find peace and live your life for Him.
Prayer: Lord, Examine my heart and show me what I need to do to find peace in You. I want to love Your ways, Your law, but I am often distracted by the world. Help me to focus on You, alone. Amen
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