25 May 2025
Psalm 119:97-104 | I Love Your Law
Preacher: Joel Fair
Psalm 119:97-104
Augustine Expositions on the Psalms
Because as often as I began to reflect upon it, it always exceeded the utmost stretch of my powers.… I cannot show how deep it is
Psalm 1:2
but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
Thomas Brooks
Remember that it is not hasty reading but serious meditation on holy and heavenly truths, that makes them prove sweet and profitable to the soul. It is not the mere touching of the flower by the bee that gathers honey, but her abiding for a time on the flower that draws out the sweet. It is not he that reads most but he that meditates most that will prove to be the choicest, sweetest, wisest and strongest Christian.
J. I. Packer Knowing God
Meditation is the activity of calling to mind, and thinking over, and dwelling on, and applying to oneself, the various things that one knows about the works and ways and purposes and promises of God… It is an activity of holy thought, consciously performed in the presence of God, under the eye of God, by the help of God, as a means of communion with God.
Isaiah 55:8–9
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Philippians 4:8–9
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Romans 12:9
Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.
Derek Kidner
Attraction to the true and revulsion against the false are, for us, acquired tastes. Verse 104 describes the process; 101 reveals the earnest co-operation it requires of us.
James M. Hamilton Jr.
This love is a cultivated disposition to choose obedience over sin.
Ezekiel 36:25–27
I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you.
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.
Psalm 19:9–11
the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
1 John 5:2–3
By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.
