PSALM 119:17-24

¹⁷ Deal bountifully with Your servant,
That I may live and keep Your word.
¹⁸ Open my eyes, that I may see
Wondrous things from Your law.
¹⁹ I am a stranger in the earth;
Do not hide Your commandments from me.
²⁰ My soul breaks with longing
For Your judgments at all times.
²¹ You rebuke the proud—the cursed,
Who stray from Your commandments.
²² Remove from me reproach and contempt,
For I have kept Your testimonies.
²³ Princes also sit and speak against me,
But Your servant meditates on Your statutes.
²⁴ Your testimonies also are my delight
And my counselors.

Psalm 119:17-24 expresses the psalmist’s heartfelt plea for God’s grace and guidance in order to live a life of obedience and understanding of God’s Word. He desires bountiful blessings (verse 17) and asks God to open his eyes to the “wondrous things” in God’s law (verse 18). He recognizes his own spiritual need for understanding and longs for the wisdom that comes from God’s teachings. 

Here’s a more detailed breakdown:

Verse 17: The psalmist pleads for God to be “bountiful” (or “generous”) to him, his servant, so that he may live and obey God’s word. He understands that his life and obedience depend entirely on God’s grace and provision. 

Verse 18: He asks God to “open his eyes” so he can see the “wondrous things” in God’s law. This is a request for spiritual enlightenment and understanding. He recognizes that he cannot grasp the depth of God’s Word on his own and needs God’s help. 

Verses 19-24: The psalmist acknowledges his own limitations as a stranger on earth and the need for God’s counsel. He desires to be guided by God’s ordinances and testimonies, seeking wisdom and understanding from God’s Word. He pleads for deliverance from reproach, scorn, and contempt, as he seeks to live a life pleasing to God. 

Prayer: Let me, your servant, walk in abundance of life that I may always live to obey your truth. Open my eyes to see the miracle-wonders hidden in Scripture. My life on earth is so brief, so teach me in the ways of your wisdom. In Jesus name. Amen.

Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus!