Psalms 119:45 - Meaning and Application

In these verses, we can notice two things: what David felt toward God’s law, and what he expected from it.

David says, “I seek your precepts” (Psalms 119:45). He wants to know and do his duty, so he turns to God’s word for guidance. He works to understand what the Lord wants and to notice every hint of his will. He seeks God’s precepts because he loves them (Psalms 119:47, Psalms 119:48). He does not only agree that they are good. He sees them as good for him, too. Anyone who loves God will love his rule, and therefore will love all his commands.

From this devotion, David expects five blessings, by God’s grace. First, he expects to walk in freedom. “I will walk at liberty.” He means he will be free from evil, free from the grip of his own sinful desires, and free to do good willingly. Serving sin is full slavery. Serving God is true freedom. Lawless living is bondage to the harshest master. Careful obedience brings freedom even to a person who is otherwise in chains (John 8:32, John 8:36; Luke 1:74, Luke 1:75).

Second, he expects to be bold in his duty. He says, “I will speak of your testimonies also before kings.” Before David became king, kings such as Saul and Achish judged him. If he were called before them to explain his hope, he would speak of God’s testimonies and say that his hope rested on them. He would make them his counsel, his guard, his crown, and his all. We should never be ashamed to own our faith, even if it brings the anger of kings. We should speak of it as the truth we will live and die by, like the three young men before Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian king (Daniel 3:16; Acts 4:20). Later, after David became king, he met with kings as friends and visitors. Even then, he would not avoid religious talk just to keep their company comfortable. God’s testimonies would be the main subject of his speech. He wanted not only to show that he was not ashamed of his religion, but also to teach kings and win them to it. It is good for kings to hear about God’s testimonies, and it also honors princes when they speak of them.

Third, he expects to be cheerful in duty. “I will delight myself in your commandments” (Psalms 119:47). He means delight in studying them and in living by them. He would never be so pleased with himself as when he was doing what pleased God. The more joy we find in God’s service, the closer we come to the perfection we are seeking.

Fourth, he expects to be active and strong in duty. “I will lift up my hands to your commandments.” This shows a strong desire for them (Psalms 143:6). It means he would reach for them as someone afraid of losing them or letting them slip away. It also means close attention in obeying them. He would put his hands to the command, not only to praise it, but to practice it. Indeed, he would lift up his hands to it, putting all his strength into doing it. Hands that hang down because of laziness or discouragement should be lifted up (Hebrews 12:12).

Fifth, he expects to be thoughtful in duty. “I will meditate in your statutes” (Psalms 119:48). He does not mean only that he will enjoy thinking about them as interesting truths. He means that he will think carefully about how to obey them in the best way. This is how we show that we truly love God’s commandments, by using both our minds and our hands for them.