121. I have done what is just and right;
do not leave me to my oppressors.

122. Give your servant a pledge of good;
let not the insolent oppress me.

123. My eyes long for your salvation
and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise.

124. Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love,
and teach me your statutes.

125. I am your servant; give me understanding,
that I may know your testimonies!

126. It is time for the Lord to act,
for your law has been broken.

127. Therefore I love your commandments
above gold, above fine gold.

128. Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right;
I hate every false way.

OBEDIENT SLAVES

“Death before disobedience” is the cry of the underground church in many parts of the world. This declaration reflects deep allegiance and marks a true disciple and follower of Jesus. But this is a high bar. We often fall short. Which is why the unending mercies of God are so precious in the cleansing blood of Jesus (1 Jo. 1:9). This declaration of allegiance and servanthood to the extreme degree should provoke us to deeper surrender to following Jesus as his blood-bought servant.

Beginning with the Hebrew letter ayin, the Hebrew word for servant is eved and is the first word of verse 125. Specifically, verse 125 begins Av-d’cha (עַבְדְּךָ) which begins with the letter ayin (ע) and means Your servant. David is declaring himself to be God’s servant. After committing their lives to serve Jesus, the Jewish disciples Paul (Rom. 1:1; Phil. 1:1; Tit. 1:1), James (1:1), Peter (2 Pet. 1:1), and Jude (1:1) often started their letters by affirming their primary identity as a slave or servant (eved) and declaring their allegiance to Jesus. John also addresses the last book of the Bible to you and me as slaves of Jesus for the sake of making Him known (Rev. 1:1). Peter goes on to defend the ultimate freedom available in serving Jesus over everything and everyone by declaring “a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him” (2 Pe. 2:19).

Beloved, Jesus has mastered and overcome death and slavery to him is the greatest path of true freedom. “Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey — whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?” (Rom. 6:16).

Hebrew Treasure excerpt written by Thomas Boehm.
From The Psalm 119 Journey by Steve Allen, ©2022.
Used with permission.