57. The Lord is my portion;
I promise to keep your words.

58. I entreat your favor with all my heart;
be gracious to me according to your promise.

59. When I think on my ways,
I turn my feet to your testimonies;

60. I hasten and do not delay
to keep your commandments.

61. Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me,
I do not forget your law.

62. At midnight I rise to praise you,
because of your righteous rules.

63. I am a companion of all who fear you,
of those who keep your precepts.

64. The earth, O Lord, is full of your steadfast love;
teach me your statutes!

Our Trustworthy God

Oh, how we long for trustworthy leaders who are both good and powerful. A bad leader cannot be trusted to make good choices that will benefit those being led. A weak leader cannot be trusted to have the ability to execute and deliver on those good choices. God is both totally good and all powerful.

Furthermore, His desire has always been to bless His people by leading us through relationships of trust. This trust was broken by Adam, renewed by Abraham, and scaled up through Jesus who restored access — through faith — to God’s good leadership beyond the physical descendants of Isaac and Jacob.

The Hebrew word chesed, often translated as loving-kindness or goodness, is best translated as covenant-fidelity. God is always faithful and will fulfill all of His promises. The last verse in this stanza opens with Chas-d’cha (חַסְדְּךָ) in which the Psalmist declares to God that His good and powerful leadership — His steadfast love, His covenant-fidelity — fills the earth. This Hebrew word begins with the next letter in the Hebrew alphabet heth (ח). In addition to verse 46, Psalm 119 also points us to God’s chesed, His covenant-fidelity in verses 41, 76, 88 (see Hebrew Treasure in chapter 11), 124, 149, and 159.

As a child of God, born again through faith in Jesus, you are safe under God’s leadership and you can trust Him even when your circumstances don’t align with your preferences. Beloved, trust in God’s goodness and that even today He is powerfully working all things together for your good!

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