Psalm 119:24
(This is an entry from a devotional commentary I am working on from Psalm 119 entitled God and His Word. The introduction can be found here, successive entries have covered the 22 sections of the Psalm, and following entries verse by verse.)
"Your testimonies also are my delight;
They are my counselors."
Because the Psalmist was a stranger in the earth (v.19), crushed with longing after Your word (v.20), surrounded by arrogant men who reproached him (v.22), reviled by powerful men (v.23), he sought delight elsewhere. He sought it in Your word. Note the contrast in the Psalms with self-counsel (Psalm 13:2) leading to despair within (Psalm 42:5-6, Psalm 42:11, Psalm 43:5), which must be rejected along with the counsel of the wicked (Psalm 1:1). How wonderful it is to know that You are near in Your word (Psalm 119:151) and that You counsel me intimately and personally (Psalm 32:8), so of course Your word would be my constant delight (Psalm 1:2). Having Your word on my heart and lips (Deuteronomy 6:6-7), You guide me through them at all times and in all things (Proverbs 6:22). ‘Delight’ here is the Hebrew ‘שַׁעֲשֻׁעִים, ša‛ašu‛iym: A masculine plural noun meaning delight. It often describes the delight given to the one who follows God's teachings, laws, and testimonies (Psa 119:24, Psa 119:77, Psa 119:92, Psa 119:143, Psa 119:174). Wisdom, in creation, was constantly God's delight (Pro 8:30-31). It is used figuratively in the phrase a delightful plant, a pleasant plant to refer to God's pleasure in the people of Judah (Isa 5:7); likewise Ephraim was God's pleasant child (Jer 31:20), His dear son (KJV).’ ‘Counselors’ here is a combination of ‘אִישׁ, ’iyš: A masculine noun meaning a man or an individual.’ and ‘עֵצָה ‛ēṣāh: A feminine noun meaning advice, a plan. It sometimes may suggest the idea of a plot (Neh 4:15 [4:9]; Pro 21:30); of a judgment or decision (Jdg 20:7; 2Sa 16:20; Ezr 10:3, Ezr 10:8). The term occurs in a positive sense in association with wisdom and understanding (Job 12:13; Pro 8:14; Pro 12:15). Thus, the meaning of advice came from the sages of Israel and the astrologers of Babylon who were viewed as wise in their communities (Isa 47:13; Jer 18:18). Kings and would-be kings sought out advice but did not always have the discernment to choose the good (2Sa 17:7, 2Sa 17:14, 2Sa 17:23; 1Ki 12:8, 1Ki 12:13-14). This term is used quite often as a possession of God and the promised Messiah (Pro 19:21; Isa 5:19; Isa 11:2; Jer 32:19).’ So I believe an adequate rendering would be ‘men of my counsel’ (John Gill and Matthew Henry commentaries affirm this). While multiple wise words from many human sources, they are ultimately ‘given by one Shepherd’ (Ecclesiastes 12:11). Oh Lord! Grant me grace to keep to the way of good men and walk in the paths of the righteous (Proverbs 2:20). When my anxious, sinful thoughts multiply within me, flood my mind with the delight of Your consolations (Psalm 94:19).
‘While his enemies took counsel with each other the holy man took counsel with the testimonies of God… in our sorrows they are our delight, and in our difficulties they are our guide; we derive joy from them and discover wisdom in them. If we desire to find comfort in the Scriptures we must submit ourselves to their counsel, and when we follow their counsel it must not be with reluctance but with delight… The best answer to accusing princes is the word of the justifying King… In Psa 119:16 David said, “I will delight in thy statutes,” and here he says “they are my delight:” thus resolutions formed in God's strength come to fruit, and spiritual desires ripen into actual attainments. O that it might be so with all the readers of these lines.’[1]
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