Psalm 119:45

(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.)

 

"And I will walk at liberty,

For I seek Your precepts."

 

How could it not be so?  The way of freedom can only be pursued when the path is clear and the shackles of sin have been removed (Proverbs 4:11-12, Romans 6:20-23, 1 Corinthians 7:22-23).  Surely the paths diverge!  Proverbs 4:18-19.  ‘Liberty’ is the Hebrew ‘רָחָב, rāḥāḇ: An adjective meaning broad, wide, spacious, large. It indicates that something is wide, broad; land (Exo 3:8; Isa 22:18); a wall (Jer 51:58). It refers to the broad freedom or openness of Your law or to walking in it (Psa 119:45).’  It is used one other time in Psalm 119, Psalm 119:96, ‘Your commandment is exceedingly broad.’  There is no end to the freedom of joyful discovery!  I am reminded immediately of Psalm 18:19.  Why would I retreat to the darkness of the forest when I can bask in the open freedom of the sun?  Surely it is for freedom that Christ has set us free, Galatians 5:1.  Surely ‘eternal vigilence is the price of liberty’ (attributed to Jefferson).  ‘Precepts’ refers to instruction.  It is counterintuitive to our flesh to think that following the instructions of another can bring us freedom.  But so it is with You, my awesome and gracious God!  ‘He breaks the power of cancelled sin / He sets the prisoner free / His blood can make the foulest clean / His blood availed for me.’  (from the hymn, ‘All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name’).

 

‘Saints find no bondage in sanctity. The Spirit of holiness is a free spirit; he sets men at liberty and enables them to resist every effort to bring them under subjection. The way of holiness is not a track for slaves, but the King's highway for freemen, who are joyfully journeying from the Egypt of bondage to the Canaan of rest. God's mercies and his salvation, by teaching us to love the precepts of the word, set us at a happy rest; and the more we seek after the perfection of our obedience the more shall we enjoy complete emancipation from every form of spiritual slavery… He says, “I shall walk,” indicating his daily progress through life; “at liberty,” as one who is out of prison, unimpeded by adversaries, unencumbered by burdens, unshackled, allowed a wide range, and roaming without fear. Such liberty would be dangerous if a man were seeking himself or his own lusts; but when the one object sought after is the will of God, there can be no need to restrain the searcher… Is not this the way to the highest form of liberty, - to be always labouring to know the mind of God and to be conformed to it?’[1]


[1] Spurgeon, Charles Haddon, Treasury of David, on Psalm 119:45, e-Sword edition


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