Psalm 119:53

March 20, 2023

(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.)

"Burning indignation has seized me because of the wicked,

Who forsake Your law."

In Zayin (Psalm 119:49-56), the Psalmist moves from affliction to derision to indignation to rejoicing in praise, all by the work of Your word. Here we must turn to Psalm 119:51; my focus must always be on You, both because my soul cannot sustain burning indignation nor the utter derision of people in my own strength. A wonderful example is found in Jeremiah 20:8-9. Here Jeremiah laments that the word of the Lord has resulted in reproach and derision constantly. Yet, it is far worse for him to hold it in than to proclaim it. ‘Burning indignation’ is the Hebrew ‘זַלְעָפָה, zal‛āp̱āh: A feminine noun meaning burning heat. This word occurs only three times in the Old Testament. In Psa 119:53, the psalmist speaks figuratively about his righteous, burning zeal on account of those who forsake God's law.’ These are the only 3 uses in the O.T. However, the English ‘indignation’ occurs 31 times in the NASB, and in all but 2 cases it is of the righteous anger of God. Notably we see it in Psalm 7:11 of You and 2 Corinthians 7:11 of Your people. As an expression of Your righteousness, it is a daily occurrence, because of the continual unrighteousness of man. As an outworking of Your righteousness, Your people are to be angry at their own sin and obviously repentant. This is the primary way in which Your anger comes out of and produces righteousness, while man’s anger does not (James 1:20). It seized the Psalmist because of the wicked who forsake Your law. It is a God centered anger. We see this in the life of David at his own sin (2 Samuel 12:1-14) and in Jesus at the temple (Psalm 69:9, John 2:14-17).

‘Every sin is a transgression of the law, but a course and way of wilful and avowed sin is downright forsaking it and throwing it off… He trembled to think of the dishonour thereby done to God, the gratification thereby given to Satan, and the mischiefs thereby done to the souls of men. He dreaded the consequences of it both to the sinners themselves (and cried out, O gather not my soul with sinners! let my enemy be as the wicked) and to the interests of God's kingdom among men, which he was afraid would be thereby sunk and ruined.’[1]

‘He was horrified at their action, at the pride which led them to it, and at the punishment which would be sure to fall upon them for it. When he thought upon the ancient judgments of God he was filled with terror at the fate of the godless; as well he might be. Their laughter had not distressed him, but he was distressed by a foresight of their overthrow… this forsaking of the law filled him with the most painful emotions: he was astonished at their wickedness, stunned by their presumption, alarmed by the expectation of their sudden overthrow, amazed by the terror of their certain doom… Those who are the firmest believers in the eternal punishment of the wicked are the most grieved at their doom. It is no proof of tenderness to shut one's eyes to the awful doom of the ungodly. Compassion is far better shown in trying to save sinners than in trying to make things pleasant all round. Oh that we were all more distressed as we think of the portion of the ungodly in the lake of fire!’[2]

[1] Henry, Matthew, Commentary on the Whole Bible, on Psalm 119:53, e-Sword edition

[2] Spurgeon, Charles Haddon, Treasury of David, on Psalm 119:53, e-Sword edition