Psalm 119:58

(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.)

 

"I sought Your favor with all my heart;

Be gracious to me according to Your word." 

 

A frequent heart cry!  Your favor is my very life.  Your agenda for me is the ultimate grace.  May I seek nothing less.  Favor here is the Hebrew ‘פָּנֶה, pāneh, פָּנִים, pāniym: A masculine plural noun meaning a face. Although the literal meaning of face is possible (Gen 43:31; Lev 13:41; 1Ki 19:13), most of the time this word occurs in a figurative, idiomatic phrase. Face can be a substitute for the entire person (Exo 33:14-15);’  It occurs 121 times in Psalms, first in Psalm 4:6 as ‘countenance’, often as ‘before’ (see Psalm 62:8), ’presence’ (see Psalm 44:3) or ‘face’, the latter most notably in Psalm 27:8-9.  This is 1 of 4 times in Psalm 119, the others being Psalm 119:135 as ‘face’, Psalm 119:169-170 as ‘before’.  To seek Your favor is to seek Your face.  To receive Your promises according to Your word is the ultimate grace.  Notice Daniel 9:13 - HOW we are to seek Your favor, namely, in turning from our iniquity and giving attention to Your truth.

 

‘Having taken God for his portion, he entreated his favour, as one that knew he had forfeited it, was unworthy of it, and yet undone without it, but for ever happy if he could obtain it…. The gracious soul is entirely set upon the favour of God, and is therefore importunate for it.’[1]

 

‘A fully assured possession be his God will seek his face, longing for his presence. Seeking God's presence is the idea conveyed by the marginal reading, “thy face,” and this is true to the Hebrew.. the light of his countenance gives us an antepast of heaven… The whole of God's favours are ready for those who seek them with their whole hearts… God has revealed such an infinity of mercy in his word that it would be impossible to conceive of more. See how the Psalmist dwells upon favour and mercy, he never dreams of merit. He does not demand, but entreat; for he feels his own unworthiness… God is his portion, and yet he begs for a look at his face… The confidence of faith makes us bold in prayer, but it never teaches us to live without prayer, or justifies us in being other than humble beggars at mercy's gate.’[2]

 


[1] Henry, Matthew, Commentary on the Whole Bible, on Psalm 119:58, e-Sword edition

[2] Spurgeon, Charles Haddon, Treasury of David, on Psalm 119:58, e-Sword edition


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