Psalm 119:63

(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 am a companion of all those who fear You,

And of those who keep Your precepts."

 

How good - yes, even how necessary - it is for us to have godly companions.  I want to fear You; bring me those who fear You.  I want to keep Your precepts; bring me those who keep Your precepts.  I am reminded of Psalm 119:74 and Psalm 119:79, how good it is to be appreciated and sought after.  ‘Companion’ is the Hebrew ‘חָבֵר, ḥāḇēr: A masculine noun indicating friendship, association with, being friends with, a companion. It indicates being joined together in various ways: as a helpful friend or companion (Ecc 4:10); with regard to a plan or campaign (Jdg 20:11); with respect to a certain group of people, good or bad in character (Psa 45:7 [8]; Psa 119:63; Pro 28:24; Isa 1:23)’.  It occurs just 11 times in the O.T., just one other time in the Psalms, Psalm 45:7.  Notably, it appears in Ecclesiastes 4:10.   We need each other!  How good it is for us to dwell in unity (Psalm 133:1).  It is sweet because it is rare.  Loyalty is the exception (Proverbs 20:6) and betrayal is common.  Only You are the Rock I can come to continually (Psalm 71:3-4) and never be disappointed (Deuteronomy 32:3-4, 2 Samuel 22:32, Isaiah 28:16).  In all of this, may I walk closest with You, seeking to be a good man who seeks good men (Proverbs 2:20) but seeks You above all (Psalm 27:4).

 

‘so did him honour and helped to support his kingdom among men. Our love to the saints is then sincere when we love them for the sake of what we see of God in them and the service they do to him… He had not only a spiritual communion with them in the same faith and hope, but he joined with them in holy ordinances in the courts of the Lord, where rich and poor, prince and peasant, meet together… Though he was a king, he would associate with the poorest of his subjects that feared God, Psa 15:4: Jas 2:1.’[1]

 

‘The holy man spent his nights with God and his days with God's people. Those who fear God love those who fear him, and they make small choice in their company so long as the men are truly God-fearing. David was a king, and yet he consorted with “all” who feared the Lord, whether they were obscure or famous, poor or rich. He was a fellow-commoner of the College of All-saints… He looked for inward godly fear, but he also expected to see outward piety in those whom he admitted to his society;… David was known to be on the godly side...the men of Belial hated him for this, and no doubt despised him for keeping such unfashionable company as that of humble men and women who were strait-laced and religious; but the man of God is by no means ashamed of his associates; so far from this, he even glories to avow his union with them, let his enemies make what they can of it. He found both pleasure and profit in saintly society; he grew better by consorting with the good, and derived honour from keeping right honourable company… A man is known by his company… those who loved the saints on earth shall be numbered with them in heaven.’[2]


[1] Henry, Matthew, Commentary on the Whole Bible, on Psalm 119:62, e-Sword edition

[2] Spurgeon, Charles Haddon, Treasury of David, on Psalm 119:63, e-Sword edition


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