Reading the Word

Psalm 119:161–168 (ESV)

¹⁶¹ Princes persecute me without cause, but my heart stands in awe of your words. ¹⁶² I rejoice at your word like one who finds great spoil. ¹⁶³ I hate and abhor falsehood, but I love your law. ¹⁶⁴ Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous rules. ¹⁶⁵ Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble. ¹⁶⁶ I hope for your salvation, O Lord, and I do your commandments. ¹⁶⁷ My soul keeps your testimonies; I love them exceedingly. ¹⁶⁸ I keep your precepts and testimonies, for all my ways are before you.

Understanding and Applying the Word

Psalm 119 focuses on the supreme value of God’s law. For 176 verses, the psalm states over and over again how wonderful the word of God is and why this is so. In our passage for today, in verse 165, we are told that God’s word brings “great peace.” Even in the face of persecution and falsehood, the psalmist finds peace. Peace is certainly something that we all desire. However, we usually think of world peace (i.e. the end of war and conflict) when we contemplate it. Such peace would be wonderful, but there is an even greater peace that we need.

Our greatest need is peace with God. Our sin sets us apart from him. While we are in our sin, we are in rebellion against God and his holy commands and we are justly under condemnation. One day we will stand before him and he is the righteous Judge who punishes all sin. We need to know how we can make peace with God.

Thankfully, God has told us in his word that there is a way to be reconciled. God stands ready to forgive our sin when we repent and turn to Jesus Christ as our Savior. Through Jesus, who suffered and died, our sins were paid for as he took the punishment we deserve on himself. In Christ, we find forgiveness and we find peace with God. Romans 5:1 reads: “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

It is through God’s word that we learn that peace with God is available through Jesus Christ. That is the greatest peace of all.

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