The second stanza of Psalm 119 is perhaps the most well-known in the psalm, and it is addressed to a “young man.” The word refers to any young man who is not of marital age. This is the sense of the word as Solomon used it in Proverbs.
But the instructions in this verse are not for young men only. They are for all men. The Word of God is for anyone who would know God. The Word of God is for anyone (i.e., everyone) who struggles with sin. Every individual can apply the principles in this verse and find sin restrained in his life. To capture the sense of the word “young man,” we might say, every young person should live for God, but if you are no longer chronologically young, you should begin living for God as soon as you can.
What is further overlooked in all the psalmist’s encouragements about the Word of God is the situation in which he wrote. While it is unknown who the author was or what his exact circumstances were, we do know many things about his situation:
- He was sorely tried, but in his trials he recognized God’s loving discipline for his good (vv. 50, 67, 71, 75, 107, 153).
- He had to suffer contempt (22, 39, 42) and even ill-treatment (121, 134) for his adherence to the law.
- The authorities of the community despised and persecuted him (23, 161)
- Men of position and power — ‘the proud’ and ‘the wicked’ — mocked him and attempted to oppress and injure him (51, 61, 69, 78, 84, 85, 86, 95, 122, 150, 157).
- He was even in danger of his life (87, 109).
- His persecutors were not heathen, but faithless Israelites; he describes them as…
- forsaking God’s law (53)
- wandering from His commandments (21)
- forgetting His words (139).
- selfish, self-satisfied men of the world, incapable of appreciating true faith (70)
- double-minded and apostate (113, 158, 126)
- exemplifying evil and tempting others likewise to do evil (29, 37, 115)
- being doomed eternally (155)
While the psalmist repeatedly affirmed his dependence on God to sustain him in these circumstances — even to the point of preserving his purity and teaching him godly wisdom — what is even more remarkable is his joy in God in the midst of these circumstances. This psalmist was uttering words that anticipated similar words from Paul — “rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks — for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thess. 5:16-18).
This is what the follower of God does to abstain from sin — he meditates on the Word of God so that when suffering and trials are initiated, he continues to see them through the lens of Scripture and the Word of God. In other words, read and meditate on Scripture so that when trials come, you will persevere in joy and not sin with grumbling.
Words of Grace 