Psalm 119:17

Now that I am safely returned home from my evangelistic trip to Asia, I am ready to resume this series of meditations on the 119th Psalm. We come today to the first verse of the third octave, which is entitled by the third letter of the Hebrew alphabet, Gimel.

Psalms 119:17 Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word.

This verse is a prayer to God. It contains a specific request with a specific objective in mind, should God grant the request. The request is that God would “deal bountifully” with His servant. Although my trip to Asia was in some ways a life-changing experience for me, there is one thing that remains unchanged about me and that is my method of teaching the word of God. We begin by defining terms. In this case, we define the key word bountifully.

Bountifully – In a bountiful manner; with generous liberality, munificently, plentifully, amply.

The psalmist brings a large petition. He begs for liberal, plentiful, abundant supplies from God. He brings a large petition because He is addresses a very large God Who has large amounts to give. “The earth is the LORD’S, and the fullness thereof” (Psalm 24:1). It is His to give to as much as He will to whomever He will. All things seen and unseen belong to the Lord.

Romans 11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

God is “abundant in goodness and truth” (Exodus 34:6). He has a multitude of tender mercies and lovingkindnesses to bestow (Psalm 51:1; Isaiah 63:7). “With him is plenteous redemption” (Psalm 130:7). He abundantly pardons (Isaiah 55:7). And considering the abundance of my sin, this is an abundance I certainly need. His grace is exceeding abundant (1Timothy 1:14). Our Saviour came that we might have life, and “have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). Because of “his riches in glory” we have the promise that our “God shall supply all your need” (Philippians 4:19). Indeed, as Paul wrote, God is “able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20). It is no imposition to ask a God like this to deal bountifully with us.

And the psalmist brings a large petition because he has a large need. Without God’s liberal dealings with us, even at our best we are the extremity of weakness, emptiness, and nothingness.

Psalms 39:5 Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.

We have an abundance of sin. Thank God He has a greater abundance of grace.

Romans 5:20 ....But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.

Now the psalmist’s specific objective in asking God to deal bountifully with him is that he might “live, and keep thy word.” Whenever you ask God to live, to spare your life and lengthen your days, what is your reason for asking this? Is it that you might achieve certain professional goals? Is it that you might see your children or your grandchildren grow up? Is it that you might experience more of the delights of this world? Or is it that you might keep God’s word? If you ask God for life with a selfish end in view, do not be surprised if your request is denied.

James 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

In this prayer the psalmist speaks of himself as God’s servant. As servants of God, our chief aim and purpose is to do the will of our Master. God’s will is expressed in His word. You serve God by keeping His word. And it to this end the psalmist asks God to deal bountifully with him that he might live.

So if you pray and expect God to deal bountifully with you, make sure that you aim to use the bounty He bestows to serve Him and keep His word. The thought of this verse is well expressed in the following verse taken from the hymn written by Samuel Stennett entitled Majestic Sweetness Sits Enthroned:

Since from His bounty I receive
Such proof of love divine,
Had I a thousand hearts to give,
Lord, they should all be Thine,
Lord, they should all be Thine.

It is good to be back home doing this work of a pastor and teacher. I pray that this may bless you in reading as it has blessed me in writing.