Psalm 119:74

Today we take up the second verse in the octave of Psalm 119 entitled Jod.

 Psalms 119:74  They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word.

 Let’s admit it.  We like it when people are glad to see us.  It comforts us to know that our company brings pleasure to another.  The apostle Paul felt this way, too, as we see from this passage:

1 Thessalonians 3:6  But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you:

7  Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith….

These people of faith in Thessalonica greatly desired to see Paul, the preacher of the faith. 

Those who would be glad to see the psalmist were those that feared God.  People who fear God are such as trust God and obey His word.  They are people of faith like the believers to whom Paul wrote in 1Thessalonians.  The following verse describes those who fear God as those who trust in Him. 

Psalms 31:19 Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!

Now those who feared God would be glad to see the psalmist because, as he wrote, I have hoped in thy word.  They who fear the Lord, who trust in Him, also hope in Him. 

Psalms 33:18  Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy….

Jeremiah 17:7  Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.

The psalmist trusted God’s word of truth and based his hope upon it.  He expected the Lord to fulfill every promise.  You can hope for the fulfillment of the promise of an almighty God Who cannot lie.

Titus 1:2  In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began....

Let’s recall something I wrote previously in our meditation on Psalm 119:49:  “Faith and hope work in tandem.  You certainly would not find much hope in something you did not believe.”  Now this hope that springs from faith in God’s word had such an influence on the psalmist’s character and outlook that it brought gladness to other believers who saw him.  People who fear God, who are people of faith and hope, draw comfort and encouragement from one another and are, therefore, glad when they see each other.

Romans 1:11  For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;

12  That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

Acts 28:15  And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii forum, and The three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.

Charles Spurgeon made the following excellent comment on this verse:

“Hopeful men bring gladness with them.  Despondent spirits spread the infection of depression, and hence few are glad to see them, while those whose hopes are grounded upon God’s word carry sunshine in their faces, and are welcomed by their fellows.”

In the light of today’s verse, every one of us should aspire to be a source of gladness to others.  We should want to lift others up rather than bring them down.  And we can be that source of gladness to others if we will answer this call:

Psalms 130:7  Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.

Oh, Lord, let me be a man that radiates hope, that cheers others on their way.  Now I close by saying to those whom I serve in the Lord as their overseer, I will be glad to see you Sunday.  I hope you will be glad when you see me as well.  May this Sunday be for us a personal experience of Psalm 119:74:  They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word.

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