Psalm 119:92

The author of Psalm 119 had some very close calls in his troubles.  He would have been completely overwhelmed by them had it not been for the role His Bible played in his life.  It is to this that today’s verse speaks.

Psalms 119:92  Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.

In order to understand what it means to perish in an affliction, we need to define the word perish.

Perish – To come to a violent, sudden, or untimely end; to suffer destruction; to lose its life, cease to exist; be cut off.

The psalmist’s affliction was to such a degree of intensity that if he had not had some relief it would have destroyed him.  But mark this outstanding thought:  What prevented the psalmist from perishing in his affliction was not the cessation of the affliction, but rather the delights he had in God’s law! 

Delight – Pleasure, joy, or gratification felt in a high degree.

He found things in God’s law that brought him a high degree of pleasure.  In fact, they brought such a high degree of pleasure as to offset the high degree of his affliction.

Observe that the law of God had been the psalmist’s delights, plural.  He found multiple things in His Bible that caused him joy.  And indeed, there are many things contained in God’s written word to bring joy to His afflicted children.  Just think of the some of the things you have read in the Scriptures that have delighted your soul, things that have sent a wave of relief over you when you have been troubled.  Have any of these blogs ever brought you joy in the midst of your troubles and thus helped you to bear them?  If so, then you get the idea.  It is amazing how much more we can bear when we enjoy studying the Bible and hearing it preached.

Now we know that the psalmist was a holy man of God whom God loved, and who possessed God’s gift of eternal life.  Therefore, no affliction could cause him to perish eternally.   Just to know this brings delight.

John 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

The knowledge of our eternal salvation gained from God’s word is a chief delight.  It brings great joy to realize that our sins are forgiven, that all our afflictions in this world are only temporary and in the end will yield to a life of unending pleasure at the right hand of God.

Romans 5:10  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

11  And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

Romans 5:2  By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Psalms 16:11  Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Couple with this the many delightful promises of the Lord to be with us in our afflictions, to help and strengthen us, and to supply all our need.  Then there are all the wonderful attributes and works of God revealed in His law that rejoice the soul.  The justice and purity of God’s commandments delight the hearts of those who are right with Him.  And there are all the Biblical accounts of the triumphs of God and His people over their enemies that are sources of pleasure as well as encouragement.  All of these delights are a sure remedy against perishing in affliction.  As a minister of the Lord Jesus Christ I find delight in a passage like the following:

2 Timothy 4:17  Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.

18  And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

But be advised that the law of God will bring you no delight if you doubt it.  The delight, the joy comes in believing the God's law. 

Romans 15:13  Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

So if you are finding no delight in the word of God, take stock of your faith and beg God to increase it.

Luke 17:5  And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.