The Nugget:
Psalm 119:167 My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly.
My Comment:
The saints love the Scriptures exceedingly (The New Topical Textbook, topic “The Scriptures,” page 240). By “saints” is meant ordinary Bible-believing Christians. The Psalmist has a great testimony. He has kept God’s written word, here given the title “thy testimonies.” He loves God’s Word exceedingly. That he keeps God’s Word is evidence that he loves God’s Word. I wonder if there is an implied cause/effect relationship expressed here too. Could it be said that because the Psalmist keeps God’s Word, therefore he loves God’s Word exceedingly? Or, could it be expressed the other way, because he loves God’s Word so deeply, therefore he keeps or obeys God’s Word? In any case, Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible, is a great hymn of honor to God’s written Word. Its 176 verses provide many insights into the importance of God’s Word, and are well worth our time to read and meditate upon them. There are enough verses that, taken one a day, would be enough to go twice through each year.
For those who desire to DIG DEEPER into this subject:
(1) Consult the cross references given in Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible on page 634 for Psalm 119:167.
(2) Consult the cross references given in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge on page 678 or in Logos 5 Bible software for Psalm 119:167.
(3) Lacking access to those two resources, consult the cross references for this passage as I have developed them as given below:
Psalm 119:167. soul. Heb. nephesh, +Ge 34:3. hath kept. ver. Psalm 119:5-8, 97, 111, 159. Jn 14:21-24. 15:9, 10. He 10:17. thy testimonies. ver. +Ps 119:2, 95. and I love. ver. Ps 119:47, +Ps 119:140, 159, 163, 174. Ps 40:8, 16. 104:34. *Jb 23:12. Ro 7:22. *Col 3:16.
psm 119. 167 My soul keeps Thy testimonies, And I love them exceedingly
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encouraging cross refs.(the best commentary on the bible is the bible)
1. 119.6 Then I shall not be ashamed When I look upon all Thy commandments.
2. 119.7 I shall give thanks to The with uprightness of heart, When i learn Thy
righteous judgments.
3. 119.8 I shall keep Thy statues; Do not forsake me utterly!
4. 119.111 I have inherited Thy testiomonies forever, For they are the joy of
my heart.
5. 119.159 Consider how I love Thy precepts; Revive me according to Thine
lovingkindness.
6. jn 14.21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves
Me; and he who loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I will love him, and
will disclose Myself to him.