Though Psalm 119 is a song of love for the law, the Lord’s servant (as he calls himself) did not write it in the isolation and calm of his study. One of the prominent themes in the psalm is the presence of enemies who seek to turn him aside from the law and hinder him in his obedience to it. More than two thirds of the twenty two stanzas mention these enemies directly.
The psalm describes them in various ways. They are the proud (a better translation of the Hebrew might be presumptuous) and the cursed (v. 21), the wicked (v. 53), evildoers (v. 115), those who stray from the Lord’s statutes (v. 118), my oppressors (v. 121), my persecutors (v. 157), and the treacherous (v. 158). They are many (v. 157), and some of them are in positions of power (v. 23). They forsake the Lord’s law (v. 53). Their heart is as fat as grease (v. 70). They regard the law as void (v.126), do not keep it (v. 136), forget it (v. 139), and do not seek it (v. 155). They speak against the Lord’s servant. They reproach him and treat him with contempt (v. 22). They hold him in great derision (v. 51). They bind him with their cords (v. 61), forge a lie against him (v. 69, or “besmear him with falsehood”), and treat him wrongfully with falsehood (v. 78). They dig pits for him (v. 85), almost make an end of him on earth (v. 87), lie in wait to destroy him (v. 95), lay a snare for him (v. 110), and draw near (v. 150). Princes persecute him without a cause (v. 161).
The afflictions of the Lord’s servant were many and severe. Yet, in them he turned to the Lord and to his law. “Remove from me reproach and contempt, for I have kept your testimonies (v.22).” “Princes also sit and speak against me, but your servant meditates on your statutes (v. 23).” Similar statements are found in verses 51, 61, 87, 110, 143, 157 and 161. He says, “Unless your law had been my delight, I would then have perished in my affliction (v. 92).”
He asks the Lord to save him and give him the word of truth in his mouth so that he may have an answer to them (vv. 41–43). He promises to speak of the Lord’s testimonies before kings, not be ashamed (v. 46), and delight himself in the commandments (v. 47) as well as keep them (vv. 145–146). He is filled with indignation against the wicked, not as much because of their persecution of him as because of their forsaking of the law (v.53). He prays that they may be ashamed (v. 78) and asks for judgment on them (v. 84). He will consider the Lord’s testimonies in spite of them (v. 95) and commands them to depart from him (v. 115). He prays for help, salvation and redemption. Rivers of water run down his eyes because they do not keep the Lord’s law (v. 136), and he is consumed with zeal because of their forgetfulness (v. 139). He even says that it was good for him that he had been afflicted, for by it he learned the Lord’s testimonies (vv. 67 and 71).
His whole heart is set on obedience. He will not let his enemies’ opposition distract him from it, and he prays earnestly and often that the Lord will revive him and deliver him so that he may do as he has resolved. This is the great idea of the psalm; he is much more troubled by the hindrance to his obedience that his enemies cause, than by the pain they inflict on him, and he seeks his help from the Lord.
Finally, he is confident that the Lord will uphold him. The Lord rejects them (v.118) and will put them all away like dross (v. 110). Salvation is far from them (v. 155), but the Lord will be with his servant.
They draw near who follow after wickedness; They are far from your law. You are near, O LORD, And all Your commandments are truth. (vv. 150–151)