One theme that appears again and again in Psalm 119 is keeping the testimonies of the Lord.
The psalm uses two Hebrew words for keep, both of which appear in verse 34: Cause me to understand, and I will observe [natsar] your law, and I will keep [shamar] it with my whole heart. The second of these words appears much more frequently than the first. There does not seem to be a significant difference between them, but I will translate the first as observe and the second as keep.
The first stanza (vv. 1-8) lays the foundation for everything that the rest of the psalm says about keeping the commandments. It begins with a declaration that we may call the main idea of the whole psalm: Blest are the perfect of way, those who walk in the law of Yahweh. Blest are those who observe his testimonies. With all the heart they will seek him. That’s the first foundational truth. The second is found in verse 4: You have commanded us to keep your precepts diligently. Rising out of these two foundational truths is a strong desire: Would that my ways were established to keep your statutes (v. 5); and a promise to do exactly that: your statutes I will keep (v. 8).
The promise to keep the law appears at least six more times:
You are my portion, O Yahweh,
I have said that I will keep your words (v. 57).
The presumptuous have forged against me falsehood,
I with all the heart will observe your precepts (v. 69).
I have sworn and confirmed
to keep the judgments of your righteousness (v. 106).
Turn aside from me, you evildoers,
and I will observe the commandments of my God (v. 115).
I call with all the heart,
Answer me, O Yahweh,
Your statutes I will observe.
I call you,
Save me and I will keep your testimonies. (vv. 145, 146).
He uses different words for law in these promises: Statutes, law, words, precepts, judgments, commandments and testimonies. That’s almost the full range of synonyms for law in the psalm. He seems to want to assure us that there is no statute and no part of the law that he will not keep.
The contexts in which he makes the promises vary: the desire to learn (v. 145), grace experienced (v. 57), grace sought (v. 146), and falsehood told against him by the proud (v. 69).
He takes the promise seriously. He has sworn a formal oath and confirmed it.
There is another side to this whole subject of keeping. The psalmist not only promises to keep but also asserts that he has kept the law. There are at least eight of these assertions:
I remember in the night your name, O Yahweh,
and I keep your law.
This is mine,
that your precepts I observe (vv. 55-56).
I hastened and did not delay
to keep your commandments (v. 60).
Before I was afflicted I strayed,
and now your sayings I keep (v. 67).
More than the ancients I will understand,
because your precepts I observe.
From every evil path I withhold my feet,
that I may keep your word (vv. 100-101).
Wonders your testimonies are.
Therefore my soul observes them (v. 129).
My soul keeps your testimonies,
and I love them exceedingly.
I keep your precepts and your testimonies
because all my ways are before you. (vv. 167-168).
The assertions appear in different contexts, just like the promises: while he’s in bed, while he’s in affliction, in comparison to the ancients, and in response to the knowledge of the Lord’s omniscience.
His assertion that he is a companion of those who keep the law (v. 63) really falls into the same category. He asserts it to demonstrate his own righteousness.
He not only promises to keep and asserts that he has kept, but also prays for help to keep the commandments:
Cause me to learn, O Yahweh, the way of your statutes,
and I will observe it to the end.
Cause me to understand and I will observe your law,
and I will keep it with all the heart (vv. 33-34).
And do not take utterly from my mouth the word of truth,
because in your judgments I hope.
And I will keep your law continually,
forever and ever (vv. 43-44)
According to your lovingkindness cause me to live,
and I will keep the testimony of your mouth (v. 88).
Ransom me from the oppression of man,
and I will keep your precepts (v. 134).
He can and will keep the law only if the Lord is gracious and answers his prayers. Whether promising to keep or asserting righteousness, he knows that he depends on the Lord’s lovingkindness. He never keeps the law by his own strength. Thus, nothing he says contradicts the doctrine of salvation by grace alone. Even keeping the law is a work of grace.
We do not keep the law, but neither did the psalmist. His keeping was, like ours, an imperfect keeping, and he relied as much as we do on the grace of forgiveness; I have strayed like a lost sheep; seek your servant, because your commandments I do not forget.
We may be afraid to promise to keep the law because we know how often we fail. The psalmist also had this problem. We occasionally do make such promises, as, for example, when we take marriage vows, or promise before Christ’s church to be faithful members or to raise our children in the fear of the Lord. We should also make the more general kind fo vow we find in Psalm 119. If we take our promises seriously, they will help us to be more diligent in doing our Christian duty.
And in all of this we must remember that we can keep the commandments only by God’s grace. Keeping them is no ground for boasting but instead is yet another reason for thankfulness.