What does Psalms 119:42 Mean?

Study Notes

trust
.

Trust is the characteristic O.T. word for the N.T. "faith," "believe." It occurs 152 times in the O.T., and is the rendering of Heb. words signifying to take refuge (e.g. Ruth 2:12 "to lean on" (e.g.) Psalms 56:3 "to roll on" (e.g.) Psalms 22:8 "to stay upon" (e.g.) Job 35:14 .

Context Summary

Twice over the psalmist says, "thy commandments which I have loved," and then proceeds to give the key to perfect love of them in the words, "I will meditate in thy statutes." Fugitive moments spent over God's Word will never lead to a deep and fervent affection for it. If you look cursorily at a great painting, you will fail to become enthralled with it. In the Dresden gallery connoisseurs will spend hours before a single painting by Raphael. They go away, and return the next day. They make the painting their own by prolonged communion with its matchless forms. One of them said: "I could spend an hour every day, for years, upon that assemblage of human, angelic, and divine ideals, and on the last day of the last year discover some new beauty and a new joy." But what thoughts, what ideals, can genius express in a painting which can be compared with those great thoughts of God, of heaven, and of eternity, which are given on the page of Scripture. Surely we cannot hope to spring into possession of such thoughts in less time than lovers of art spend on a masterpiece! We must meditate! [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 119

¹  This psalm contains various prayers, praises, and professions of obedience
²  Aleph
⁹  Beth
¹⁷  Gimel
²⁵  Daleth
³³  He
⁴¹  Waw
⁴⁹  Zayin
⁵⁷  Heth
⁶⁵  Teth
⁷³  Yodh
⁸¹  Kaph
⁸⁹  Lamedh
⁹⁷  Mem
¹⁰⁵  Nun
¹¹³  Samekh
¹²¹  Ayin
¹²⁹  Pe
¹³⁷  Tsadhe
¹⁴⁵  Qoph
¹⁵³  Resh
¹⁶¹  Sin and Shin
¹⁶⁹  Taw