Psalm 119 124

Psalm 119:124 kjv

Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes.

Psalm 119:124 nkjv

Deal with Your servant according to Your mercy, And teach me Your statutes.

Psalm 119:124 niv

Deal with your servant according to your love and teach me your decrees.

Psalm 119:124 esv

Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love, and teach me your statutes.

Psalm 119:124 nlt

I am your servant; deal with me in unfailing love,
and teach me your decrees.

Psalm 119 verses

Psalm 119 124 Meaning

Psalm 119:124 is a fervent prayer to the Almighty God, entreating Him to interact with the supplicant, His "servant," not based on the servant's merit but entirely upon God's unchanging and loyal covenantal love. This divine act of steadfast love is implored as the foundation for God to "teach" His servant His "statutes," thereby enabling understanding and adherence to His divine commands and ways. It encapsulates a plea for both divine grace (ḥesed) and divine instruction in God's holy Word.

Psalm 119 124 Context

Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible, an acrostic psalm where each eight-verse section begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. It is wholly devoted to exalting God's Law, testimonies, precepts, statutes, commandments, rules, and word, often using these terms interchangeably. The psalmist expresses deep love, reverence, and longing for God's divine instructions, praying consistently for understanding, adherence, and strength to obey. This verse, Psalm 119:124, falls within the "Peh" (פ) section, which often conveys the psalmist's pleas for deliverance, divine intervention, and instruction in times of distress or challenge. Historically, the psalm serves as a timeless expression of a devout Israelite's dependence on God's revealed will for life and worship, providing comfort and guidance amidst trials and the wickedness of others. It highlights that living righteously is not a burden but a delight and a pathway to intimate fellowship with the Creator.

Psalm 119 124 Word analysis

• Deal with (עשה, 'asah): This verb signifies God's action or conduct towards the psalmist. It implies a request for God to act on his behalf, to intercede and interact in a favorable way, underscoring the psalmist's dependence on God's initiative rather than his own efforts.

• Your servant (עבדך, 'abdekha): The term "servant" ('eved) denotes a privileged and loyal relationship with God, one who belongs to Him and willingly submits to His authority. It expresses humility, dependence, and an acknowledgment of God's mastery and proprietorship, grounding the plea in a covenantal relationship.

• According to (כ, kə): This preposition indicates the standard or basis upon which the action requested ("deal with") should occur. It signifies "in the manner of," "in keeping with," or "in accordance with," emphasizing that the request appeals to God's revealed character as its ground.

• Your steadfast love (חסדך, ḥasdekha): "Ḥesed" is a profound Hebrew term meaning "loyal love," "covenantal faithfulness," "mercy," or "kindness." It refers to God's faithful, active, and enduring love towards His people, rooted in His covenant promises. This term is central to the plea, appealing to God's very nature and His unwavering loyalty.

• And teach me (ולמדני, welammədeni): The verb "lamad" in its causative form means "cause me to learn" or "instruct me." This signifies a request for spiritual enlightenment and discernment, implying an active, ongoing process of divine instruction where God's Spirit illumines the mind to grasp His truth. The "waw" (and) connects this plea to the previous, suggesting God's steadfast love is the foundation for His teaching.

• Your statutes (חקיך, ḥuqeykha): This term (ḥuqqim) refers to God's appointed decrees, ordinances, or established laws, which carry the weight of divine authority, permanence, and righteousness. The psalmist desires not just abstract knowledge but an understanding of God's prescriptive will for his life, recognizing it only comes through divine instruction.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "Deal with Your servant according to Your steadfast love": This phrase expresses complete dependence on God's grace. The psalmist recognizes his unworthiness but trusts in God's intrinsic nature of covenant faithfulness. It's a prayer for favorable divine action, not based on merit but on unmerited favor, implicitly countering any notion of legalism.
  • "and teach me Your statutes": This clause builds on the preceding, demonstrating that God's steadfast love is not only salvific but also sanctifying. It is out of His grace that God condescends to teach His servant His divine ways. This reveals a holistic view: God saves by grace and then guides and transforms through His Word, illuminated by the Holy Spirit. It highlights the ongoing necessity of divine revelation for righteous living.

Psalm 119 124 Bonus section

The prayer in Psalm 119:124 is a model for believers today, illustrating the inseparability of divine grace (ḥesed) and divine truth (statutes). It subtly counters legalism, by making God's actions and His teaching rooted not in human performance, but in His own unchanging character of steadfast love. This verse highlights that a deeper understanding of God’s Word is not achieved solely through intellectual effort, but fundamentally depends on God’s gracious initiative to open minds and hearts. Identifying as "Your servant" implies an ongoing posture of humble submission and readiness to obey once God teaches, emphasizing that knowledge should lead to practical application and righteous living.

Psalm 119 124 Commentary

Psalm 119:124 presents a deeply personal and theologically rich prayer that interweaves dependence on God's character with a hunger for His truth. The request, "Deal with Your servant according to Your steadfast love," immediately anchors the petition in the bedrock of God's loyal and unfailing covenant love, His ḥesed. This is not a request for reward based on works, but a humble plea for divine action rooted in God's own intrinsic goodness and faithfulness to His covenant promises. It implies a recognition that any blessing or favorable interaction from God is an act of sheer grace, not earned merit.

Following this foundation of grace, the psalmist then prays, "and teach me Your statutes." This linkage is crucial: God's steadfast love isn't just for salvation or preservation, but also for sanctification and guidance. It is out of His unwavering love that God condescends to instruct His servant in His divine laws. The plea to be "taught" signifies an active, divine impartation of understanding, acknowledging that merely reading or memorizing is insufficient without God's spiritual illumination. The psalmist yearns for a Spirit-led comprehension of God's fixed and authoritative commands, seeing them not as burdens, but as pathways to wisdom, righteousness, and true communion with the Master. This verse therefore epitomizes the Christian life: sustained by God's unending grace and continually refined by His instructive Word.

• When facing difficult decisions, pray, "Lord, deal with me in Your love, not my deserving, and teach me Your way through Your Word and Spirit."
• When you stumble, recall that God deals with you by His steadfast love first, leading you to His grace to learn and follow His statutes anew.