Psalm 119 126

Psalm 119:126 kjv

It is time for thee, LORD, to work: for they have made void thy law.

Psalm 119:126 nkjv

It is time for You to act, O LORD, For they have regarded Your law as void.

Psalm 119:126 niv

It is time for you to act, LORD; your law is being broken.

Psalm 119:126 esv

It is time for the LORD to act, for your law has been broken.

Psalm 119:126 nlt

LORD, it is time for you to act,
for these evil people have violated your instructions.

Psalm 119 verses

Psalm 119 126 Meaning

Psalm 119:126 is a fervent plea to the Most High for intervention in a time of profound moral decay and spiritual rebellion. The psalmist observes that the divine instruction, the very law of God, has been openly disregarded and nullified by many. In response, he declares that this state of affairs demands God's direct and decisive action, indicating a crucial juncture where human efforts have failed and only divine authority can restore order and righteousness. It is a cry for God to vindicate His own truth and standards against widespread transgression.

Psalm 119 126 Context

Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible, an elaborate acrostic poem divided into 22 sections, each corresponding to a letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Each verse within a section begins with that Hebrew letter. The psalm is a profound meditation on the divine Word in all its aspects – law, statutes, commandments, testimonies, precepts, and judgments. It expresses deep love for God's instruction, reliance on it for guidance, comfort in distress, and zealous obedience despite opposition.

Verse 126 falls within the 'Ayin' (ע) section (verses 121-128). This section follows sections that speak of the psalmist's personal righteousness, his plea for God's support against his oppressors, and his delight in God's word. The verses immediately preceding 126 express the psalmist's personal devotion and his longing for God's deliverance (vv. 121-125). In verse 126, the focus shifts from individual prayer to a general observation of widespread societal decay. It describes a situation where the foundational principles of God's law are being overtly rejected, justifying the psalmist's passionate cry for God to actively intervene and rectify the grave state of affairs. This historical context could be any period in Israel's history marked by spiritual decline, idolatry, injustice, and blatant disregard for the Mosaic covenant, such as during the periods of the Judges, many kings of Israel and Judah, or during periods of foreign oppression. The psalm frequently expresses lament over the arrogance of the wicked and their opposition to God's ways, leading naturally to this appeal for divine action.

Psalm 119 126 Word analysis

• It is time (Hebrew: Eth - עֵת):

  • Significance: Not merely an indication of temporal passage, but implies a fitting or opportune moment. It denotes a specific, critical juncture chosen by divine wisdom for intervention. This reflects a theological understanding of God's perfect timing and sovereignty over history.
  • Meaning: The appropriate moment, the due season, a strategic point for decisive action.

• for the Lord (Hebrew: L'Adonai - לַיהוָה):

  • Significance: The use of the sacred covenant name, YHWH, emphasizes God's faithful, righteous, and sovereign character. It highlights that the plea is directed to the one true God, who is committed to His covenant and zealous for His name. It asserts that action is expected from God alone, not from human efforts.

• to act (Hebrew: La'asot - לַעֲשׂוֹת):

  • Significance: This is a verb of strong and decisive action, meaning "to do, to make, to perform." It's a call for God to carry out His divine will, whether through judgment, vindication, or restoration. It is an appeal for God to actively intervene and fulfill His promises and judgments.

• for (Hebrew: Ki - כִּי):

  • Significance: A conjunction providing the causal reason or justification for the urgent plea. It establishes a clear logical link between human transgression and the necessity of divine intervention.

• they have broken (Hebrew: Hēphēru - הֵפֵרוּ, from root parar - פּרר):

  • Significance: A very strong verb indicating more than simple transgression. It means "to annul, to frustrate, to make void, to treat as nought, to disregard with contempt." This implies a deliberate, active, and pervasive nullification or undermining of God's law by many. It suggests an arrogant rejection of divine authority rather than merely unintentional sin.
  • Meaning: They have utterly annulled, rejected, or made void.

• Your law (Hebrew: Torateka - תּוֹרָתֶךָ):

  • Significance: Refers to God's divine instruction, revelation, and entire body of moral and ceremonial statutes. It represents the very standard of righteousness given by God Himself. Its being "broken" implies an affront not just to commands, but to God's character and authority.
  • Meaning: God's entire revelation or instruction.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "It is time for the Lord to act": This phrase reflects a deep trust in God's sovereignty and a keen awareness of historical and moral decline. The psalmist asserts that the conditions on earth have deteriorated to a point where only God's direct intervention can remedy the situation. It speaks to a divine appointment, a critical juncture for God to reveal His power and justice. This is not a human demanding God's immediate attention based on their timetable, but an acknowledgment that God's own character and established order now necessitate His involvement.
  • "for they have broken Your law": This clause provides the righteous basis for the urgent appeal. The "breaking" or "making void" of God's law implies a widespread and intentional repudiation of His authority. It indicates an egregious offense that demands a divine response because God's honor and the moral fabric He established are being systematically dismantled. This isn't about minor transgressions but a foundational challenge to God's divine revelation.

Psalm 119 126 Bonus section

• Polemical Aspect: This verse subtly stands against any worldview that attempts to void God's authority or His moral order. It confronts the inherent human tendency to establish autonomous standards of right and wrong. The psalmist implicitly asserts that human laws or societal norms, when they contradict or "break" God's Law, inevitably lead to a state of moral chaos that requires divine rectification. It champions God's absolute moral sovereignty against all competing claims.
• Theology of Divine Initiative: The declaration "It is time for the Lord to act" is a profound theological statement that all true and ultimate restoration and justice originate with God. It disavows any reliance on human effort alone to correct widespread sin and oppression. It’s a prayer born from recognizing human inability to stem the tide of evil and acknowledging God's unique power to intervene decisively in history.
• A Prayer for All Ages: This verse serves as a model prayer for any generation experiencing moral decline, governmental corruption, or societal rejection of biblical truth. It reminds believers to not merely lament the state of the world but to actively appeal to the Creator and Sustainer of the cosmos to vindicate His truth and bring His righteous judgment to bear.

Psalm 119 126 Commentary

Psalm 119:126 is a profound cry from the heart of a believer deeply distressed by widespread apostasy and the blatant disregard for God's holy law. It encapsulates a pivotal moment in human spiritual history – a time when the moral fabric established by divine instruction is being torn apart. The psalmist, identifying this grave situation, declares that this state of contempt for God's revealed will demands a sovereign response.

The urgency conveyed by "It is time" signifies that matters have reached a crisis point, beyond human remedy. This is a call for divine initiative, acknowledging that God has His perfect timing for intervention, and the current state of lawlessness justifies His action. It’s an appeal to the faithful nature of YHWH, reminding Him, as it were, of His commitment to His covenant and the vindication of His truth. The "Lord" (YHWH) is the ultimate and perfect Actor, whose works are righteous and just.

The reason for this plea – "for they have broken Your law" – is central. The Hebrew verb "parar" goes beyond simple transgression; it denotes an active and deliberate annulment or voiding of the law. This implies an arrogant disrespect and contempt for God's standards, making His divine revelation of no effect in society. When God's authoritative Word is treated as meaningless, His very authority and honor are impugned. This isn't just a lament over individual sins but an anguish over systemic ungodliness and societal rebellion against the divine order. The psalmist sees the Law not just as a set of rules, but as God's character revealed, and its violation is an offense against God Himself.

Thus, this verse is both a lament and a profound statement of faith. It laments the depth of human depravity while simultaneously expressing an unshakeable conviction that God, being just and holy, must and will eventually act to uphold His own name and restore His righteousness. It offers a pattern for believers living in times of moral relativism or outright defiance of God, guiding them to direct their longing and despair to the Sovereign God, confident that His perfect timing and righteous power will ultimately prevail over all rebellion.