Psalm 119
Missionaries claim that the Law cannot be kept and observance of the Law does not bring spiritual success. Psalm 119 shows this to be false. Below are key verses of that Psalm with Simply Jewish commentary:

Psalm 119:5
My prayers are that my ways should be established, to keep Your statutes.

Why would the Psalmist utter such a prayer, if it is obvious that the Law cannot be kept? Did he not know what Paul knew, that this is a vain hope?

Psalm 119:6
Then I shall not be ashamed when I look at all Your commandments.

If the purpose of the Law is to reveal our inadequacies, as missionaries tell us, why does he expect not to be ashamed?

Psalm 119:14
With the way of Your testimonies I rejoiced as over all riches.

Why is the Psalmist so happy about the commandments, if they do not bring spiritual success but show failure?

Psalm 119:17
Bestow kindness upon Your servant; I shall live and I shall keep Your word.

The Psalmist's resolution assumes he will keep G-d's word. A missionary would have to say he is naïve.

Psalm 119:21
You shall rebuke cursed sinners who stray from Your commandments.

If we are all sinners who stray from G-d's commandments, why is he singling out a group of people for rebuke? Are we to suppose he is cursing himself?

Psalm 119:22
Remove from me disgrace and contempt, for I kept Your testimonies

Yes! He did keep G-d's commandments.

Psalm 119:22
Remove from me disgrace and contempt, for I kept Your testimonies

Yes! He did keep G-d's commandments.

Psalm 119:29
Remove from me the way of falsehood, and favor me with Your Torah.

Why is the Law a divine favor if it only condemns those who attempt to observe it? This is the opposite of the missionary message, in which G-d's grace works apart from keeping the commandments

Psalm 119:31
I clung to Your testimonies; O Lord; put me not to shame.

Yes! He did keep G-d's commandments.

Psalm 119:34
Enable me to understand and I shall keep Your Torah, and I shall keep it wholeheartedly.

Quite an anti-missionary resolution!

Psalm 119:44
And I shall keep Your Torah constantly, forever and ever.

How can the Psalmist make a resolution missionaries claim is impossible to keep?

Psalm 119:45
And I shall walk in widely accepted ways, for I sought Your precepts.

Here the Psalmist resolves to keep the commandments on the basis of his past observance thereof.

Psalm 119:47
And I shall engage in Your commandments, which I love.

He resolves to keep the commandments on the basis of his love for them. Why would he love them if they reveal his spiritual failure?

Psalm 119:51
Sinners derided me greatly; I did not turn away from Your Torah.

Yes he did keep G-d's commandments. He also identifies sinners as a distinct group, not humanity as a whole.

Psalm 119:53
Quaking gripped me because of the wicked men who abandoned Your Torah.

The Psalmist is obviously not quaking about everyone. Not everyone is guilty of abandoning the Torah.

Psalm 119:54
Your statutes were to me as songs in the house of my sojournings.

"Songs" suggests a delight in the Law unknown in missionary theology

Psalm 119:55-56
At night I remembered Your name, O Lord, and I kept Your Torah. 56. This came to me because I kept Your precepts.

Yes he did keep G-d's commandments.

Psalm 119:57
And I shall keep Your Torah constantly, forever and ever.

Anyone who keeps G-d's Law can truly say, "The Lord is my portion."

Psalm 119:60
I hastened and did not delay to keep Your commandments.

Yes he did keep G-d's commandments

Psalm 119:63
I am a companion to all who fear You and to those who keep your precepts.

Are we to suppose the Psalmist has no friends? Clearly he knows others who keep G-d's commandments.

Psalm 119:64
O Lord, the earth is full of Your kindness; teach me Your statutes.

The commandments are from His kindness. They were not primarily given to condemn man.

Psalm 119:69
Willful sinners have heaped false accusations upon me, but I keep your precepts wholeheartedly.

Yes he did keep G-d's commandments. Sinners are a distinct group, not all of humanity

Psalm 119:77
May Your mercy come upon me so that I shall live, for Your Torah is my occupation.

The Psalmist's devotion to the Law is what makes him worthy of G-d's kindness.

Psalm 119:87
They almost destroyed me on earth, but I did not forsake Your precepts.

Yes he did keep G-d's commandments.

Psalm 119:92
Were not Your Torah my occupation, then I would have perished in my affliction.

Why does he find sustenance and consolation in the Law, if the Law condemns him?

Psalm 119:93
I shall never forget Your precepts for through them You have sustained me.

How do missionaries explain this verse if they say the Law does not avail?

Psalm 119:94
I am Yours; save me for I sought Your precepts.

The Law earns salvation?! This does not fit missionary theology.

Psalm 119:100
From the wise elders I gain understanding, for I kept Your precepts.

Yes he did keep G-d's commandments.

Psalm 119:101
From every evil way I restrained my feet in order that I keep Your word

Yes he did keep G-d's commandments.

Psalm 119:106;109-110
I swore and I fulfilled, to keep the judgments of Your righteousness. 109. My soul is constantly in my hand, and I have not forgotten Your Torah. 110. The wicked laid a snare for me, but I did not stray from Your precepts.

Yes he did keep G-d's commandments. The wicked are a distinct group, not all of mankind.

Psalm 119:112
I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes forever on their paths.

Missionaries claim the heart is so corrupt there is no way to keep G-d's commandments successfully.

Psalm 119:115
115. Go away from me, you evildoers, and I shall keep the commandments of my God.

Those who keep G-d's commandments are distinguished from the evil doers. Those who keep G-d's Law are righteous.

Psalm 119:118-119;122
You trampled all who stray from Your statutes, for their deceit is false. 119. As dross, You cut off all the wicked of the earth; therefore I love Your testimonies. 122. Be surety for Your servant for good; let the willful sinners not oppress me.

The sinners are a distinct group, not all of humanity.

Psalm 119:155
Salvation is far from the wicked, for they did not seek Your statutes.

The implication is that those who pursue G-d's Law do obtain salvation.

Psalm 119:167
My soul kept Your testimonies, and I love them exceedingly.

Yes he did keep G-d's commandments. It brought him joy, not pain and failure.

Psalm 119:168
I kept Your precepts and Your testimonies, for all my ways are before You.

Yes he did keep G-d's commandments.

Psalm 119:172
My tongue will proclaim Your word, for all Your commandments are righteous.

Therefore, keeping G-d's commandments brings one to righteousness.

Psalm 119:173
May Your hand be [ready] to help me, for I have chosen Your precepts.

Yes he did keep G-d's commandments.

Top >