Week 1 Friday — Walking with the Word
Friday: ג Gimel - Psalm 119:17-24
Friday: ג Gimel - Psalm 119:17-24
Introduction
We come to the third stanza of Psalm 119, marked by the Hebrew letter Gimel (ג), which means “camel” or “to lift up.” In ancient times, the camel was a beast of burden that carried travelers through harsh desert terrain. How fitting for this stanza, where the psalmist walks through difficult circumstances and asks God to lift him up, sustain him, and open his eyes to see what he cannot see on his own. Here we learn that God’s Word is not just for the mountaintop moments—it’s our counselor in the valley.
Scripture
¹⁷Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and keep your word.
¹⁸Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.
¹⁹I am a sojourner on the earth; hide not your commandments from me!
²⁰My soul is consumed with longing for your rules at all times.
²¹You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones, who wander from your commandments.
²²Take away from me scorn and contempt, for I have kept your testimonies.
²³Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statutes.
²⁴Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors.— Psalm 119:17-24 (ESV)
Reflection
The psalmist begins with a bold request: “Deal bountifully with your servant.” He isn’t asking for a little help—he’s asking for lavish provision. And notice why: “that I may live and keep your word.” He doesn’t want comfort for comfort’s sake. He wants God’s abundant blessing so he can faithfully obey. This is a God-honoring prayer.
As the rest of this stanza reveals, the psalmist prays this way because life is hard. He’s known persecution (v. 22-23), deprivation and fear for his life (v. 17), seasons when Scripture felt obscure (v. 18), loneliness and a sense of being a stranger in the world (v. 19-20). Yet in the midst of these trials, he wants to live—not merely survive, but truly live in vibrant relationship with God through His Word.
Verse 18 is one of the most important prayers in all of Scripture: “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.” The psalmist understands that without God’s enlightenment, he cannot see what he should see. The problem isn’t that God’s Word is unclear—the problem is that our eyes are veiled. We are the ones unable to understand apart from the Holy Spirit’s work in our hearts and minds.
This means prayer must always be linked to our reading of Scripture. We don’t ask God for an easier Bible to read—we ask Him to open our eyes to the revelations and wonders already present in His Word. Not everyone sees these wondrous things. But when they are revealed, they should be met with delight and gratitude, recognizing that the Spirit of God has greatly blessed us.
The psalmist concludes with a powerful declaration: “Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors” (v. 24). Notice what—or rather, who—he turns to for counsel. Not the princes who plot against him. Not the voices of culture or convenience. God’s Word is his trusted advisor, his source of wisdom, his anchor in the storm.
In this stanza, the psalmist saw many things that threatened his relationship with God, and he prayed to be preserved from them. He saw the danger of a cold heart, so he prayed for God to deal bountifully. He saw the danger of darkened understanding, so he prayed for opened eyes. He saw his own weakness, so he prayed with longing for God’s truth. He saw the attacks of others, so he prayed for protection from scorn. He saw the plots of powerful people, so he declared that God’s Word—not their counsel—would be his guide.
What draws the psalmist to God’s Word is not desperation but devotion. His confidence rests in the One who is always faithful. Whether circumstances are hard or easy, whether he feels like a stranger or at home, God’s Word remains his counselor because God Himself remains unchanging. The psalmist’s delight in Scripture flows from his trust in the God who speaks through it—the God who opens eyes, sustains life, and guides His people with perfect wisdom.
“Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors.” — This is the way.
Prayer Prompts
Lord,
I need Your bountiful help. Life feels hard right now, and I confess that I sometimes feel like a stranger in this world, longing for home. Open my eyes to see wondrous things in Your Word. Don’t let my heart grow cold or my understanding grow dark. When I am attacked, misunderstood, or opposed, let Your Word be my counselor. Give me the grace to turn to You first—not to the voices around me, but to Your truth. Let Your testimonies be my delight, even in the valley. Amen.
Response
Reflect on these questions today:
Are you at times intimidated by the Scriptures, thinking that they are somehow beyond you? Have you ever been intimidated by another Christian’s knowledge of or insight into the Word? If so, does that shut you down or take you to God in prayer?
The psalmist prays, “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things.” When was the last time you prayed before reading Scripture, asking the Holy Spirit to reveal truth to you? What would it be like to have God at your side bringing the Word to life?
“Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors.” What would it mean to your life, your relationships, your vocation, your future to have the Spirit of God’s perspective on your choices, your motivations, and your trials and challenges? Could you echo this verse today?