Psalm 119:129 Your testimonies are wonderful: therefore does my soul keep them. Thy testimonies are wonderful. Dr. Barry's outline of this section is suggestive. "The key-note of this meditative section is struck in the first words. God's dispensation is wonderful: ' As the heaven is higher than the earth, so are his ways higher than our ways.' His Word gives light only to simple faith (ver, 130); it satisfies only those who long for it and love it (vers. 131, 132); it saves from oppression only those who rest on his promise, and are willing to be taught (vers. 133-135); for those who will not bow their hearts to it, there is no salvation; over them we can but weep (ver. 136)." S.T. Coleridge says, "All knowledge begins and ends with wonder; the first wonder is the child of ignorance; the last wonder the parent of adoration." The Scriptures are "wonderful," with respect to (1) the matter which they contain; (2) the manner in which they are written; and (3) the effects which they produce. The following outline is from T. Manton: Wonderful (1) in their majesty and composure; which striketh reverence into the hearts of those that consider. (2) They are wonderful for the matter and depth of mystery, which cannot be found elsewhere, concerning God, and Christ, the creation of the world, the souls of men, and their immortal and everlasting condition, the Fall of man, etc. (3) They are wonderful for their purity and perfection. The Decalogue in ten words compriseth the whole duty of man, and reacheth to the very soul, and all the motions of the heart. (4) They are wonderful for the harmony and consent of all the parts. All religion is of a piece, and one part doth not interfere with another, but conspireth to promote the great end of subjection of the creature to God. (5) They are wonderful for the power of them. There is a mighty power which goeth along with the Word of God, and astonisheth the hearts of those that consider it and feel it. Wonderful, as a term, does much more than express admiration and appreciation. It implies unusualness; the thing to which it is applied is other than we expected. And the otherwiseness suggests a higher and Divine source. The wonderful is the supernatural. - R.T. Parallel Verses KJV: PE. Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them.WEB: Your testimonies are wonderful, therefore my soul keeps them. |
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