Charles Bridges
Psalms 119:129. Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them.
Can the mere professor of religion make this acknowledgment? He knows only the letter – the shell – which excites no interest. Yet hidden from his eye is an unsearchable depth which will make the believer a learner to the end of his life. Even Paul, who “was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter” (2 Cor 12:4), was brought to this adoring contemplation: “O the depths of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!” (Rom 11:33).
This revelation is in every way worthy of Him whose name is “Wonderful” (Is 9:6). It lays open to the heaven-taught soul what “eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath entered into the heart of man” (1 Cor 2:9). Think of the Creator of the world becoming a curse for man (John 1:1-3,14). Think of man, guilty and condemned, made just with God by a righteousness not his own (Rom 3:19-22).
Think of God bringing out of the ruinous fall more glory to Himself, and more happiness to man, than from his former innocence – in the display of His mercy and the glory of His justice. Think of Him granting to sinners His own righteousness and glory – not, as before, a creature’s righteousness, security and reward. Think how “the way into the holiest of all” is thus “made manifest” (Heb 9:8). Think how abounding grace is the death as well as the pardon of sin (Rom 5:20-6:6), the present as well as the everlasting life of the soul.
These are among the stupendous discoveries of the sacred book, that bow the humble and reflecting mind to the confession: “Thy testimonies are wonderful”. Let us therefore join with the Apostle in bowing our knees to “the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” – that we “may be able to comprehend with all saints” (for, blessed be God, the privilege is common to all His people) “what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height: and to know” the unsearchable “love of Christ” (Eph 3:14,18,19), “in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col 2:3).
And how delightful is the recollection that these testimonies are a “heritage for ever” (v 111), for they are not less wonderful in their practical fulness than in their deep unfathomable mysteries of love. Such is the infinite enlargement of this “heritage” that He who foreknew every thought that would enter
1An edited extract from Bridges’ exposition of Psalms 119, which has been republished by the Banner of Truth Trust.
into the minds of His people has here secretly laid up timely direction and encouragement for every occasion of need, even the most minute. Here again is wrapped up, in words fitted by wisdom to convey the revelation, all that communication between God and man throughout all ages of the Church, which is treasured up in the vast, unsearchable depository of God’s mind and purpose. Can we then forbear repeating the exclamation, “Thy testimonies are wonderful”?
But it is not enough to adore the fulness of Scripture; we must seek to imbibe and exhibit its practical influence. Holy admiration of the testimonies will kindle spiritual devotedness to them: “Therefore doth my soul keep them”. The stamp of divine authority upon them, while it deepens the reverence of God’s children, commands their steady and cheerful obedience. To keep them is their privilege, no less than their obligation; and in this path they shall delight to persevere to the end.
Yet how moving to think about the mass of people, who look at these wonders with a careless eye, unconscious of their importance! They pass by the door of the treasury, hardly condescending to look inside, or only taking a transient glance which comprehends nothing of its inexhaustible stores. “I have written to them”, says the Lord, “the great things of My law: but they are counted as a strange thing” (Hos 8:12). But it is far stranger if God’s children, enlightened in answer to prayer with “the Spirit of wisdom and revelation” (Eph 1:17,18), should often be so indifferent to the mysteries of redeeming love here unfolded before them and should experience so little of their practical influence.
Let the recollection of our indolence, and our lack of conformity to them, never cease to humble us. Let us not enter into the testimonies as a dry task or an ordinary study, but let us concentrate our minds, with faith, humility and prayer, on contemplating them more devotedly. Every such exercise will extend our view of those parts with which we thought we were competently acquainted – opening a new field of wonders on every side, far beyond our present limited grasp.
Can any joy be imagined so sublime as the adoring contemplation of this revelation? It reflects even to angels a new and glorious manifestation of their God (Eph 3:10). It engages all their powers with intense admiration and delight (see 1 Pet 1:12). And while they behold and worship with self-abasement, their obedience is lively. “With twain he [the seraph before the throne] covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly” (Is 6:2).
May we thus study the same lessons, and with the same spirit! May our contemplation humble us in the dust and animate us in God’s service!