Their hearts are callous and unfeeling, but I delight in your law. Psalm 119:70 (NIV)
Up to this point, the author of Psalm 119 has described his enemies, of which there are many. He was shamed by them, mocked and dismissed. Now he shares two more character traits about them: their hearts are callous; their hearts are unfeeling.
This harkens back to Pharaoh in Exodus with his stiff neck. God had much to say about him and did deal with him in a poignant manner. Very poignant and very close to home. Because of his own callous heart towards the chosen people of God and God Himself, Pharaoh lost his own first-born son. (See Exodus 1-11)
A calloused heart has been injured and scarred over. Like a traditional scar, it is bumpy, rough and unsightly and even more of a bear to deal with. Why? Because those scars are strong. Built to last. The original was compromised, so the construction crew came in and repaired the damage leaving no room for mistakes.
And, as also with a scar, feelings in the area are compromised. Usually one has numbness on the scar. Nerve damage, and the like has left the area different from before. Much like the enemies’ hearts of the psalmist. Or even that of Pharaoh.
How did the psalmist combat this? He loved the Law of God. He loved the Word. He kept his walk, his way, his life current with the LORD. He walked on the road and allowed himself to be guided by the parameters of Scripture. He had seen life without those guidelines and was on the backside of the unchecked spirits and hearts and wanted nothing to do with it. He chose to keep in step with Jesus.
Even at the cost of having a pliable heart which felt every stab of the enemy, he knew he would rather be with God than against Him. He consistently prayed throughout this psalm for revival – “Quicken Thou Me!” (Psalm 119:25). He wanted renewal, revival and life. He wanted a closer walk with Jesus. He wanted Jesus.
Have you known this to be true in your own life? Relentless slander from so-called friends? Brutal gossip with you as the subject matter? Or, have you kept your eyes on the prize of Jesus only to be questioned about your motives and your desires?
We have all been hurt, many times over. And we have scars and scabs on our hearts. But we do not need to have them be calloused – such as a scar being reinjured repeatedly; it builds up to an unrecognizable mass. There are times when having flatline emotions sounds appealing (no emotions, no pain), but in the end we leave no room for God nor any room for His goodness.
He is the one who gives us a new heart, and revives us with new life (2 Corinthians 5:17). The old has gone (good riddance) and the new has come (hallelujah!). Let us embrace this new heart and allow it to delight, be pliable and seek after the heart of God. Even if it hurts.
Loving the Law, the Word of God, as the psalmist did, gets us closer to the heart of the Saviour. It is here we find comfort, rest, shelter and protection. It is here we can cling to the broad, strong shoulders of our Shepherd and know His love.
Are you willing to love Him in this way?
PRAYER
Father God, You are love. Forgive me for allowing myself to let the cares of this world, the enemies in my life to rob me of knowing Your love and keeping me from expressing this love back to You. I desire to please You and to seek hard after You and Your Word. I want to know You more. Teach me how.
Comments