What does Psalms 119:19 Mean?

Context Summary

These verses are full of yearning and unsatisfied desire. The soul breaks for longing, cleaves to the dust, and melts for heaviness. We are reminded of the complaint of a godly man, uttered two centuries and a half ago: "If God had not said, "˜Blessed are those that hunger,' I know not what could keep weak Christians from sinking into despair. Many times all I can do is to complain that I want Him and wish to recover Him."

We learn from this psalm to pour out before God such desires. If we can do nothing else, we can complain that we are lacking in relish, in the sense of His nearness, and in the comfort of holy prayer. The expression of desire for God is prayer, which He accepts and will answer. "He will fulfill the desire of them that fear Him; He also will hear their cry, and will save them," Psalms 145:19. When the father of the prodigal first saw him, he was a long way off, but love could not wait till the son had traversed that intervening distance. He ran to meet him, and kissed him, while the words of confession were trembling on his lips. So God will draw near to quicken, strengthen, teach, and cause us to understand. Then we shall run where now we limp. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalm 119

¹  This psalm contains various prayers, praises, and professions of obedience
²  Aleph
⁹  Beth
¹⁷  Gimel
²⁵  Daleth
³³  He
⁴¹  Waw
⁴⁹  Zayin
⁵⁷  Heth
⁶⁵  Teth
⁷³  Yodh
⁸¹  Kaph
⁸⁹  Lamedh
⁹⁷  Mem
¹⁰⁵  Nun
¹¹³  Samekh
¹²¹  Ayin
¹²⁹  Pe
¹³⁷  Tsadhe
¹⁴⁵  Qoph
¹⁵³  Resh
¹⁶¹  Sin and Shin
¹⁶⁹  Taw