Charles H. Spurgeon on Psalms 119:20

One of the best tests of character and prophecies of what a man will be, are his longings.

1. The saint's absorbing object:"Thy judgments." The word here is synonymous with the "word" of God.

(a) The Psalmist greatly reverenced the word.

(b) He intensely desired to know its contents.

(c) He wishes to feed upon God's word.

(d) He longed to obey it.

(e) He longed to feel the power of God's judgments in his own heart.

2. The saint's ardent longings.

(a) They constitute a living experience.

(b) The expression used in the text represents a humble sense of imperfection.

(c) It indicates an advanced experience.

(d) It is an experience which we may term a bitter sweet.

(e) These longings may become very wearying to a man's soul.

3. Cheering reflections.

(a) God is at work in your soul.

(b) The result of God's work is very precious.

(c) It is leading on to something more precious.

(d) The desire itself is doing you good.

(e) It makes Christ precious. See "Spurgeon's Sermons, "No.

1586: "Holy Longings."

Psalms 119:21*