Charles H. Spurgeon on Psalms 119:97

Love to the law.

1. An ardent confession of love.

2. An unanswerable evidence of love. C.A.D.

Ver. 97 (first clause). Vehemency of love for God's word.

1. Its recognisable marks.

(a) Profound reverence for the authority of the word.

(b) Admiration for its holiness.

(c) Jealousy. For its honour; God's servant feels acute pain when men show it any slight.

(d) Respect for its wholeness; he would not divorce precepts from promises, nor ignore a single statement in it.

(e) Indefatigability in its study.

(f) Eager desire to obey it.

(g) Forwardness in praising it.

(h) Activity in spreading it abroad.

2. Its reasonableness.

(a) The word well deserves it.

(b) It is a proof of true intelligence.

(c) It is not less than a regard for our own interest demands.

3. Its requisiteness to the true worship of God. Men sneeringly call such an affection bibliolatry, as though it were the worship of a book. In truth, it is an essential element in the due worship of God. For

(a) Without it there cannot be the faith which honours God.

(b) It is involved in that love to God which constitutes the very essence of worship.

(c) It is itself an act of homage, that a worshipper dare not withhold. J.F.

Ver. 97-100. Spiritual wisdom.

1. God's word the source of surpassing wisdom excelling that of "mine enemies, ""my teachers, ""the ancients."

2. The three methods of acquiring this wisdom love, meditation, practice.

3. The one Giver of this wisdom: "Thou:" Psalms 119:98. C.A.D.

Psalms 119:98*