Psalm 119:145,146 says, “I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O LORD: I will keep thy statutes. I cried unto thee; save me, and I shall keep thy testimonies.” The Psalmist cried unto the LORD with his whole heart, “hear me, O LORD… save me.” In gratefulness, he would obey the word of the Lord and keep his statues and testimonies. When there is trouble about, this calls for strong crying and supplication with all our heart. We can cry out to the Lord to save us. Since we are assured that He will answer, we can learn and obey His word as well.
“147) I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word. 148) Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word.” (verses 147,148) How earnest was the Psalmist in his cries unto the Lord! This kept him awake through the night as he meditated upon and hoped in God’s word. If our eyes are kept waking in the night, we can spend that time crying to the Lord and meditating upon His word. It is our hope as well.
The Psalmist cried for protection from those who had no regard for God’s law. “149) Hear my voice according unto thy lovingkindness: O LORD, quicken me according to thy judgment. 150) They draw nigh that follow after mischief: they are far from thy law.” (verses 149, 150) The wicked were near to the Psalmist, but he knew that God was nearer still. The wicked sought to do mischief and were far from God’s law, but the Psalmist had the hope of God’s law and could meditate upon it. It was very near to him. We too can pray for protection from the wicked whose aim is to do mischief and who have no regard for the law of God. God is near to us and we should cherish His word close to our hearts as well. “Thou art near, O LORD; and all thy commandments are truth.” (verse 151)
The wicked and their mischief will pass away, but God’s word will endure forever. “Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever.” (verse 152)