In the “Zayin” section of Psalm 119 the Psalmist explains how it is possible that he keeps going in the face of suffering and opposition. He is determined to stay loyal to God’s law despite the constant mocking he is subjected to:
51 The arrogant mock me unmercifully,
but I do not turn from your law.
Comfort
He mentions two things in particular that bring him comfort in his suffering. The first is that he finds comfort in the promises of God:
50 My comfort in my suffering is this:
Your promise preserves my life.
In other words, it is his confidence in the absolute trustworthiness of God’s word that enables him to keep going and refuse to cave in to the pressure he is facing. His second source of comfort is a little more surprising: he finds comfort in the laws of God:
52 I remember, LORD, your ancient laws,
and I find comfort in them.
Finding comfort in God’s promises is something we can identify with, but finding comfort in his laws? That doesn’t seem logical. But the psalmist finds comfort in God’s laws because as he meditates on them, he knows that the path he has chosen to follow in life is the right one. Despite the opposition and mocking he faces, he takes comfort in knowing that he is pleasing God and will ultimately be vindicated:
56 This has been my practice:
I obey your precepts.
Remembering
The reason the psalmist is able to derive so much comfort in suffering from God’s promises and laws is that he is deliberate about “remembering” them. He regularly recalls them to his mind. As well as remembering the promises and laws found in God’s word, he remembers God’s “name”. God’s name stands for his character and in particular his utter reliability.
55 In the night, LORD, I remember your name,
that I may keep your law.
He has another interesting means of remembering the Lord, and that is through singing. Singing is not something to be reserved for church meetings, but should be a regular feature of our private devotion to the Lord. Singing lifts our minds off our own circumstances and onto the goodness and greatness of God. Singing is also a very effective means of memorising God’s word.
54 Your decrees are the theme of my song
wherever I lodge.
It is as we remember the Lord, through singing and meditating on his word, that we find comfort and hope in the midst of suffering, because we know that the Lord will not forget to keep his promises:
49 Remember your word to your servant,
for you have given me hope.