Understanding David’s Happiness with God’s Word

Psalm 119:14 NKJV

I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies,

As much as in all riches.

My Thoughts

Here, David speaks of the joy found in following God’s testimonies, comparing this joy to the satisfaction derived from great wealth. David reflects on his long-term delight in God’s word, recognizing its transformative power on the heart and life. The commentaries below underscore that true happiness in religion surpasses material riches, highlighting the sense of fulfillment and peace that comes with obedience to God’s commandments. David’s experience illustrates that the path of righteousness offers deeper treasures than worldly possessions, emphasizing that the joy of living according to God’s word is unparalleled.

Note: Psalm 119 is an acrostic pattern. There are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet; each of the 22 sections is given a letter of the Hebrew alphabet, and each line in that section begins with that letter. Today, we’re looking at verse 14, which is in the 2nd section, which is called Beth ב, which also means “a house.” Some have suggested that this section tells us how to make our heart a home for the word of God.

……Bill

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Commentaries:

Charles Spurgeon

“I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies.” Delight in the word of God is a sure proof that it has taken effect upon the heart, and so is cleansing the life. The Psalmist not only says that he does rejoice, but that he has rejoiced. For years, it had been his joy and bliss to give his soul to the teaching of the word. His rejoicing had not only arisen out of the word of God, but out of the practical characteristics of it. The Way was as dear to him as the Truth and the Life. There was no picking and choosing with David, or if indeed he did make a selection, he chose the most practical first.

“As much as in all riches.” He compared his intense satisfaction with God’s will with that of a man who possesses large and varied estates, and the heart to enjoy them. David knew the riches that come of sovereignty and which grow out of conquest; he valued the wealth which proceeds from labour, or is gotten by inheritance: he knew “all riches.” The gracious king had been glad to see the gold and silver poured into his treasury that he might devote vast masses of it to the building of the Temple of Jehovah upon Mount Zion. He rejoiced in all sorts of riches consecrated and laid up for the noblest uses, and yet the way of God’s word had given him more pleasure than even these. Observe that his joy was personal, distinct, remembered, and abundant. Wonder not that in the previous verse he glories in having spoken much of that which he had so much enjoyed: a man may well talk of that which is his delight.

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Enduring Word

I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches: The psalmist understood the true value of God’s word; it gave him as much joy as all riches might. (Guzik)

i. It could be fairly asked of every Christian: “For what amount would you deny yourself to ever hear or read God’s word again?” It is to be feared that many, like Esau, would sell this birthright treasure for the equivalent of a bowl of stew. (Guzik)

ii. “We may also observe here an evidence of adoption. Obedience is not a burden, but a delight. The servant may perform the statutes of God, but it is only the son who ‘delights in them.’” (Bridges)

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Albert Barnes

I have rejoiced … – I do rejoice; I exult in this; I find my happiness there. The word expresses a high degree of joy.

As much as in all riches – Hebrew, “as upon all wealth.” As people rejoice who have great wealth. I find my happiness in religion, as if in the possession of real wealth. Proverbs 10:22.

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John Gill

I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies,…. The way which the Scriptures, that testify of God and Christ, direct unto; and the principal way is Christ himself, the only way of life and salvation; in which believers walk and go on rejoicing; rejoicing in his person, offices, grace, righteousness, and salvation: the lesser ways the Scriptures point unto are the ways of duty and paths of ordinances; in which truly gracious souls find a great deal of peace, pleasure, and delight;

as [much as] in all riches; or, “as above all riches”: the joy that believers have in the ways of God is superior to that which any natural or worldly man has in his substance of every sort, or be it ever so great; yea, they find such riches in the ways of God, as are vastly preferable to the riches of this world; they find Christ, the pearl of great price, and his unsearchable riches, the riches of grace, and the riches of glory; and even the word of God itself, those testimonies of his, are more desirable than thousands of gold and silver, and give a greater pleasure than the increase of corn and wine.

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Matthew Henry

David looks back with comfort upon the respect he had paid to the word of God. He had the testimony of his conscience for him:

That he had entertained himself with it: “Lord, teach me thy statutes; for I desire no greater pleasure than to know and do them (v. 14): I have rejoiced in the way of thy commandments, in a constant even course of obedience to thee; not only in the speculations and histories of thy word, but in the precepts of it, and in that path of serious godliness which they chalk out to me. I have rejoiced in this as much as in all riches, as much as ever any worldling rejoiced in the increase of his wealth. In the way of God’s commandments, I can truly say, Soul, take thy ease;“ in true religion, there is all riches, the unsearchable riches of Christ.

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Adam Clarke

He must consider it his chief happiness to be found in the path of obedience, giving his whole heart and strength to God; and when enabled to do it, he should rejoice more in it than if he had gained thousands of gold and silver. O how great is the treasure of a tender and approving conscience!

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Miscellaneous Quotes

“I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, etc. The Psalmist saith not only, “I have rejoiced in thy testimonies,” but, “in the way of thy testimonies.” Way is one of the words by which the law is expressed. God’s laws are ways that lead us to God; and so it may be taken here, “the way which thy testimonies point out, and call me unto;” or else his own practice, as a man’s course is called his way; his delight was not in speculation or talk, but in obedience and practice: “in the way of thy testimonies.” He tells us the degree of his joy, “as much as in all riches:” as much, not to show the equality of these things, as if we should have the same affection for the world as for the word of God; but “as much,” because we have no higher comparison. This is that which worldlings dote upon, and delight in; now as much as they rejoice in worldly possessions, so much do I rejoice in the way of thy testimonies. For I suppose David doth not compare his own delight in the word, with his own delight in wealth; but his own choice and delight, with the delight and choice of others. If he had spoken of himself both in the one respect and in the other, the expression was very high. David who was called to a crown, and in a capacity of enjoying much in the world, gold, silver, land, goods, largeness of territory, and a compound of all that which all men jointly, and all men severally do possess; yet was more pleased in the holiness of God’s ways, than in all the world: “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mar 8:36).

—Thomas Manton.

“The way of thy testimonies.” The testimony of God is his word, for it testifies his will; the “way” of his testimony is the practice of his word, and doing of that which he hath declared to be his will, and wherein he hath promised to show us his love. David found not this sweetness in hearing, reading, and professing the word only, but in practicing of it: and in very deed, the only cause why we find not the comfort that is in the word of God is that we practice it not by walking in the way thereof. It is true, at the first it is bitter to nature, which loves carnal liberty, to render itself as captive to the word: laboriosa virtutis via, and much pains must be taken before the heart be subdued; but when it is once begun, it renders such joy as abundantly recompenses all the former labour and grief.

—William Cowper.

*Note:”**aboriosa virtutis via” translates to “*the laborious path of virtue”…..Bill

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Cross-References

Psalm 119:111 (KJV )

¹¹¹ Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever:

For they are the rejoicing of my heart.

Psalm 119:72 (KJV )

⁷² The law of thy mouth is better unto me

Than thousands of gold and silver.

Job 23:12 (KJV )

¹² Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips;

I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

Matthew 13:44 (KJV )

⁴⁴Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

Psalm 119:77 (KJV )

⁷⁷ Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live:

For thy law is my delight.

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Closing Thoughts

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life. Psalm 143:8 NIV

Beth ב: Purity of life and meditation on God’s word.

How can a young man keep his way pure?

By keeping it according to Your word.

With all my heart I have sought You;

Do not let me wander from Your commandments.

Your word I have treasured in my heart,

That I may not sin against You.

Blessed are You, O Lord;

Teach me Your statutes.

With my lips I have told of

All the ordinances of Your mouth.

I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies,

As much as in all riches.

I will meditate on Your precepts

And regard Your ways.

I shall delight in Your statutes;

I shall not forget Your word.