Psalm 119:74 NKJV

74 

Those who fear You will be glad when they see me,
Because I have hoped in Your word.

Finding Encouragement in God’s Faithfulness

My Notes:

David understood that his life was constantly on display—that others watched how he responded to trials and blessings. And when the Lord answered his prayers or brought him victory, it wasn’t just personal—it became public testimony. The Lord’s name was glorified through David’s life, and that glory awakened hope in those watching.

This is how it should be. When the prayers of a believer are answered, it strengthens the faith of others. It reminds them that the Lord listens and acts, that He is just and merciful. As Peter declared in Acts 10:34:

“In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.” Acts 10:34, NKJV

That truth is foundational. God’s faithfulness to one is a sign of His availability to all.

As Christians, we’re naturally drawn to those whose lives radiate hope—not because they’ve had it easy, but because we’ve seen them go through the fire and still worship. Their testimony is rooted in endurance and trust. They sought the Lord amid trials, clung to His Word, and were not disappointed. These are the believers whose example draws us closer to God.

We see the evidence in their lives: rest from enemies, spiritual abundance, deep understanding of God’s Word, and reverent worship. Their obedience and unwavering faith demonstrate the power of walking with the Lord. And when we see that—the fruit of their relationship with God—it stirs us to believe we, too, can walk that path.

Their lives give us hope. And if we seek the Lord, follow His leading, and submit to His refining hand, we also become vessels through which others witness God’s power and praise His name.

Psalm 119:74 highlights the joy of God-fearing individuals when they witness the faith and hope of others. David notes that his steadfastness in trusting God’s word serves as encouragement for fellow believers, reinforcing the importance of mutual support among the righteous. The commentaries below, including insights from Charles Spurgeon and other theologians, emphasize that those with hope grounded in God’s promises can inspire gladness and strength in the community. The passage illustrates the value of righteous company and the shared faith that fosters spiritual growth and encouragement among believers.

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 74, which is in the 10th section, which is called “י YOD”. According to the hebrews4christians.com website, the letter י YOD is the 10th letter of the Aleph-Bet, having the numeric value of ten.  The pictograph for י YOD looks like an arm or a hand. י YOD is the most frequently occurring letter in the Scriptures as well as the smallest of the letters

The website https://www.abarim-publications.com/Hebrew_Alphabet_Meaning.html defines the meaning of the letter YOD יד  as:

After one of two regular words for hand (for the other, see the 11th letter). The noun יד (yad) denotes the hand, typically not as outstretched, but rather as holding something or being a fist. The word is synonymous with power or might; to fall in one’s hands. It’s typical that the alphabet’s smallest letter came to mean power, but perhaps its shape reminded of a little fist. As postfix, this letter י (yod) forms a possessive, and as prefix it creates a third person singular imperfect.

In this section, each verse begins with the Hebrew letter Jot, or i, the smallest letter in the Hebrew alphabet, called in Mat 5:18, jot; one jot or tittle shall in no wise pass from the law.—Albert Barnes.

……..Bill

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Commentaries:

Charles Spurgeon

“They that fear thee will be glad when they see me: because I have hoped in thy word.” When a man of God obtains grace for himself, he becomes a blessing to others, especially if that grace has made him a man of sound understanding and holy knowledge. God fearing men are encouraged when they meet with experienced believers. A hopeful man is a Godsend when things are declining or in danger. When the hopes of one believer are fulfilled, his companions are cheered and established, and led to hope also. It is good for the eyes to see a man whose witness is that the Lord is true; it is one of the joys of saints to hold converse with their more advanced brethren. The fear of God is not a left-handed grace, as some have called it; it is quite consistent with gladness; for if even the sight of a comrade gladdens the God fearing, how glad must they be in the presence of the Lord himself! We do not only meet to share each other’s burdens, but to partake in each other’s joys, and some men contribute largely to the stock of mutual gladness. Hopeful men bring gladness with them. Despondent spirits spread the infection of depression, and hence, few are glad to see them, while those whose hopes are grounded upon God’s word carry sunshine in their faces and are welcomed by their fellows. There are professors whose presence scatters sadness, and the godly quietly steal out of their company: may this never be the case with us.

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Enduring Word

Those who fear You will be glad when they see me: The psalmist considered that his righteous life would be an encouragement to others who also feared God. This was an additional reason to hear and obey God. (Guzik)

i. “They who ‘fear God’ are naturally ‘glad when they see’ and converse with one like themselves; but more especially so, when it is one whose faith and patience have carried him through troubles, and rendered him victorious over temptations; one who hath ‘hoped in God’s word,’ and hath not been disappointed.” (Horne)

Because I have hoped in Your word: His life could give encouragement and gladness to other righteous people because his hope and attention were put upon the word of God. Without this hope, his righteous life would be impossible.(Guzik)

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Albert Barnes

They that fear thee – Those who worship thee; thy friends; the pious and the good.

Will be glad when they see me – They will welcome me to their society; they will regard and treat me as a friend and brother. It is implied here that he considered this to be an honor – a thing to be desired. He valued the friendship and affection of those who feared and served God, and he made it an object so to live as to be worthy of their affection. Wicked men – men of the world – do not value that. They are satisfied with the friendship of those who, like themselves, have no fear of God. To a truly pious mind, the friendship of those who love God is of more value than that of any others, though in the one case they are poor and despised, and though in the other they are rich and of exalted rank. See the notes at Psalms 119:63. “Because I have hoped in thy word.” See the notes at Psalms 119:49.

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John Gill

They that fear thee will be glad when they see me,…. In outward prosperity, delivered from all troubles, set on the throne of Israel, and at rest from all enemies round about: and in spiritual prosperity, being illuminated by the Spirit of God, having a spiritual understanding of divine things, an obedience of faith to the commands of God, in the lively exercise of grace upon him, in comfortable frames of soul, and flourishing circumstances. Now they that fear the Lord, that have the grace of fear in their hearts, and are true worshippers of God, as they delight to meet together, and are glad to see one another; so they rejoice in each other’s prosperity, especially spiritual; see Psalm 34:1;

because I have hoped in thy Word; in Christ the essential Word, the hope of Israel; in the written word, which gives encouragement to hope; in the word of promise, on which he was caused to hope; and in which hope he was confirmed, and not disappointed, and so it made him not ashamed: and others rejoiced at it, because it was an encouragement to their faith and hope likewise.

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Matthew Henry

1. The confidence of this good man in the hope of God’s salvation: “I have hoped in thy word; and I have not found it in vain to do so; it has not failed me, nor have I been disappointed in my expectations from it. It is a hope that maketh not ashamed; but is present satisfaction, and fruition at last.”

2. The concurrence of other good men with him in the joy of that salvation: “Those that fear thee will be glad when they see me relieved by my hope in thy word and delivered according to my hope.” The comforts which some of God’s children have in God, and the favors they have received from him, should be a matter of joy to others of them. Paul often expressed the hope that, for God’s grace to him, thanks would be rendered by many, 2 Co. 1:11; 4:15. Or it may be taken more generally; good people are glad to see one another; they are especially pleased with those who are eminent for their hope in God’s word.

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Adam Clarke

They that fear thee — They who are truly religious will be glad – will rejoice, at this farther proof of the saving power of God.

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The Pulpit Commentaries

They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; literally, will see me and be glad. I shall be a fresh proof to them that God does not forsake his servants. Because I have hoped in thy Word. I have not fallen from grace—I have continued to trust in thy promises.

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Miscellaneous Comments

“They that fear thee will be glad,” etc. They who “fear God” are naturally “glad when they see” and converse with one like themselves; but more especially so, when it is one whose faith and patience have carried him through troubles, and rendered him victorious over temptations; one who hath “hoped in God’s word,” and hath not been disappointed. Every such instance affords fresh encouragement to all those who, in the course of their warfare, are to undergo like troubles and to encounter like temptations. In all our trials let us, therefore, remember that our brethren, as well as ourselves, are deeply interested in the event, which may either strengthen or weaken the hands of the multitudes.

—George Horne.

“They that fear thee will be glad when they see me,” etc. How comfortable it is for the heirs of promise to see one another, or meet together: aspectus boni viri delectat, (the very look of a good man is delightful): it is a pleasure to converse with those that are careful to please God, and fearful to offend him. How much affected they are with one another’s mercies: “they will be glad when they see me,” since I have obtained an event answerable to my hope. They shall come and look upon me as a monument and spectacle of the mercy and truth of God. But what mercy had he received? The context seemeth to carry it for grace to obey God’s commandments; that was the prayer immediately preceding, to be instructed and taught in God’s law (Psa 119:73). Now they will rejoice to see my holy behavior, how I have profited and glorified God in that behalf. The Hebrew writers render the reason, “Because then I shall be able to instruct them in those statutes, when they shall see me, their king, study the law of God.” It may be expounded of any other blessing or benefit God had given according to his hope; and I rather understand it thus, they will be glad to see him sustained, supported, and borne out in his troubles and sufferings. “They will be glad when they shall see in me a notable example of the fruit of hoping in thy grace.”

—Thomas Manton.

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Cross-References

Psalm 130:5 (KJV 1900)

⁵  I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait,

And in his word do I hope.

 

Psalm 35:27 (KJV 1900)

²⁷  Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause:

Yea, let them say continually, Let the Lord be magnified,

Which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.

 

Psalm 66:16 (KJV 1900)

¹⁶  Come and hear, all ye that fear God,

And I will declare what he hath done for my soul.

 

Psalm 34:2–6 (KJV 1900)

²  My soul shall make her boast in the Lord:

The humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.

³  O magnify the Lord with me,

And let us exalt his name together.

⁴  I sought the Lord, and he heard me,

And delivered me from all my fears.

⁵  They looked unto him, and were lightened:

And their faces were not ashamed.

⁶  This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him,

And saved him out of all his troubles.

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Closing Thoughts

 

All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. 2Corinthians 4:15 NIV

 

י YOD : Confidence in the Creator and His Word.

73 

Your hands have made me and fashioned me;
Give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments.

74 

Those who fear You will be glad when they see me,
Because I have hoped in Your word.

75 

I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are right,
And that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.

76 

Let, I pray, Your merciful kindness be for my comfort,
According to Your word to Your servant.

77 

Let Your tender mercies come to me, that I may live;
For Your law is my delight.

78 

Let the proud be ashamed,
For they treated me wrongfully with falsehood;
But I will meditate on Your precepts.

79 

Let those who fear You turn to me,
Those who know Your testimonies.

80 

Let my heart be blameless regarding Your statutes,
That I may not be ashamed.

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Posted on 8/1/2025 by Bill Stephens

Follow me on twitter – @billstephens_59