Psalm 119:167 NKJV
My soul keeps Your testimonies,
And I love them exceedingly.
Soul-Deep Love for God’s Word
My Notes
Scripture: “My soul keeps Your testimonies, And I love them exceedingly.” —Psalm 119:167 (NKJV)
David’s words are not casual—they are confessional. “My soul keeps Your testimonies…” This is not mere outward compliance, but inward devotion. In Hebrew, the thought, “my soul,” expresses the deepest affections and intentions. David’s obedience was not skin-deep—it was soul-deep. He didn’t just follow God’s Word with his hands; he embraced it with his heart.
Let our awareness of daily shortcomings not keep us from embracing this expression of confidence; it is presented as an indication of grace, not a claim of superiority. David aspired to no higher character than that of a humble sinner: yet he was aware of the spirituality of obedience, “exceeding love” for the divine word, and walking under the leading of the Lord—the evidence of a heart (frequently mentioned in the Old Testament) “perfect with him.”
This is the kind of obedience that pleases God: not mechanical, but relational. David kept God’s testimonies because he loved them exceedingly. His love was not lukewarm or obligatory; it was fervent, joyful, and surpassing. He treasured God’s Word more than wealth, pleasure, or reputation. It was his delight, his compass, his lifeline.
Such love is not born of duty alone—it is the fruit of grace. David was a sinner, conscious of his failures, yet confident in his sincerity. He didn’t claim perfection, but he did claim affection. His love for God’s Word was evidence of a heart made new, a soul shaped by truth. And that love led to obedience—not to earn salvation, but to honor the One who gave it.
This verse invites us to examine our own spiritual posture. Do we keep God’s Word with our soul—or only with our schedule? Do we love His testimonies exceedingly—or only occasionally? The more we store up truth, the more we will treasure it. The more we see the riches of Scripture, the more our love will overflow.
And this love is only a reasonable return. The Father loved us exceedingly, giving His Son. The Son loved us exceedingly, giving Himself. How can we not respond with soul-deep love for His Word?
Personal Questions
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What does it mean for your soul—not just your actions—to keep God’s Word?
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Do you love God’s testimonies exceedingly—or only when convenient?
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How has your love for God’s Word grown over time?
Prayer
Abba, My soul longs to keep Your testimonies—not out of duty, but out of delight. Let Your Word dwell in me, shaping my thoughts, desires, and decisions. I love Your Word, Lord—but I want to love it exceedingly. Stir my heart with holy affection. Let me treasure Your promises, obey Your laws, and rely on Your truth. May my obedience be soul-deep, and my love for Your Word surpass all earthly affections. Let me always remember that You love me exceedingly—let me return that love with joy and sincerity. I ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Cross References for Further Study (NKJV)
Praise and Delight in God
Psalm 103:1 Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Psalm 104:1 Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, You are very great: You are clothed with honor and majesty,
Luke 1:46 And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord,
Love for God’s Word
Psalm 119:97 Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.
Psalm 19:7–10 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
Jeremiah 15:16 Your words were found, and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts.
Obedience and Love
Romans 6:17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.
John 14:15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”
1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.
Grace, Hope, and Assurance
Titus 2:11–12 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,
1 John 3:2–3 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
Philippians 1:6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
God’s Love and Power
Romans 8:32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Ephesians 3:17–19 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Proverb for Today
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For by me your days will be multiplied, And years of life will be added to you. Proverbs 9:10-11 NKJV
NOTE: Psalm 119 has 22 sections to which each section is represented by a letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Today, we’re looking at verse 167, which is in the 21st section, which is called “Shin (שׁ)” It is the twenty-first letter of the Hebrew alphabet, representing the phonetic sounds “sh” when a dot is placed on its upper right side and “s” when the dot is on the upper left side, known as Sin (שׂ). It holds a numerical value of 300 in gematria, a system of assigning numerical values to letters.
In Hebrew, “Shin (שׁ)” is associated with deep symbolic and theological meanings. It is the first letter in the name “Shaddai,” a title for God meaning “Almighty,” emphasizing divine power and presence. The letter is also linked to concepts such as steadfastness, change for the good, return, and the year. Symbolically, Shin is often depicted as resembling a flame, representing the divine light and the burning bush encountered by Moses. It is commonly inscribed on mezuzahs (parchment scroll inscribed with specific Hebrew verses from the Tora, primarily Deuteronomy 6:4–9 and 11:13–21, which are part of the Shema prayer.), affixed to Jewish doorposts, as a sign of God’s protection and presence.
James Boice noted that this section represents a quiet obedience, waiting for God.
……..Bill
Summary of Commentaries:
Psalm 119:167 reflects David’s wholehearted devotion to God’s Word. Spurgeon emphasizes that David kept God’s testimonies not only outwardly, but with his soul—his deepest self. This keeping was rooted in love, not duty, and that love was fervent, exceeding all measure. True believers store God’s truth as a treasure, guarding it with affection and obedience. The more one meditates on Scripture, the more love for it grows. David’s confidence wasn’t prideful—it was evidence of grace. Even amid failures, sincere love for God’s Word and a soul-shaped obedience reveal a heart made new and a life walking under God’s eye.
Commentaries:
Charles Spurgeon
“My soul hath kept thy testimonies.” My outward life has kept thy precepts, and my inward life—my soul, has kept thy testimonies. God has borne testimony to many sacred truths, and these we hold fast as for life itself. The gracious man stores up the truth of God within his heart as a treasure exceedingly dear and precious—he keeps it. His secret soul, his inmost self, becomes the guardian of these divine teachings, which are his sole authority in soul matters.
“And I love them exceedingly.” This was why he kept them, and having kept them, this was the result of the keeping. He did not merely store up revealed truth by way of duty, but because of a deep, unutterable affection for it. He felt that he could sooner die than give up any part of the revelation of God. The more we store our minds with heavenly truth, the more deeply shall we be in love with it: the more we see the exceeding riches of the Bible the more will our love exceed measure, and exceed expression.
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Enduring Word
My soul keeps Your testimonies, and I love them exceedingly: The psalmist kept the word of God not only with his outward actions, but also with his soul. His love and conformity to the word of God was deeply rooted, not superficial. (Guzik)
i. “Indeed, the bias of the new nature to keep the precepts is as prevalent as that of the old nature to break them.” (Bridges)
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Albert Barnes
My soul hath kept thy testimonies, and I love them exceedingly – I am conscious of loving them; I feel an inward assurance that I do love them.
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John Gill
My soul hath kept thy testimonies,…. The word of God, which he kept cordially and heartily; and in his heart, laid it up there; and with his whole soul observed the doctrines and kept the precepts of it;
and I love them exceedingly; and kept them from a principle of love, and not with mercenary and selfish views; and this love was exceeding great, not cold nor lukewarm, but ardent and fervent, love in the superlative degree.
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Matthew Henry
He loved God’s testimonies; he loved them exceedingly. Our love to the word of God must be a superlative love (we must love it better than the wealth and pleasure of this world), and it must be a victorious love, such as will subdue and mortify our lusts and extirpate carnal affections.
He kept them, his soul kept them. Bodily exercise profits little in religion; we must make heart-work of it, or we make nothing of it. The soul must be sanctified and renewed, and delivered into the mould of the word; the soul must be employed in glorifying God, for he will be worshipped in the spirit. We must keep both the precepts and the testimonies, the commands of God by our obedience to them and his promises by our reliance on them.
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Adam Clarke
My soul hath kept — I have not attended to the latter merely, but my spirit has entered into the spirit and design of thy testimonies.
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The Pulpit Commentaries
My soul hath kept thy testimonies. In will and intention, I have always been faithful unto thee; I have striven to keep all thy commandments. And I love them exceedingly.
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Miscellaneous Comments
“My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly.” Should he not have said, first, I have loved thy commandments, and so have kept them? Doubtless, he did so; but he ran here in a holy and most heavenly circle, I have kept them and loved them, and loved them and kept them. If we love Christ, we shall also live the life of love in our measure, and his commandments will be most dear when himself is most precious.
—Thomas Shepard, in “The Sound Believer,” 1671.
“My soul.” It is a usual phrase among the Hebrews, when they would express their vehement affection to anything, to say, “My soul:” as Psa 103:1; Psa 104:1, “My soul, praise thou the Lord,” and Luk 1:46 “My soul doth magnify the Lord.”
—Richard Greenham.
“I love them exceedingly.” It is only a reasonable return to God, for the Father loved me so exceedingly as not to spare his own Son, but to give him up for me; and the Son loved me so exceedingly that he gave himself to me, and gave me back to myself when I was lost in my sins, original and actual.
—Gerhohus (1093-1169), in Neale and Littledale
Let not our consciousness of daily failures make us shrink from this strong expression of confidence. It is alleged as an evidence of grace, not as a claim of merit, and therefore the most humble believer need not hesitate to adopt it as the expression of Christian sincerity before God. David aspired to no higher character than that of a poor sinner, but he was conscious of spirituality of obedience, “exceeding love” to the divine word, and a habitual walk under the eye of his God—the evidences of a heart (often mentioned in the Old Testament)” perfect with him.”
—Charles Bridges.
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