Vs. 161 — Princes persecute me without a cause, But my heart stands in awe of Your word.

Thomas Manton:

There is an awe of the word, not that maketh us shy of it, but tender of violating it, or doing anything contrary to it. This is not the fruit of slavish fear, but of holy love; it is not afraid of the word, but delighteth in it, as it discovereth the mind of God to us; as in the next verse it is written, “I rejoice at thy word.” This awe is called by a proper name, reverence, or godly fear; when we consider whose word it is, namely, the word of the Lord, who is our God, and hath a right to command what he pleaseth; to whose will and word we have already yielded obedience, and devoted ourselves to walk worthy of him in all well-pleasing; who can find us out in all our failings, as knowing our very thoughts afar off (Ps. 139:2), and having all our ways before him, and being one of whom we read,—“He is a holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins” (Josh. 24:19), that is to say, if we impenitently continue in them. Considering these things we receive the word with that trembling of heart which God so much respects. (Manton, Thomas. The Complete Works of Thomas Manton. Vol. 9. London: James Nisbet & Co., 1872.)

Charles H. Spurgeon:

“But my heart standeth in awe of thy word.” He might have been overcome by awe of the princes had it not been that a greater fear drove out the less, and he was swayed by awe of God’s word. How little do crowns and sceptres become in the judgment of that man who perceives a more majestic royalty in the commands of his God. We are not likely to be disheartened by persecution, or driven by it into sin, if the word of God continually has supreme power over our minds. (Spurgeon, C. H. (2009). The treasury of David: Psalms 111-119 (Vol. 5, p. 423). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)

Prayer:

My God, whom I fear in holy reverence, princes persecute me without a cause, but my heart stands in awe of Your word. If there be a time when I am unjustly treated or wrongly accused of unlawfulness, give me faith to trust in Your hand of justice, and to bring to light in the hearts of those in authority the bare truth. Help me to hold fast to Your promises that I may remain above approach and speak wisdom and truthfulness. I will fear no man, for You are God; what can man do to my soul? Nothing! Therefore, whatever be the road that Your providence has prepared for me, give me ample grace to carry the Gospel. Keep me true to my King. Keep my heart in awe of Your word. And I will see Your hand at work, knowing that You are neither idol nor slumber. Amen.