I noted in an earlier blog on this psalm that the psalmist had a humble heart. A heart that admitted that it didn’t know everything, and was very teachable.
We see more of that here, but we also see a heart that was very soft to the word of God. Once again, we see him asking God to teach him in verse 66. But then he says,
Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word. (Psalm 119:67)
And again in verse 71,
It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.
In other words, the psalmist knew the chastening of God in his life. In what way he was chastened, we don’t know. But we do know his response. He repented. Why?
It goes back to what we talked about in the last blog. He believed God was good and wanted what was best for him. He sang,
You are good, and what you do is good; teach me your decrees. (Psalm 119:68)
Of the evil he said,
Their hearts are callous and unfeeling. (Psalm 119:70a)
But of himself, he said,
I delight in your law. (Psalm 119:70b)
And at the end of this passage, he prays,
May my heart be blameless toward your decrees, that I may not be put to shame. (Psalm 119:80)
How soft our are hearts to God and his Word? When he rebukes us, do we chafe at his discipline? Or are we like the psalmist, humble and repentant?
Moment to Moment (Bible blog) 