Longing For God's Mercy and Divine Intervention
- Elijah McSwain
- Oct 10, 2024
- 9 min read
10/8/2024
Elijah McSwain, Sr.
Psalm 119:132 NKJV — Look upon me and be merciful to me, as Your custom is toward those who love Your name.
Psalm 119 has customarily been declared as the longest passage in the Bible. Psalm 119 contains 176 verses with well over 2,400 words. The context of this passage focuses on the blessings of those who walk undefiled in the way of the Lord, who walk in the law of God according to v 1. It deals with praising God for His righteous judgments in v. 7. This psalm speaks of the psalmist seeking God wholeheartedly in v. 10. Delight and meditation are given by the penman to the ways and Word of the Lord in vv.15-16. The writer pens how God has dealt with him bountifully in v. 17. A plea for the removal of iniquity and the way of lying is made by the composer so that the manifestation of God would grant him His law graciously in v. 29. One last aspect to mention is that the psalmist acknowledges the proclamation of the earth being full of the Lord’s glory as expressed in v. 64.
Psalm 119 is a poetic expression of praise, godly sorrow, wholehearted devotion, reverence for God and a petition of God's mercy. Mercy is one of several undertones and themes recorded here in this biblical account. The premise of where we land in Psalm 119:132 is part of the penman's prayer for God's compassion, forbearance, and intervention.
A Petition for God's Mercy
The opening of verse 132a acknowledges the attentiveness of the Lord. The phrase " look upon me" that was written by the contributor of Psalm 119 is a heartfelt desire for God to be considerate unto the nature of his cause. Obviously, based on the layout, the written composition indicates some form of adversity unfolded in his life. In Psalm 119:113, we find where he expressed his displeasure with double-minded people and in the next verse (v. 14), it was declared that God was his hiding place and shield. Then in Psalm 119:115-124, a plea for the Lord to allow evildoers was requested for them to depart from him. He voiced the need to be upheld so that his life could go on. Furthermore, he verbalized the need to be kept safe and more as he cried in sincerity to God as a means of dealing with His servant according to His divine mercy.
It was known by the biblical writer that typically when God looks upon humanity, He is moved to act. He wanted God to take note and respond to the dire circumstances of his life.
An appeal was made for the Lord to look upon the miseries of his life as his human affliction brought about human discomfort. Thus, the avenue to petition God regarding his human condition elevated his thought process to a vertical dimension and plain seek the Helper of all helpers. H.B. Charles, Jr. wrote “first, the psalmist prays, “Turn to me.” Older translations read, “Look to me.” The original is more emphatic: “Turn to me.” The psalmist wrestled with a sense of divine abandonment. He felt God had turned his back on him. In his desperation, he needed more than a glance from God. He needed God’s full attention.” 1
Charles Spurgeon would add to this that "if a look from us to God has saving efficacy in it, what may we not expect from a look from God to us." 2
When God takes into account our troublesome situations by looking upon us, we can be assured that His intervention will bring resolve to our situations. Psalm 25:15-21 (NKJV) records a similar sentiment found in Psalm 119. David who wrote Psalm 25 stated "my eyes are ever toward the LORD, for He shall pluck my feet out of the net. Turn Yourself to me, and have mercy on me, for I am desolate and afflicted. The troubles of my heart have enlarged; bring me out of my distresses! Look on my affliction and my pain and forgive all my sins. Consider my enemies, for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred. Keep my soul, and deliver me; let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in You. Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for You."
In the midst of calamity, we can take solace in knowing that we are within reach of God’s mercy as well. That is to say, we should possess the same mindset to approach God in such a manner that causes Him to incline His ear unto us, look upon us, and actively intercede on our behalf.
A story is told that "one day John Wesley was walking with a troubled man who expressed his doubt as to the goodness and mercy of God. He said, “I do not know what I shall do with all this worry and trouble.” At the same moment Wesley saw a cow looking over a stone wall. “Do you know,” asked Wesley, “why that cow is looking over the wall?” “No,” said the man who was worried. Wesley said, “The cow is looking over the wall because she cannot see through it. That is what you must do with your wall of trouble—look over it and look to God." 3
Looking up spurs humanity to look to the blessed hope of God's mercy.
Are we able to look over the wall of trouble and voice our need for God to look upon us? If not, we need to recall the words of Psalm 18:6 (NKJV) that mentions "in my distress I called upon the LORD and cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, and my cry came before Him, even to His ears." Let me illustrate it this way, usually as parents when we hear the cry of our children, their cry prompts us to turn, look, and act as a display of our compassion. This is what God does as well. He acts because He is merciful. The writer connected the mercifulness of God to His ability to look. Psalm 119:132a declares to look upon me and be merciful to me. The biblical author is advocating like a child that the Lord would be favorable in his situation to show compassion and pity by way of His merciful look.
The desire for God to look signifies the temperamental nature of His affection toward us.
Charles Spurgeon noted when God looks at us "in mercy He spares and blesses us. If God looks and sees us panting, He will not fail to be merciful to us." 2 We should thank the Lord that He does not turn a deaf ear to us or blindly stand by while we suffer but He responses to our cries of despair, desperation and brokenness. Psalm 34:18-19 (NKJV) sums this truth up by proclaiming "the LORD is near to those who have a broken heart and saves such as have a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all." Since, the Lord is near, we can petition Him to show us mercy by being observant of us. This reflects our ultimate dependency upon Him in life.
The Surety of God’s Mercy
In the latter part of verse 132, the connection is made that God is merciful based on His custom toward those who love His name. The word "custom" highlights the ways of God.
According to God’s divine inclination, He practices mercy because He is merciful.
Psalm 116:5 (NKJV) implies "gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yes, our God is merciful." God is compassionate, tenderhearted, and sympathetic. It is a core aspect of who He is. Therefore, it is seen in His functionality and operation. His custom is to be kind as He is kind. His custom is to be loving as He is loving. He custom is to display His providential care because He is caring. His custom is to deliver because He is a Deliverer. All of these aspects stem from His merciful positional stance.
Albert Barnes stated the idea is, "God treats us according to the rules which regulate the treatment of His people." 3
He treats us in respect to the regulatory agent of His custom regarding mercy because the Lord delights in mercy (cf. Micah 7:18d). God takes pleasure in the execution of His hand of mercy.
His custom is an extension of His delight, and His delight is a manifestation of His mercy.
For this reason, we should delight in His custom just as He delights in His custom. This will grant us the undoubted assurance of God’s mercy as the God of mercy. God’s mercy brings about surety and we can stand firm in the surety of His mercy when problematic issues arise. The writer turned to address that the surety of God's mercy is bestowed to those who love His name. This indicates that those who have reverence and affection for God are the objects and recipients of His mercy. For those who love the Lord, we are benefactors of His provisions. We experience exclusive privileges that are afforded to those who exalt, honor, and esteem God out of our love for Him. Of course, God is merciful to those who do not love Him, but that mercy extends to a certain degree. Matthew 5:45 (NKJV) helps us to understand this truth by the declaration “that He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust."
The MacArthur Study Bible distinguishes God's grace and mercifulness in these terms regarding the just and the unjust. MacArthur writes "this plainly teaches that God’s love extends even to His enemies. This universal love of God iss manifest in blessings which God bestows on all indiscriminately. Theologians refer to this as common grace. This must be distinguished from the everlasting love God has for the elect." 5
Common grace is aspects of grace that all of humanity experiences like seeing the sun rise in the east and setting in the west. It encompasses having mobility of our limbs, eyes, rationalization of the mind, and so forth. Common grace is the extension of God's kindness whereby all of human are recipients of God's temporal and general blessings. However, the elect are given blessings that are associated with the everlasting love, mercy, and grace of God due to the association that we have with His name. We are recipients not only of common grace but special grace that is exclusive only to the body of Christ. Special grace demonstrates the divine favor of God that we do not deserve but is graciously given to us as believers. This is a result of God's compassionate to bless those who are called by His name. This is a reference to those who have been redeemed through the atoning work of Jesus Christ at the cross of Calvary. Those who love His name are blessed of God in accordance with salvation as well as through the providence of God to sustain and deliver us from burdensome afflictions.
H.B. Charles, Jr. penned “it’s God’s way to intervene for those who love God’s name. To love God’s name is to love God. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” 1
God works out every situation for the good of His children. Sometimes we may not think of it in those terms, but God is able to change any predicament that seems unbearable for His glory and our good. All things work according to His purpose and since we are connected with the name that is above all names, we can rejoice in the power of His name and Person. The name of the Lord reveals his power as our Deliverer. As iterated before Psalm 34:19 (NKJV) declares "many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all." In addition, for those who love the name of the Lord, He is our refuge, strong tower, and hiding place. Psalm 18:2 (ESV) states “the LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” These are just a few core aspects of how God operates in respect to His name for those who love His name.
In the midst of calamity, God is able to be what we need in alignment with His Person and name.
Therefore, the psalmist could confidently recount the faithfulness of God as a result of being certain of His character, His name and being knowledgeable of the consistency of God’s track record in seeing to the needs of His people.
No matter what issues we may encounter, let us ask God to look upon us and be merciful to us as His custom is toward those who love His name.
References
Spurgeon, C. H. n.d. The Treasury of David: Psalms 111-119. Vol. 5. London; Edinburgh; New York: Marshall Brothers.
Ministry127.com, Don't Focus On Your Worries.
Barnes, Albert. "Commentary on Psalms 119:132". "Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/bnb/psalms-119.html. 1870.
The MacArthur Study Bible