This verse reminds us to raise our hands and hearts in adoration of God’s word, letting our deep affection for His commands lead us into faithful obedience and joyful reflection.
“And I shall lift up my hands to Your commandments, which I love; And I will meditate on Your statutes.” (v.48)
In this stanza of Psalm 119, the psalmist expresses a heartfelt devotion to God’s word by declaring, And I shall lift up my hands to Your commandments, which I love (v.48). Lifting one’s hands was (and still can be) a physical gesture of praise and surrender, showing that the writer’s entire being is focused on obeying and honoring God’s commands. By using the word love, the psalmist reveals not mere duty, but genuine affection for the LORD’s instructions. This devotion appears all throughout Psalm 119, where the psalmist prizes God’s words more than material wealth and finds them to be a steady source of guidance (Psalm 119:105).
The next phrase, And I will meditate on Your statutes (v.48), highlights the psalmist’s intention to dwell on God’s laws so that they might transform his life from the inside out. This meditation is not a passive practice, but an active consideration of the LORD’s counsel, inviting the psalmist to align his heart and actions with God’s ways. Elsewhere in Scripture, such reflection on God’s truth is described as something “sweet” and life-giving (Psalm 119:103), reminding us that divine commandments are not burdens but blessings that guide our steps.
The verse as a whole underscores the psalmist’s recognition that loving and meditating on God’s commands fosters a closer relationship with Him. In the New Testament, Jesus affirmed that those who love Him will keep His commandments (John 14:15). Thus, meditating on God’s instructions is more than just an intellectual exercise; it is an act of worship that shapes believers into the image of Christ, who perfectly fulfilled the law (Matthew 5:17).
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Psalms 119:48 meaning
“And I shall lift up my hands to Your commandments, which I love; And I will meditate on Your statutes.” (v.48)
In this stanza of Psalm 119, the psalmist expresses a heartfelt devotion to God’s word by declaring, And I shall lift up my hands to Your commandments, which I love (v.48). Lifting one’s hands was (and still can be) a physical gesture of praise and surrender, showing that the writer’s entire being is focused on obeying and honoring God’s commands. By using the word love, the psalmist reveals not mere duty, but genuine affection for the LORD’s instructions. This devotion appears all throughout Psalm 119, where the psalmist prizes God’s words more than material wealth and finds them to be a steady source of guidance (Psalm 119:105).
The next phrase, And I will meditate on Your statutes (v.48), highlights the psalmist’s intention to dwell on God’s laws so that they might transform his life from the inside out. This meditation is not a passive practice, but an active consideration of the LORD’s counsel, inviting the psalmist to align his heart and actions with God’s ways. Elsewhere in Scripture, such reflection on God’s truth is described as something “sweet” and life-giving (Psalm 119:103), reminding us that divine commandments are not burdens but blessings that guide our steps.
The verse as a whole underscores the psalmist’s recognition that loving and meditating on God’s commands fosters a closer relationship with Him. In the New Testament, Jesus affirmed that those who love Him will keep His commandments (John 14:15). Thus, meditating on God’s instructions is more than just an intellectual exercise; it is an act of worship that shapes believers into the image of Christ, who perfectly fulfilled the law (Matthew 5:17).