“153) Consider mine affliction, and deliver me: for I do not forget thy law. 154) Plead my cause, and deliver me: quicken me according to thy word.” (verses 153, 154) The Psalmist was in affliction and was afraid of his enemies. Did the Lord see? “Consider mine afflictions” he prayed to the Lord. Look at the situation I am in. “Plead my cause.” I have no one to stand up and help me, so my only hope is You, Lord. Deliver me and quicken me. The word “quicken” means to nourish, revive, and restore to life. The Psalmist was praying for deliverance and for someone to revive his fainting spirit.
“155) Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes. 156) Great are thy tender mercies, O LORD: quicken me according to thy judgments.” (verses 155, 156) Here the Psalmist contrasts the wicked and those that seek God and His word. The wicked have no hope of salvation. Because he loves God and His word, the Psalmist has hope of God’s tender mercies and of revival and restoration. For this reason, he did not turn back from keeping God’s word. “Many are my persecutors and mine enemies; yet do I not decline from thy testimonies.” (verse 157) This hope of experiencing God’s tender mercies and revival and restoration is shared by all those who fear the Lord and hear and heed His word.
“I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word.” (verse 158) Several times in this Psalm, the author of it expresses how grieved he is or the sorrow he feels because of the wicked who do not keep God’s word. Does it make our heart heavy and sorrowful when we see the wicked disregarding the word of God? It should. It means these wicked have no hope, and often it means that the righteous are oppressed. That should make us very sad.
“159) Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O LORD, according to thy lovingkindness. 160) Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.” (verses 159, 160) Once again, the Psalmist asked for the Lord to consider him. He wanted the Lord to think on how he kept His word and loved it and how the Lord promised to revive those that do. He acknowledged that the word of God is true from the beginning and will endure forever. Therefore, he desired revival and restoration according to what had been said in God’s word.
Deliverance, revival and restoration can be ours too, if we will only love and obey and hope in God’s word. We have the same God as the Psalmist, and we also can cry to Him for quickening and for the receiving of His tender mercies. They are there for the asking and seeking. Thank You, God!