His devotion is inward before it is outward. The keeping of God’s word flows from affection. His love for God’s testimonies is not mild or restrained. The Hebrew word translated “exceedingly” is meod. It intensifies whatever it describes. His love is strong. God’s testimonies are not burdens to him. They are treasures. Spurgeon captures this beautifully: “He did not merely store up revealed truth by way of duty, but because of a deep, unutterable affection for it. He felt that he could sooner die than give up any part of the revelation of God. The more we store our minds with heavenly truth, the more deeply shall we be in love with it: the more we see the exceeding riches of the Bible the more will our love exceed measure, and exceed expression.” Timothy Keller prays, “Give me the energy for study of your Word that comes from a deep sense of the value of what I will find there.” May that be our prayer as well. May our souls keep his testimonies, not from pressure or pride, but from love that has tasted their worth and refuses to let them go.
