This is another reason why the psalmist knew that God's words are wonderful. It is because they are altogether righteous. Two thoughts go together in these references. First, the source of righteousness is the character of God (“Righteous are you, O LORD,” v. 137; "Your righteousness is everlasting,” v. 142). Second, the Law of God gives expression to that righteousness (“Your laws are right,” v. 137; “The statutes you have laid down are righteous,” v. 138; “Your statutes are forever right,” v. 144). A way we might express this is to say that the Bible mirrors the character of God.
The fourth reason the psalmist finds the Scriptures to be wonderful is because God himself is in them and because he reveals himself to the one who studies them. "Make your face shine upon your servant," he says (v. 135). This verse is a conscious echo of the great Old Testament benediction, known as the Aaronic blessing: “The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace” (Num. 6:24-26).
As we noted in yesterday's study, Luther made a strong point of indicating that the Word gives understanding “to the simple.” How this works is illustrated by the way Jesus dealt with the Emmaus disciples in the story recorded in Luke 24. These two people, probably Cleopas and his wife, Mary, were returning home after the crucifixion when Jesus drew near them on the road. They did not recognize him. When he asked why they were downcast they replied by telling him what had happened in Jerusalem at the time of the Passover.
These stanzas offer seven reasons why God's words are wonderful, and the first is because they give “understanding to the simple.” The writer states this in verse 130 and records his obedient response in verse 131:
The entrance of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.
I open my mouth and pant, longing for your commands.
Many good things from the past are disappearing in today's modern and postmodern society, and one of them is wonder. People used to have their sense of awe incited by some new or unexpected thing. They had expressions like “wonder worker," "seven-day wonder” and “wonders never cease.” They read books like Alice's Adventures in Wonderland or watched movies like It's a Wonderful Life. Nothing seems wonderful any more. There is no mystery in anything. Everything seems commonplace, predictable and dull.
