Psalms 119:126
It is time for the LORD to act, for your law has been broken.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Psalms 119:126
It is time for the LORD to act, for your law has been broken.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse isn't just a plea for God to step in; it's a declaration that the breaking of God's law has created the opportune moment for Him to act. The psalmist sees the chaos and sin as reaching a critical point, a fullness of time that demands divine intervention to restore order and vindicate His name.
The psalmist declares it's time for God to intervene because his law has been disregarded and openly defied by oppressors. This cry follows a section where the psalmist asserts his own commitment to righteousness, highlighting the contrast between his obedience and the wicked world around him. He looks to God for vindication, trusting that divine action is necessary to uphold His broken law.
The psalmist cries out, 'It is time for the LORD to act!' Have you ever felt like you're waiting for God to step in, especially when things seem out of control?
This isn't just a casual observation; it's a desperate plea born from a deep understanding of God's character and His covenant promises. The phrase 'It is time' suggests a divinely appointed moment, a deadline set by the Lord Himself. It implies that while God might seem inactive, He operates according to His own perfect timing. When human efforts have failed, and sin has reached a critical point, it becomes the opportune moment for God to intervene, not out of impatience, but out of faithfulness and justice. This verse highlights that God's action is not random but purposeful, often triggered by the overflow of human wickedness against His established order.
The verse states the reason for God's needed action: 'for your law has been broken.' What does it truly mean to 'make void' God's law?
To 'make void' God's law isn't just about breaking a rule; it's about actively disregarding its authority and canceling its significance. It means treating God's commands as if they have no power, no consequence, and no binding force. This can manifest in several ways:
The psalmist identifies this state of affairs as the crisis point that necessitates divine intervention.
Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal name of the God of Israel, YHWH, who keeps covenant with His people. It signifies His eternal existence, holiness, and supreme authority as the Creator and Redeemer.
torah · Hebrew Noun
The Hebrew 'Torah,' referring to divine instruction, teaching, or authoritative law. In Scripture, it encompasses God’s revealed will for human conduct and relationship with Him.
This verse expresses a desperate cry from a time when God's people had strayed so far from His Law that it seemed obsolete to their oppressors. It's a plea for divine intervention, recognizing that only God can truly vindicate His broken commands when human faithfulness has failed.
c. 605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon deports Judean elites, including Daniel, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of the Babylonian domination over Judah and the decline of its independence.
587-586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Nebuchadnezzar's forces destroy Jerusalem and Solomon's Temple. The majority of the remaining population is exiled to Babylon, leading to the end of the Kingdom of Judah.
c. 539 BC
Persian Conquest of Babylon
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers the Babylonian Empire. This shift in power eventually leads to the decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem.
c. 538 BC
Decree of Return and Rebuilding
Cyrus issues a decree permitting the Jewish exiles to return to their homeland and rebuild the Temple. This marks the beginning of the return from exile and the restoration period.
This passage echoes the psalmist's plea, as Jeremiah prays for God to intervene and judge his enemies who have rejected His law.
Romans 3:31Paul discusses how Christ's coming does not nullify the law but establishes it, contrasting with the 'making void' of the law mentioned in Psalms 119:126.
2 Thessalonians 2:3-4This passage describes the 'rebellion' and the 'man of lawlessness' who exalts himself and opposes God, paralleling the spirit of those who 'make void' God's law.
Galatians 3:21The apostle questions if the law is against God's promises, highlighting the tension between human attempts to justify themselves by law and God's plan of salvation, a theme implied by the law being made void.
cambridgePsalms 119:126: "It is time for thee, LORD, to work: for they have made void thy law."
126 . It is time for Jehovah to act; They have broken thy law. High time it is for Jehovah to interpose with an act of judgement (cp. Jeremiah 18:23 , “deal thou with them”), and vindicate His broken law. The second line is decisive in favour of this interpretation: otherwise the first line might be rendered, It is time to act for Jehovah , and Psalm 119:124-125 connected with it, in the sense that in such a…
pulpitPsalms 119:126: "It is time for thee, LORD, to work: for they have made void thy law."
Verse 126. - It is time for thee, Lord, to work; or, "to act;" i.e. to lay aside quiescence, and come forward as the active Ruler of the universe. For they have made void thy Law. The wicked have cast thy Law behind their back, and, so far as lay in their power, "made it void" - repealed it, cancelled it.
The verse isn't just a plea for God to step in; it's a declaration that the breaking of God's law has created the opportune moment for Him to act. The psalmist sees the chaos and sin as reaching a critical point, a fullness of time that demands divine intervention to restore order and vindicate His name.
The psalmist declares it's time for God to intervene because his law has been disregarded and openly defied by oppressors. This cry follows a section where the psalmist asserts his own commitment to righteousness, highlighting the contrast between his obedience and the wicked world around him. He looks to God for vindication, trusting that divine action is necessary to uphold His broken law.
The psalmist declares it's time for God to intervene because his law has been disregarded and openly defied by oppressors. This cry follows a section where the psalmist asserts his own commitment to righteousness, highlighting the contrast between his obedience and the wicked world around him. He looks to God for vindication, trusting that divine action is necessary to uphold His broken law.
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c. 458 BC
Ezra's Commission and Return
Ezra, a scribe and priest, leads a second major group of exiles back to Jerusalem. He is empowered to re-establish the Mosaic Law and reform the community.
c. 445 BC— this verse
Nehemiah Rebuilds Jerusalem's Walls
Nehemiah, cupbearer to the Persian king, receives permission to return and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, facing significant opposition from surrounding peoples. This strengthens the physical and spiritual community.
"It is time for the LORD to act, for your law has been broken." — The verse isn't just a plea for God to step in; it's a declaration that the breaking of God's law has created the opportune moment for Him to act. The psalmist sees the chaos and sin as reaching a…