“Trouble and anguish have come upon me; yet Your commandments are my delight” (Psalm 119:143).

Several verses in Psalm 119 teach us that God’s word is a source of comfort in all our afflictions.  What ever trouble and anguish we experience in life, delight in God’s word will carry us through it triumphantly.  That thought has often been a great encouragement to me.  Thoman Manton’s comments on verse 143 are very insightful.  He opened my eyes to something I had never seen in this verse.  While the overall emphasis is that God’s word is a unique source of encouragement in suffering, there is something more here.  David specifically says that God’s commandments are his delight. In the midst of trouble, the Christian will discover that obeying God’s commands will be a source of strength and comfort.  Even Christians may experience great anguish of heart in troubles, but the sweetness of obedience to God’s commands can allay the bitterness.  Delight in God’s word is proof of the reality of grace in a believer’s heart.