Psalm 119:70

Riches And The Word
Ronnie W. Wolfe

The psalmist is still speaking of the proud when he says "their heart" in this verse. This pride is like disgusting grease, perhaps referring to its slippery consistency, allowing truth to slip away from them.

But perhaps the "fat as grease" refers to their riches. Both words fat and grease have to do with abundance and riches in the Bible. Riches are disgusting in the hands of the proud, for they use riches to manipulate situations and people.

The proud heart is an abomination to the LORD (Prov. 16:5). It is also sin (Prov. 21:4). It stirs up strife (Prov. 28:25). God's judgment came against Moab due to pride (Jer. 48:29-31).

The servant of God, however, delights in the law of God. Rather than riches in the world, we desire riches from God's word. We desire to grow in the grace and knowledge of God (2 Peter 3:18). We desire the sincere milk of the word (1 Peter 2:2). We desire truth in the inward parts (Psalm 51:6).

The word desire in this verse may also mean to handle. We love to handle the word of God, have it in our hands, peruse it, study it, memorize it, deliver it, teach it, hear it (see 2 Timothy 2:15). The word dividing in Paul's advice to Timothy means to handle. Our hands have handled the word of life (1 John 1:1).

How precious is the word of God to you? Leave your riches, depend not upon the riches of this world.

Psalms 62:10 Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.

1 Timothy 6:17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;