King Francis And The Psalms

Psalm 119:65-80

65You have done many good things for me, LORD,

just as you promised.

66I believe in your commands;

now teach me good judgment and knowledge.

67I used to wander off until you disciplined me;

but now I closely follow your word.

68You are good and do only good;

teach me your principles.

69Arrogant people have made up lies about me,

but in truth I obey your commandments with all my heart.

70Their hearts are dull and stupid,

but I delight in your law.

71The suffering you sent was good for me,

for it taught me to pay attention to your principles.

72Your law is more valuable to me

than millions in gold and silver!

73You made me; you created me.

Now give me the sense to follow your commands.

74May all who fear you find in me a cause for joy,

for I have put my hope in your word.

75I know, O LORD, that your decisions are fair;

you disciplined me because I needed it.

76Now let your unfailing love comfort me,

just as you promised me, your servant.

77Surround me with your tender mercies so I may live,

for your law is my delight.

78Bring disgrace upon the arrogant people who lied about me;

meanwhile, I will concentrate on your commandments.

79Let me be united with all who fear you,

with those who know your laws.

80May I be blameless in keeping your decrees;

then I will never be ashamed.

Francis I, king of France in the 1500s, is not a good example of how to read the Psalms.

Francis was captured in a battle in Italy and was taken to a church. There he heard monks singing Psalm 119. Although ill from the battle, Francis recovered enough to join in the singing of verse 71: “The suffering you sent was good for me.”

When Francis finally signed a treaty and returned to Paris, many thought he would be more tolerant. The Sorbonne had issued an edict banning the singing of psalms, and Reformed forces hoped Francis would reverse that order. He delayed enforcing the ban, but finally Francis bowed to political pressures. He executed hundreds of French Huguenots, who defiantly sang psalms as they were led to their death. Yet even Francis himself continued to sing the Psalms.

It seems that Francis loved the Psalms but never learned from them. He had sung Psalm 119:71 in prison, which was intended to teach him “to pay attention to [God’s] principles,” but Francis never paid attention.

Consider what God has allowed to come across your path. Have you used it to learn to pay attention to God’s principles?

I cannot call affliction sweet;

And yet ‘twas good to bear;

Affliction brought me to your feet,

And I found comfort there.

JAMES MONTGOMERY

A Word on Words

In verse 66 the word for “judgment” is more literally “taste,” as in Job 34:3. See also Hebrews 5:14.