Psalms 119:175
Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; and let thy judgments help me.
Psalms 119:175
“Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee” expresses life as worship—vital vitality returns to God. The second half, “and let thy judgments help me,” shows that divine directions deliver and shape the psalmist’s inner life. The image of life itself being sustained by God’s judgments emphasizes that right discernment and ethical living bring fullness. In a culture of moral pluralism, the psalmist asserts that true life comes from alignment with God’s decrees, which function as corrective, nourishment, and protection.
Life and praise are inseparable in biblical thought. God’s judgments are not punitive only; they are protective and restorative, a means by which God preserves life. The verse ties righteousness to vitality: the more one aligns with God’s judgments, the more one’s life becomes a continuous act of praise. It also signals that reliance on divine guidance transforms weakness into worship.
When you feel spiritually depleted, ask God to sustain your life so it may become praise. This can mean reframing daily routines to include moments of reflection on God’s judgments—what invites human flourishing and what harms. For example, if you’re exhausted from a demanding job, invite God’s guidance into decisions about boundaries, rest, and relationships. Let God’s judgments shape your responses to conflict at work or home. A small practice: at day’s end, list three ways God’s judgments protected or guided you that day, and offer praise.
Cross-References: Psalm 119:24; Psalm 119:92; Psalm 19:7-11; Romans 7:22-25; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18