because Your law is not obeyed
The psalmist's sorrow is rooted in the disobedience to God's law, which is central to the covenant relationship between God and His people (Deuteronomy 28). The law, or Torah, was given to guide Israel in righteousness and holiness. Disobedience to the law was seen as a breach of this covenant, leading to consequences such as exile and suffering (2 Kings 17:7-23). The psalmist's lament highlights the importance of the law as a reflection of God's character and will. This disobedience can be connected to the broader biblical narrative of humanity's struggle with sin and the need for redemption, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who perfectly obeyed the law and offered Himself as a sacrifice for sin (Matthew 5:17, Romans 8:3-4).

The psalmist begins with vivid personal language. “My eyes” signals that what follows is deeply felt and personally witnessed, not theoretical. He is not detached; he is fully engaged with what he sees around him. David often speaks this way—see Psalm 38:10, where “my eyes fail me” shows physical and emotional strain; or Psalm 31:9, “my eyes waste away with grief,” underscoring how spiritual burdens register physically. Our eyes frequently reveal our heart’s condition (Matthew 6:22-23). Here they become windows into holy sorrow.

This is not a single tear or a gentle weep; it is a torrent. Lamentations 3:48 echoes the same image: “Streams of tears flow from my eyes because of the destruction of the daughter of my people.” Luke 19:41 records Jesus weeping over Jerusalem with a similar intensity. Such tears show:

• Deep empathy with those harmed by sin (Romans 9:2-3)

• A tender conscience that feels God’s grief over rebellion (Ephesians 4:30)

• A longing for God’s glory to be vindicated (Psalm 42:3-4)

Real holiness is never cold; it feels. The psalmist’s tears are evidence of a heart aligned with God’s own heart (Acts 13:22).

The word gives the reason for the flood of emotion. These tears are not self-pity, nor are they merely circumstantial. They are purposeful, arising from spiritual concern. In Nehemiah 1:4, Nehemiah sat down and wept “when I heard these words,” linking tears to a clear cause—Jerusalem’s broken walls. Godly sorrow always has a focus: the honor of God and the good of His people (2 Corinthians 7:10-11). This “because” reminds us that emotions must be tied to truth; they are not aimless.

At the core is zeal for God’s law—His revealed will. Psalm 119:53 states, “Rage seizes me because of the wicked who reject Your law,” showing the same burden. Ezekiel 9:4 pictures those who “sigh and groan over all the abominations,” marking them for preservation. Disobedience to God’s law brings dishonor to His name and harm to His creatures. The psalmist’s grief springs from:

• Love for God’s perfect statutes (Psalm 19:7-10)

• Awareness of the judgment disobedience invites (Deuteronomy 30:17-18)

• Compassion for sinners headed toward ruin (Matthew 23:37-38)

He refuses to become numb to widespread sin; instead, he lets his heart stay soft, echoing Christ’s own lament over hard-heartedness (Mark 3:5).

Psalm 119:136 paints a portrait of a believer so aligned with God’s heart that disobedience around him provokes torrents of tears. His eyes testify to inward anguish; his grief is intense, focused, and righteous. He weeps not for wounded pride but for God’s slighted glory and people’s endangered souls. Such holy sorrow calls us to keep our own hearts tender, letting God’s law shape our feelings, prayers, and actions.