He never took anything for granted, and he always set out to learn all he could.”
–Louis L’Amour (Down the Long Hills)
“When I learn your righteous laws, I will thank you by living as I should!”
–Psalm 119:7 (NLT)
—————————————
“If you have the Word in your mouth only, it shall be taken from you. If you have it in your book only, you shall miss it when you need it most; but if you lay it up in your heart, as Mary did the words of the angel, no enemy shall ever be able to take it from you, and you shall find it a comfortable treasure in your time of need.”
–William Cowper
I have not yet decided how I am going to treat Psalm 119. It is the longest chapter in the Bible and it contains so much. I could easily spend a year discussing it, and if I go with my normal style of writing this weekly Psalms it will take eleven weeks. Let me then start with just an introduction to this magnificent Psalm. There are twenty-two stanzas, eight verses each which correspond to the Hebrew alphabet.
The NIV Study Bible states that, “The author had a theme that filled his soul, a theme as big as life, that ranged the length and breadth and height and depth of a person’s walk with God.” That theme deals with the Word of the Lord and our devotion to the Word of God. We see in this psalm God’s directives which should result in obedience and God’s promises which should build our faith.
There are several terms that should not be neglected in this study. In fact, I urge you to write them somewhere in your Bible so that you can refer to them as you read this psalm and other psalms. The number in parenthesis is the number of times this term is used in Psalm 119.
1) Law (15) — God’s entire instruction to His people; blessings to those walking in obedience.
2) Testimonies (21) — God’s covenant stipulations.
3) Precepts (21) — only found in Psalms; it involves the application of God’s word; they are detailed instructions, that take dedicated effort to fulfill.
4) Statutes (21) — God’s regulations, standards, and boundaries.
5) Commandments (21) — God’s rules and regulations that express His authority.
6) Judgments (18) — God’s verdicts as Divine Judge.
7) Word (36) — God’s revelations; His commandments and promises.
8) Way (26) — pattern of life; God’s principles and means of operation.
9) Ordinances — some translations will have this term.
We do not know who the author is. It may be David, or more modern scholars believe it was Ezra. Most likely it is an unnamed author, but we know that whoever he was he was passionately devoted to the word of God as the word of life. This writer humbly acknowledged the errant ways of his heart and life; he knew the pain–but also the fruits–of God’s corrective discipline. (NIV Study Bible)
God’s Word is imperative to get into our minds and hearts in this wicked and evil day. James Montgomery Boice writes, “We live in a day when people do not much value God’s Word, even in evangelical churches. We say that we value it, but our neglect of the Word belies our confessions. We do not spend much time in serious Bible study. We do not memorize God’s Word, hiding it in our hearts, as the psalmist says he did. As for today’s preachers, many of them also neglect the Word, thinking that it will not appeal to mass audiences and that serious Bible teaching will harm their churches’ growth. They turn instead to worldly devices, like humor, drama, and other forms of entertainment.”
I would suggest this week that you read verses 1-16 every day. Try reading them in different translations and be aware of the terms used. For today I will leave you with a few verses to ponder.
1 — How blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD. (NASB)
Happy are people of integrity, who follow the law of the LORD. (NLT)
2 — Happy are those who keep His decrees and seek Him with all their heart. (HCSB)
4 — You have charged us to keep your commandments carefully. (NLT)
5 — Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes! (ESV)
8 — I will obey your principles. Please don’t give up on me! (NLT)
Note as we read this Psalm that there is the development of a worldview. A way of life that is based upon the Word of God. If you want to be happy, do not look to the world, but instead study this Psalm; the answer to happiness is found in conforming to the law of God. “As we follow Jesus and develop our relationship with Him, we increase our understanding of His ways.” (David Chapman)
9 — How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word and following its rules. (NLT)
11 — Thy word have I had in mine heart that I might not sin against thee. (KJV)
I have treasured Your word in my heart so that I may not sin against You. (HCSB)
George O. Wood gives a brief, yet good summary of these two stanzas. Alelph (1-8), We look at God’s standards and honestly know we don’t measure up. Yet, we continue to keep reaching to live the ideals given in the Bible. Beth (9-16), Don’t let friends dictate how you act–take God’s advice instead.
“Who can tell the pleasure, who recount the treasure,
By your Word imparted to the simple-hearted?
O that we, discerning its most holy learning,
May always love and fear you, and evermore be near you.”
–Henry W. Baker
—————————————
“If you have the Word in your mouth only, it shall be taken from you. If you have it in your book only, you shall miss it when you need it most; but if you lay it up in your heart, as Mary did the words of the angel, no enemy shall ever be able to take it from you, and you shall find it a comfortable treasure in your time of need.”
–William Cowper
I have not yet decided how I am going to treat Psalm 119. It is the longest chapter in the Bible and it contains so much. I could easily spend a year discussing it, and if I go with my normal style of writing this weekly Psalms it will take eleven weeks. Let me then start with just an introduction to this magnificent Psalm. There are twenty-two stanzas, eight verses each which correspond to the Hebrew alphabet.
The NIV Study Bible states that, “The author had a theme that filled his soul, a theme as big as life, that ranged the length and breadth and height and depth of a person’s walk with God.” That theme deals with the Word of the Lord and our devotion to the Word of God. We see in this psalm God’s directives which should result in obedience and God’s promises which should build our faith.
There are several terms that should not be neglected in this study. In fact, I urge you to write them somewhere in your Bible so that you can refer to them as you read this psalm and other psalms. The number in parenthesis is the number of times this term is used in Psalm 119.
1) Law (15) — God’s entire instruction to His people; blessings to those walking in obedience.
2) Testimonies (21) — God’s covenant stipulations.
3) Precepts (21) — only found in Psalms; it involves the application of God’s word; they are detailed instructions, that take dedicated effort to fulfill.
4) Statutes (21) — God’s regulations, standards, and boundaries.
5) Commandments (21) — God’s rules and regulations that express His authority.
6) Judgments (18) — God’s verdicts as Divine Judge.
7) Word (36) — God’s revelations; His commandments and promises.
8) Way (26) — pattern of life; God’s principles and means of operation.
9) Ordinances — some translations will have this term.
We do not know who the author is. It may be David, or more modern scholars believe it was Ezra. Most likely it is an unnamed author, but we know that whoever he was he was passionately devoted to the word of God as the word of life. This writer humbly acknowledged the errant ways of his heart and life; he knew the pain–but also the fruits–of God’s corrective discipline. (NIV Study Bible)
God’s Word is imperative to get into our minds and hearts in this wicked and evil day. James Montgomery Boice writes, “We live in a day when people do not much value God’s Word, even in evangelical churches. We say that we value it, but our neglect of the Word belies our confessions. We do not spend much time in serious Bible study. We do not memorize God’s Word, hiding it in our hearts, as the psalmist says he did. As for today’s preachers, many of them also neglect the Word, thinking that it will not appeal to mass audiences and that serious Bible teaching will harm their churches’ growth. They turn instead to worldly devices, like humor, drama, and other forms of entertainment.”
I would suggest this week that you read verses 1-16 every day. Try reading them in different translations and be aware of the terms used. For today I will leave you with a few verses to ponder.
1 — How blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD. (NASB)
Happy are people of integrity, who follow the law of the LORD. (NLT)
2 — Happy are those who keep His decrees and seek Him with all their heart. (HCSB)
4 — You have charged us to keep your commandments carefully. (NLT)
5 — Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes! (ESV)
8 — I will obey your principles. Please don’t give up on me! (NLT)
Note as we read this Psalm that there is the development of a worldview. A way of life that is based upon the Word of God. If you want to be happy, do not look to the world, but instead study this Psalm; the answer to happiness is found in conforming to the law of God. “As we follow Jesus and develop our relationship with Him, we increase our understanding of His ways.” (David Chapman)
9 — How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word and following its rules. (NLT)
11 — Thy word have I had in mine heart that I might not sin against thee. (KJV)
I have treasured Your word in my heart so that I may not sin against You. (HCSB)
George O. Wood gives a brief, yet good summary of these two stanzas. Alelph (1-8), We look at God’s standards and honestly know we don’t measure up. Yet, we continue to keep reaching to live the ideals given in the Bible. Beth (9-16), Don’t let friends dictate how you act–take God’s advice instead.
“Who can tell the pleasure, who recount the treasure,
By your Word imparted to the simple-hearted?
O that we, discerning its most holy learning,
May always love and fear you, and evermore be near you.”
–Henry W. Baker