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Psalms 119: A Tribute to the Word of God

by Bryan Gibson

July 29, 2010

Psalms 119 has 176 verses, and all but two (vv. 122, 132) contain some term or description of God’s word. So if you want to gain a better appreciation for God’s word, this is a good place to start. Let’s use this psalm then to answer a few questions about God’s word. All quotations come from the New King James Version.

1. How strong should be my desire for God’s word?

“I opened my mouth and panted, for I longed for Your commandments” (v. 31).

“Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law” (v. 18).

2. What should be my attitude toward God’s word?

Regard it as the truth.

“Therefore all Your precepts concerning all things I consider to be right…” (v. 128).

“Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Your law is truth” (v. 142).

“You are near, O LORD, and all Your commandments are truth” (v. 151).

“The entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever” (v. 160).

Be in awe of it.

“Princes persecute me without a cause, but my heart stands in awe of Your word” (v. 161).

Delight in it.

“I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word” (v. 16).

Love it.

“My hands also I will lift up to Your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on Your statutes” (v. 48).

“Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day” (v. 97).

“Therefore I love Your commandments more than gold, yes, than fine gold!” (v. 127).

Hate that which is contrary to it.

“Therefore all Your precepts concerning all things I consider to be right; I hate every false way” (v. 128).

“Through Your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way” (v. 104).

3. In what manner, and to what degree should I keep God’s word?

Keep all His commandments.

“Therefore all Your precepts concerning all things I consider to be right; I hate every false way. Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them” (vv. 128-129).

Keep all of them with my whole heart.

“Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law; indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart” (v. 34).

Keep them continually, to the very end.

“Hold me up, and I shall be safe, and I shall observe Your statutes continually” (v. 117).

“So shall I keep Your law continually, forever and ever” (v. 44).

“Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes, and I shall keep it to the end” (v. 33).

4. What is the word of God able to do for me?

Cleanse my way, keep me from sin.

“How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word” (v. 9).

“Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You!” (v. 11).

Revive me.

“My soul clings to the dust; revive me according to Your word” (v. 25).

Strengthen me.

“My soul melts from heaviness; strengthen me according to Your word” (v. 28).

Give me an answer for those who reproach me.

“So shall I have an answer for him who reproaches me, for I trust in Your word” (v. 42).

Comfort me.

“This is my comfort in my affliction, for Your word has given me life” (v. 50).

“I remembered Your judgments of old, O LORD, and have comforted myself” (v. 52).

Give me hope.

“My soul faints for Your salvation, but I hope in Your word” (v. 81).

Give me life.

“I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have given me life” (v. 93).

Make me wiser than the wisest.

“You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; for they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep Your precepts” (vv. 98-100).

Give me joy

“Your testimonies I have taken as a heritage forever, for they are the rejoicing of my heart” (v. 111).

Give me understanding.

“The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple” (v. 130).

Direct my steps.

“Direct my steps by Your word, and let no iniquity have dominion over me” (v. 133).

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (v. 105).

Give me peace

“Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble” (v. 165).