Grant Abbott Supporter Child of Father, Follower of Son, Student of Spirit

Psalm 119 describes what God’s word is - his law, commands, statutes, precepts and promises - it is God’s revelation to us so we will know how to live a life that is pleasing to him.

Psalm 119 shows us what God’s word does for us: it reveals his salvation, it gives us his promises, it shows us how to live a righteous God-fearing life.

Psalm 119 shows us what God will do for us: he will teach us his word, he will give us insight into his precepts and understanding of his law, he will show us compassion and hear our cry for help.

Psalm 119 shows us what God expects from us: to obey his law - to do what his Word tells us to do, to turn away from every form of evil, to meditate on his word every day so we are careful to remember and apply it, to love God by doing what he commands us to do.

Psalm 119 also reminds us that when we live a life in obedience to his Word, we will live at odds with the rest of the world. We will suffer persecution and abuse from the evil and wicked people who resent and refuse God’s will for their lives. We will struggle in this world, but God will be there to defend and protect us.

July 08 2020 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jack Gutknecht Supporter Arizona Bible College graduate and Dallas Seminary graduate

God’s Word keeps us pure (Ps 119:9). It purifies our way (Ps 119: 9-16) and produces purity in our lives.
God’s Word is essential for becoming pure in heart (Psalm 119:9, 11, 36, 37, 133).

The Word of God brings delight (Psalm119:111)
The psalmist delighted in God’s Word and couldn’t get enough of it (Psalm 119:14, 16, 24, 77, 92, 111, 129, 162). "They are the rejoicing of my heart." He doesn't say that God's testimonies bring joy, but that they are joy; there is no other joy but the delight in the law of the Lord.

August 05 2020 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jeffrey Johnson Supporter

What is the nature of God's Word as it is taught in Psalm 119?

In Psalm 119, the Word of God is presented as the authoritative, eternal, and perfect revelation of God's will, serving as a practical guide for living a righteous life. It is described as a source of light, life-giving power, and profound delight, acting as an instrument that connects the believer to God Himself. 

Some key aspects of the nature of God's Word in Psalm 119 include:

Authoritative and Divine: It is God's law, testimonies, and commands, which are "settled in heaven" and unchanging.

Pure and True: The Word is perfectly accurate, faithful, and without error.

Active and Transforming: It gives life (quickening), provides understanding, gives light to the path, and protects from sin.

Boundless and Comprehensive: The Word is described as "exceeding broad" or without limit, covering all aspects of life.

Source of Delight: The psalmist views the Word as more precious than wealth and sweeter than honey. 

The psalm uses eight primary terms to describe the Word—Law, Word, Judgments, Testimonies, Commandments, Statutes, Precepts, and Ways—emphasising its role as divine instruction. 

Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible, presents a comprehensive "A to Z" of God's Word, using nearly every verse to highlight its multifaceted nature.

Absolute Truth: The "sum" or "entirety" of God's Word is truth. It is presented as the ultimate standard of reality, pure and free of error, like silver refined in a furnace.

Practical and Illuminating: It is famously called a "lamp to my feet and a light to my path". It provides specific, step-by-step guidance through a dark and confusing world, offering wisdom that can make a person wiser than their enemies or teachers.

Among the interesting aspects of Psalm 119 is that it is an acrostic; unlike most other acrostic psalms, in which each succeeding verse begins with the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet, in this psalm, eight verses at a time begin with each succeeding letter. There being twenty-two letters in the Hebrew alphabet, the psalm has 176 verses, making it by far the longest psalm.

The psalmist appreciated God's regulations, for we read: "Melodies your regulations have become to me." (Ps. 119:54) 

Repeatedly, he asks God: "Teach me your [own] regulations" (Ps 119 vss. 12, 26, 64, 68, 124, 135), and he also praises God for doing so. (Ps 119 Vs. 171) He not only wanted to learn them but also desired to observe them: "Your regulations I continue to keep."​—Ps. 119:8.

With reference to God's stated purpose for his servants, there is another Hebrew word, e·dah', translated REMINDERS ("instructions," NE). 

The psalmist expresses great appreciation for these reminders and repeatedly tells of having kept them. (Ps. 119:22, 88, 129, 167, 168) He prays that God will incline the psalmist's heart to them. (Ps 119 Vs. 36) 

Another word of which the writer of Psalm 119 seems to have been especially fond is im·rahʹ, rendered SAYING. It comes from a root meaning "to say" and so refers to something said. The psalmist repeatedly uses it to refer to God's promises, which is why the New English Bible uniformly translates it "promise" throughout this psalm. The psalmist prays that God will support and show him favour "according to your saying." (Ps 119 Vss. 116, 58, 170) God's sayings are a great help to him: Ps 119 Vs. 11, and he exults over God's "saying just as one does when finding much spoil."​—Ps 119 Vss. 67, 162.

The writer of Psalm 119 sets a fine example for all lovers of God. He was delighted to express his appreciation of God's Word by weaving his thoughts around eight basic Hebrew words, then casting them into an acrostic, or alphabetical, Hebrew poem of 176 verses.

If we have an appreciation of God's Word, what will we do? We will regularly concern ourselves with it and "meditate" on it. (Ps. 119:15, 48, 78, 148, NE)

6 days ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report