Psalm 119 - Delighting in the Voice of the LORD
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1. Overview
1. Overview
Acrostic pattern - In my opinion, Psalm 119 is one of the greatest pieces of literature in history. For each letter of the Hebrew alphabet, the Psalm has a stanza 8 verses that start with that letter.
Many-sided divine revelation. The Psalm uses 8 words to describe God’s voice.
Law (Torah) - term used most often in this Psalm. It means law, or instruction. It can refer to specific commands, the Pentateuch, or the Scripture as a whole
Testimonies - Israel was told to place the book of the law beside the ark of the covenant, ‘that it may be there for a witness against you’ (Deut. 31:26). The outspokenness of Scripture, with its high standards and frank warnings, is implied in this expression, but so too is its dependability, as the word of the ‘faithful and true witness’.
Precepts - particular instructions of the Lord, as of one who cares about detail.
Statutes - These speak of the binding force and permanence of Scripture, as of laws ‘engraved’ or inscribed. Think of the permanence of a statue.
Commandments - This word emphasizes the straight authority of what is said; not merely the power to convince or persuade, but the right to give orders.
Ordinances/rules - These are better known in the Old Testament as ‘judgments’: the decisions of the all-wise Judge about common human situations, and hence the revealed ‘rights and duties’ appropriate to them
Ways - The moral orientation of the life’s path that the Lord wants for his people
Word - This is the most general term of all, embracing God’s truth in any form, stated, promised or commanded. You could also say voice.
Perhaps these eight words explain why there are eight lines in each stanza. Although only five of the stanzas employ all eight words, no stanza uses fewer than six of these words.
Main Takeaway’s from Psalm 119
Main Takeaway’s from Psalm 119
1. God’s word is eternal
1. God’s word is eternal
89 Forever, O Lord, your word
is firmly fixed in the heavens.
90 Your faithfulness endures to all generations;
you have established the earth, and it stands fast.
91 By your appointment they stand this day,
for all things are your servants.
God founded the earth with laws of nature, and fixed it with moral laws. Through both, he speaks to us. Both tell of his nature.
152 Long have I known from your testimonies
that you have founded them forever.
18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.
35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
Are we honestly happy about the fact that all of Scripture has eternal authority over our lives? How do we feel about the Old Testament law? Do we smile about it?
Story about my passport
2. God’s rules do not take life away, they give it
2. God’s rules do not take life away, they give it
37 Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things;
and give me life in your ways.
156 Great is your mercy, O Lord;
give me life according to your rules.
133 Keep steady my steps according to your promise,
and let no iniquity get dominion over me.
Do we believe that there is life in the commands of God? Are we thankful for true living and that we are no longer dominated by sin?
3. The Struggle to follow God
3. The Struggle to follow God
9 How can a young man keep his way pure?
By guarding it according to your word.
10 With my whole heart I seek you;
let me not wander from your commandments!
11 I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.
12 Blessed are you, O Lord;
teach me your statutes!
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.
130 The unfolding of your words gives light;
it imparts understanding to the simple.
Scripture is not only about knowledge, it’s about living it. It’s about embodying what is said, not only contemplating it. This psalm his honest about the struggle to live in the light. In some sections he is depressed and longs to live in the way.
4. Discipline to hear God’s voice
4. Discipline to hear God’s voice
62 At midnight I rise to praise you,
because of your righteous rules.
164 Seven times a day I praise you
for your righteous rules.
Although some have taken 7 literally, this likely means that we should have discipline to scripture that we maintain with everything that we are.
147 I rise before dawn and cry for help;
I hope in your words.
148 My eyes are awake before the watches of the night,
that I may meditate on your promise.
What does it mean to meditate on God’s word?
130 The unfolding of your words gives light;
it imparts understanding to the simple.
23 Even though princes sit plotting against me,
your servant will meditate on your statutes.
We are never too busy to meditate on Scripture. We never have too many important things to do
54 Your statutes have been my songs
in the house of my sojourning.
When he travels, he still sings of God’s statutes. He doesn’t take days off.
5. Delighting in the Word
5. Delighting in the Word
14 In the way of your testimonies I delight
as much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate on your precepts
and fix my eyes on your ways.
16 I will delight in your statutes;
I will not forget your word.
72 The law of your mouth is better to me
than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
103 How sweet are your words to my taste,
sweeter than honey to my mouth!
127 Therefore I love your commandments
above gold, above fine gold.
If we are being honest, none of us delight’s in God’s voice fully. None of us have the same attitude towards Scripture as this psalm. Why is that?
Reading Scripture is not only about knowledge, it’s about delighting in it. It’s about us praising God for what is said, not only contemplating it. It’s also about getting to know the author personally...
6. Worshiping the Word
6. Worshiping the Word
48 I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love,
and I will meditate on your statutes.
Is it appropriate to worship Scripture?
37 Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things;
and give me life in your ways.
Is it appropriate to claim that a moral way of living saves from death and gives life?
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
You cannot separate the Word made Text and the Word made Flesh. The word made Text is all about the Word made Flesh. If you don’t make this connection, then seeking life in his ways is moralism. But if you see that the Word made Text is all about the word made Flesh, that every rule and promise points to Jesus, then seeking life in his Word is seeking life in Jesus himself. The Word made Text was not enough, God needed the Word made Flesh to reveal to the world what he is like through actions, and not just words. Jesus obeyed the law perfectly, he embodied it, he is the Word made Flesh.
An honest person speaks from the heart. God is perfectly honest. Therefore the Bible is the true voice of God, spoken from the deepest depths of his heart. Unless God is a lier, when you open up Scripture, you peer into his very heart. With the help of the Holy Spirit, you see him intimately and personally in every law, testimony, precept, commandment, promise, statute, way, and word.
Jesus kept the law perfectly to give us life. Let us give our lives to keep the law perfectly.