Psalm 119:1-8

Introduction

Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the whole Bible with 176 verses broken up into 22 sections that are labeled with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The Hebrew letter is the first letter of each section. This chapter is about the Psalmest love for the law which we will see called by several names in this chapter.

In the first 8 verses we find the joy and blessing that comes from following the word of God. True happiness and fulfillment come from aligning our lives with God's Word, as we recognize that obedience is not a burden but a source of blessing through faith in Christ.

Its important to remember that this Bible is not just another book, but rather an instruction manual for our life

Pursuing the blessed life vs 1-2

The first word of verse 1 and 2 is blessed

The word blessed means happy

Here we find requirements for a blessed or happy life

Be undefiled in the way

The word undefiled means not polluted

If we want to live a happy life we can’t live a life that’s polluted by sin.

You cannot serve God and Sin, its impossible

As life—the religious life—is represented under the image of a journey, the expression here is equivalent to saying, “Blessed are those who in the journey of life—in their religious course—are pure, sincere, uncontaminated

Walk in the law of the Lord

This isn’t speaking of how we physically walk, but rather how we live.

One commentator put it this way “Who habitually obey his law. This constitutes sincerity, uprightness, perfection in a man’s life; for the law of the Lord is the only just rule of human conduct.”

Deuteronomy 5:33 “33 Ye shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess.”

Psalm 86:11 “11 Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: Unite my heart to fear thy name.”

Keep his testimonies

The word testimony is speaking of the law.

Remember Jesus told his disciples if you live me keep my commandments

Seek him with our whole heart

Jeremiah 29:13 “13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”

Deuteronomy 4:29 “29 But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.”

Pursuing Gods way vs. 3-4

Do no iniquity

This isn’t saying to pursue God we have to be perfect, because when God looks at us he see his son who is the perfect sacrifice and substitute, he is saying though we shouldn’t live a life of willful sin.

Romans 6:1–10 KJV 1900

1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

They walk in the ways of the Lord

Psalm 128:1 “1 Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; That walketh in his ways.”

Psalm 1:1 “1 Blessed is the man That walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor standeth in the way of sinners, Nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.”

They keep his precepts diligently

diligently- With steady application and care; with industry or assiduity; not carelessly; not negligently.

Remember the Christian life is a day by day, moment by moment. Its a life where we must diligently seek the Lord. It doesn’t happen by accident.

Our path directed vs 5-6

Our ways are directed to keep Gods statutes

Psalm 37:23 “23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: And he delighteth in his way.”

Proverbs 16:9 “9 A man’s heart deviseth his way: But the Lord directeth his steps.”

Proverbs 3:5–6 “5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; And lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he shall direct thy paths.”

When we put God and his word in the proper place we have no reason to be ashamed

One commentator said this “Literally, “In my looking at all thy commandments.” That is, in his regarding them; in his feeling that all were equally binding on him; and in his having the consciousness that he had not intentionally neglected, violated, or disregarded any of them. There can be no true piety except where a man intends to keep all the commands of God. If he makes a selection among them, keeping this one or that one, as may be most convenient for him, or as may be most for his interest, or as may be most popular, it is full proof that he knows nothing of the nature of true religion. A child has no proper respect for a parent if he obeys him only as shall suit his whim or his convenience; and no man can be a pious man who does not purpose, in all honesty, to keep all the commandments of God; to submit to his will in everything.”

Our praise directed vs. 7-8

When we learn about God and his righteous judgments we can’t help but praise him for who he is, and because of that we will keep his statues.

The psalmest ends this section by asking God not to leave him to himself. Barnes put it this way “His confidence that he would keep the commandments of God was based on the prayer that God would not leave him. There is no other ground of persuasion that we shall be able to keep the commandments of God than that which rests on the belief and the hope that He will not leave us.”

Conclusion

When we have a proper view of God it gives us a proper view of his word, which gives us a proper view on how to live our lives in accordance to his word, the only way we get a proper view of God is to read his word, which we must do every day.