“It’s the longest chapter though. Ugh! I’ll read a shorter one today….”
If you’ve ever heard yourself say that, then we could start a club. I would groan internally when someone would mention Psalm 119 because it was just. So. Long.
It has since turned into one of my absolute favorite passages though. My NIV Study Bible, describes the unknown author as follows:
- Israelite with extreme piety/reverence;
- passionately devoted to the Word of God as the Word of his life;
- humbly acknowledged the errant ways of his heart and life;
- knew the pain and fruits of God’s corrective discipline;
- suffered much at the hands of those who arrogantly disregarded God’s Word and made him the target of their hostility, ridicule, and slander.
Respect for the Word…
The man knew hardships, but he also knew the love of God. Take note of, then, the multiple times he requests these of the Lord:
- Do not let me stray from your commands
- Teach me your decrees
- Open my eyes
- Do not hide your commands
- Remove from me scorn and contempt
Deep desire for the Word…
Similarly, we can take great lessons from this Israelite by requesting the same of God. But lest we think our allegiance stops there, he also confirms his role in the relationship, I will:
- praise you
- obey your decrees
- seek you
- have hidden your Word in my heart
- recount all the laws
- rejoice in following your statutes
- meditate on your precepts
- delight in your decrees
- not neglect your Word
- obey your Word
- meditate on your decrees; and
- my soul is consumed with longing for your laws.
Clearly, the laws of the Bible were not burdensome or restrictive but a guiding light along a dark path, a welcome gift to one who sought a righteous life.
Vastly different viewpoint than the Israelites as a whole during Isaiah’s time, emphasis added:
So then, the Word of the Lord to them will become: Do and do, do and do, rule on rule, rule on rule.
Isaiah 28:13a
The Lord says, “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.
Isaiah 29:13
Devotion to the Word…
Undoubtedly, the theme of the longest chapter is defined well, devotion to the Word of God. “God’s directives for life” and “God’s promises–the one calling for obedience, the other for faith (the two elements of true godliness)” are explained thoroughly by the author. Holy Bible, New International Version.
The Psalmist ends the poem with a confession that he still sins even though he holds the Word so dear. Surely, a humble servant.
Before the day is over, I implore you to read the longest chapter for yourself (again) to grasp for yourself the absolute passion the Psalmist had for the Word, and hopefully to carry over into your own life even more than you already do!
Read it now: Psalm 119
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A few years ago, a teen training ministry I have been involved with required the kids to memorize the first 16 verses of Psalm 119, and it was such a blessing to hear them recite it at their closing ceremony, ending with the proclamation, “I will not forget your Word.!” (goosebumps)
One of my favorite chapters! When I learned that it is set up as an acrostic poem (each section begins with one of the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet) I began to read it in sections daily. So much beautiful truth and wisdom to be found there.