The Psalm of the Word of God

The Psalm of the Word of God 

We are now ready for the great Psalm 119.  This is the longest chapter in the Bible and deserves dedicated and careful study.  This Psalm is what we might call an alphabet Psalm.  In the original text there is an eight-verse section for each letter of the Hebrew alphabet.  In each section every sentence begins with that specific letter.  This is a work of remarkable creativity and beauty. 

The theme of the whole Psalm is the unparalleled value and beauty of the Word of God. For 176 verses the poet praises the wonder of God’s Word as it is applied to life’s challenges.  The person who lives with, indeed, who makes the Word a part of their very selves will enjoy numerous benefits.

I didn’t want to begin Psalm 119 and then take my usual end of the month break so I am going to wait until the first of the month to begin this study.  I have provided a summation of the Psalm and an outline for you to review as we get ready for this wonderful “Poem of the Word of God”.

After the poet has praised the virtue of fidelity to the word of God he then describes it as the virtue of all virtues. This virtue is of great service to the young man.  The poet will devote himself to this virtue. He prays for the grace of enlightenment in the midst of internal struggles. He also asked to have the grace of strengthening and of preservation so he can have a suitable and joyful confession. God's word is in all his thoughts and pursuits, so that he joins himself to those who fear God. The poet recognizes the beneficial element of His suffering, but in this suffering he still needs comfort. In his trouble the disciple sighs, "How long!"  Without the eternal, sure, mighty word of God, he would despair. But the word of God provides him wisdom greater than the difficult circumstances, and he has sworn faithfulness to the word even in his persecution. The poet abhors and despises the apostates. He is oppressed, but God will not allow him to be crushed. He pleads for protection from the ungodly while shedding floods of tears for them. All the while God rules righteously and faithfully according to His word, for which the poet remains zealous. He pleads that God would hear his crying by day and by night. Because God will not allow those who are faithful to His word to succumb to their troubles the poet begs for helpful pity. Even when the poet is being persecuted by princes he clings fast to the Lord. The poet begs and pleads that God would seek him, the isolated and endangered sheep! 

Psalm 119:1-8 ( Aleph ), After the poet has praised fidelity to the word of God 

Psalm 119:9-16 ( Beth ), and described it as the virtue of all virtues which is of service to the young man and to which he devotes himself 

Psalm 119:17-24 ( Gimel ), Praying for the grace of enlightenment, in the midst of internal struggles 

Psalm 119:25-32 ( Daleth ), of strengthening 

Psalm 119:33-40 ( He ), of preservation 

Psalm 119:41-48 ( Vav ); of suitable and joyful confession 

Psalm 119:49- 56 ( Zajin ) God's word is all his thought and pursuit, 

Psalm 119:57-64  (Heth) he cleaves to those who fear God, 

Psalm 119:65-72 (Ṭeth)  the poet recognizes the beneficial element of His suffering, 

Psalm 119: 73-80 ( Jod ) in suffering the poet is in need of comfort 

Psalm 119:81-88 (Kaph) In his trouble the disciple sighs: how long! 

Psalm 119:89-96 (Lamed); Without the eternal, sure, mighty word of God he would despair 

Psalm 119:97-104 (Mem); the word of God provides him wisdom greater than the difficult circumstances 

Psalm 119:105-112 (Nun), he has sworn faithfulness to the word in his persecution 

Psalm 119:113-120 (Samech)  The poet abhors and despises the apostates 

Psalm 119:121-128 ( Ajin ); He is oppressed, but God will not allow him to be crushed 

Psalm 119:129-136 ( Phe ) He pleads for protection for the ungodly, while sheading floods of tears for them 

Psalm 119:137-144 ( Tsade ) God rules righteously and faithfully according to His word, for which the poet is zealous, 

Psalm 119:145-152 (Qoph) Oh that God would hear his crying by day and by night  

Psalm 119:153-160 ( Resh ) Because God cannot suffer those who are faithful to His word to succumb, he poet/disciple begs for helpful pity 

Psalm 119:161-168, (Shin) the poet/disciple being persecuted by princes clings fast to Him 

Psalm 119:169-176 ( Tav ). The poet/disciple pleads that God would seek him the isolated and endangered sheep! 

Psalm 118

Psalm 118

Some scholars believe that this magnificent Psalm was originally written to be a sort of stage play, with different speakers representing different roles, groups, or characters. Some playwright ought to develop this for our time.

There is no doubt a Messianic theme in this Psalm, which Jesus applies to Himself in Matthew 21:42. We briefly see in verses 18-23 the passion, the victory, and the vindication of Jesus. In verse 18 we see His punishment: the fair, righteous, and just discipline we deserve falling on the Messiah. But death was not the end; He was not abandoned to death. In verses 19-21 we see that the punishment that fell on Jesus is the ‘gateway’ through which the righteous pass and how ‘thou hast become my salvation’ (verse 21b). In verses 22-23 we see the keystone, the most important part, of God's glorious plan. Jesus the Messiah was rejected by men but became the Chief Cornerstone, and when we realize the greatness of God's plan, we are struck by how marvelous it is. If we don't marvel, that indicates our defectiveness, not the wonder of the story.

“Thank you, Lord Jesus, that you are the Messiah and our hope. AMEN.”

Psalm 117

Psalm 117

This is the shortest song or chapter in the Bible, but it stands tall. Its message is fantastic and a beacon of hope in a dark world.

The psalmist calls for all people to praise the Lord. not just Israel nor those select gentiles who have converted to Judaism. So much of the Old Testament is about Gentiles being outsiders, but here God is acting in such a way that everyone should praise Him. The reason is summed up in verse 2: great is his love towards us. The word "great" could be translated as "strong" or "mighty." It is overwhelmingly powerful or mighty. The word can even be translated as "insolent." For us, "insolent" carries a negative tone, but the meaning here is a strength that is unconcerned about any force of opposition. God's love for all people is so strong that it is unconcerned and unimpressed by any obstacle. The powers of darkness and sin are nothing compared to the love of God for all peoples.

“Thank you, God, that you love everyone, even me. AMEN.”

Psalm 116

Psalm 116

Do we love God for who He is or what He has done? Many who take their faith seriously have asked this question. This psalm may help us find resolution to such a question.

The psalmist describes terrible situations, and we can't be certain to what event this psalm refers. Perhaps the Babylonian exile or the events of the psalmist's personal life; it may even be a prophetic reference to Jesus or the church. This is not as important as this principle. To ask if we love God for who He is or what He does creates a false dichotomy. God is so perfectly whole that His person and actions cannot be divided. The tenderness we see in verse 2 is beautiful. “He has inclined his ear to me.” This is the picture of a sick person so weak they can only barely whisper, and the Lord leans over to put his ear near their mouth to hear. This is an action that comes out of the character of God. And in verse 5 we see God described as “gracious, righteous, and compassionate.” Do we love God for who He is or what He does? The resounding answer is "yes".

“Thank you, Lord, for both your great nature and your great capacity to have mercy. AMEN.”

Psalm 115

Psalm 115

This powerful and beautiful psalm overwhelms us with truth and grace that are so expansive we are almost at a loss to discuss it. If you carefully read it a dozen times, you will find a dozen themes on which to meditate.

Let's quickly look at three. First, the glory of praise is not to us but to God. and our age of pride, self-aggrandizement, and ego—we have a hard time not praising ourselves. Social media has done much to convince everyone they ought to be proud. Second, verse 8 reminds us that we always become like that which we worship. that is not limited to those who happen to worship idols. Whenever we focus our lives on what we worship, we will conform our lives to that end or god. Third, it is the joyful privilege of the living to worship God. Verse 17 is not a denial of life after death, nor is it to say that the delight of worship is for those who live on earth. Note the contrast with verse 16. At a funeral the deceased never participates, but it is our delight as the living to praise God.

“Lord, help my life to be shaped by and focused on worshiping you. AMEN.”

Psalm 114

 Psalm 114

This powerful little Psalm retells the story of the Exodus. There are pictures of the exciting and dramatic works of God during the Exodus. We see the bookend events of the parting of the Red Sea and the Jordan and, in between, the dramatic events of the geology of the area as it responds to God's presence. We have far too placid pictures of what God was doing.

But there is an important principle for us in the four questions of verses 5-6. In Hebrew culture the use of questions was critical in education. The answer is known even if we don't know we know the answer. The power of the question is that by means of it we can draw out understanding. Those who watch or listen to the questions make discoveries as well. The waters and the mountains are personified, and we listen to their questioning, and we know the answer. What a powerful, tremendous, and glorious drama.

“Help me, Lord, to find the answer to the questions you have for me. AMEN.”

Psalm 113

Psalm 113

This is the first song of what the Jewish people called the ‘Hallel,’ Psalms 113-118. These Psalms were sung or recited in unison during the most solemn feast. Passover, for example, was a grand thanksgiving event. Jesus, on the night of the institution of the Lord's Supper, led the disciples in a ‘hymn’ likely taken from one of these psalms.

This beautiful and simple song doesn't require explanation so much as contemplation. There are a couple of pictures that are moving. In verses 5-6 we see that God is so great and grand that He must stoop down to look on the sky so far above us. While we look up at the mountaintops and the planets or stars, God stoops down, like a granddad with a toddler, to reach their level. Second, coming down to this humble level, He can lift up the most lowly person and place him in with royalty. He can even take the lonely, sad individual and surround them with the delight of being adored by a family. Which takes us to verse 5: Who is like the Lord our God?

“Thank you, God, for your beautiful condescension. AMEN.”