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!