Year 1, Week 43, Day 1 Bible Reading Observations

Year 1, Week 43, Day 1

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of Psalm 119.

Today’s reading consists of Psalm 119. Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible: it is longer than thirty Books of the Bible; it is nearly double the size of the second longest chapter in the Bible; and it is 104 verses longer than Psalm 78, the second longest Psalm. Psalm 119 is an acrostic Psalm—the 176 verses of Psalm 119 are composed around the twenty-two letters of the Hebrew alphabet. There are eight verses connected to the sequence of the corresponding Hebrew letters. In fact each line in each eight-verse unit, starts with the Hebrew letter associated with that unit. Psalm 119 is about the Word of God, as eight different terms are used to give meaning and nuance to God’s Word: “law” (25x), “word” (24x), “rule/judgment” (23x), “testimonies” (23x), “statutes” (22x), “commandments/commands” (22x), “precepts” (21x), and “promise” (19x). There are only about eight verses that do not explicitly use one of these eight terms. Psalm 119 is about living in accordance with God’s Word: “Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD!” (Psalm 119:1). Psalm 119 is a prayer, as all but three, maybe four, verses are directly stated to the LORD. So, Psalm 119 is also about living dependently upon the LORD: “I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for I do not forget your commandments” (Psalm 119:176). Without the LORD’s gracious aid, there is no faithfulness to the Word. Psalm 119 is carefully crafted. It seems safe to assume that some of the main purpose behind this carefully crafted Psalm is to aid in the memorization of this Psalm, but also to stress the completeness of God’s Word: "Forever, O LORD, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens” (Psalm 119:89).

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading is the deep affection stated toward God’s Word: “Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day” (Psalm 119:97). It is as if the Psalmist is saying what’s not to love about God’s Word: “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Psalm 119:103). The myriad of verses, stated as prayer to the LORD, consist of the Psalmist confessing affirmations about God’s Word: “You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently” (Psalm 119:4); but many verses consist of declaring resolutions in response to God’s Word: “I incline my heart to perform your statutes forever, to the end” (Psalm 119:112). The Psalmist’s affirmations about what the Word is and does, drives his resolutions about what wants to think, feel, and do in accordance with the Word.

The Psalmist expresses much desire or affection toward God’s Word. In some ways desire is at a deeper level of the human heart than actions or even thoughts (although, I would suggest that they continually interact back and forth with each other). First, the Psalmist expresses his delight in God’s Word: "Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors” (Psalm 119:24); “Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it” (Psalm 119:35); “Let your mercy come to me, that I may live; for your law is my delight” (Psalm 119:77); “If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction” (Psalm 119:92); “Trouble and anguish have found me out, but your commandments are my delight” (Psalm 119:143); and “I long for your salvation, O LORD, and your law is my delight” (Psalm 119:174). The Psalmist delights in God’s Word for it is God’s counsel and guidance to him; it expresses God’s mercy toward him; it sustains him during affliction and trouble; and it imparts salvation to him. Thus, the Psalmist clings to God’s Word with delight: “I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word” (Psalm 119:16). Delighting in God’s Word fills the heart with joy: “Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart” (Psalm 119:111).

The Psalmist shifts from expressing his delight in God’s Word to his love for God’s Word: “for I find my delight in your commandments, which I love” (Psalm 119:47). Delight gives rise to love and love feeds delight. So the Psalmist also loves God’s Word: “I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes” (Psalm 119:48); “I hate the double-minded, but I love your law” (Psalm 119:113); "All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross, therefore I love your testimonies” (Psalm 119:119); “Therefore I love your commandments above gold, above fine gold” (Psalm 119:127); “Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is your way with those who love your name” (Psalm 119:132); "Your promise is well tried, and your servant loves it” (Psalm 119:140); “Consider how I love your precepts! Give me life according to your steadfast love” (Psalm 119:159); "I hate and abhor falsehood, but I love your law” (Psalm 119:163); "Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble” (Psalm 119:165); and “My soul keeps your testimonies; I love them exceedingly” (Psalm 119:167). The Psalmist loves God’s Word because it refines him, can be counted on by him, instills God’s love in him, and imparts peace to him. Because the Psalmist loves God’s Word, he meditates on it, hates what he should, and obeys the LORD. He loves the Word because he loves the LORD: “Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart” (Psalm 119:2).

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe