For the past month, I have been Blogging Through Psalm 119, capturing my thoughts, feelings, and impressions as I read through and studied this wonderful love poem to God’s word. What follows below are my concluding thoughts, for now. I have no doubt that I will revisit this psalm again in the future, and find all new things in it with each subsequent reading…

This psalm covers only one topic, God’s word. But its coverage of that topic is wide and varied. It is amazing to me the sheer number of things that the psalmist says about God’s word, even in “only” 176 verses. Yes, it is long, but its length does not nearly account for the depth of its teaching. What follows are just some general thoughts about some of the many themes that David emphasizes.

1. We should use God’s law to prevent ourselves from sinning. That may seem obvious, since “sin” can be defined as any deviation from God’s law, and therefore we must know His law in order to not break it. But we are a dense, sinful bunch, and therefore need the constant reminder that regular study of His word brings us. We need to not only”know” it, but we need to have it penetrate our hearts so deeply that it is the first thing that comes to our mind at the first sign of temptation. Or, as the psalmist puts it in v11, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”

2. The psalm also reminds us that it is God alone who can teach us His word. We can do nothing. We can’t know His word without the help of His Spirit. David makes this clear as he again and again blesses God and asks for His help in understanding. “Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law,” he tells God in v34. In v35, he asks God to “Make me walk in the path of Your commandments.” Again, in v125, he humbles himself before God, praying “I am Your servant; Give me understanding, That I may know Your testimonies.”

3. The psalm makes clear the need for us to evangelize, to declare the word of God. v13: “With my lips I have declared all the judgments of Your mouth.” In other words, we are not only to evangelize, but we are to declare ALL of His judgments – to preach the whole counsel of God. And we are to do it at all times, despite whatever fear of man we have: “I will speak of Your testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.” (This last one, I am sorry to say, convicts me deeply.)

4. David constantly turns to God’s word in times of sorrow, suffering or persecution. “It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes.” And, “They almost made an end of me on earth, But I did not forsake Your precepts.”

Do we do this? Is God’s word the first place we turn when we are faced with difficulty? For instruction? For joy? For delight? For understanding? For wisdom? For our salvation?

Psalm 119:169

169 Let my cry come before you, O Lord;
give me understanding according to your word! (ESV)

Too many people today don’t want real understanding according to God’s word. They want to fit God’s word into their own preconceived beliefs, and they want God’s word, His will, and even His holy self to conform to their own ideas. It is hard enough to get a reasonable idea of God in our finite minds, let alone limiting Him even further by own prejudices and selfish desires.

Psalm 119:170

170 Let my plea come before you;
deliver me according to your word. (ESV)

How much evangelism doesn’t include the word of God? And yet, it is the only way that God delivers His salvation. His gospel, through His glorious word, is the only way men are saved. And yet so much evangelistic “outreach” excludes the gospel because people might be offended! Yes, they might be indeed, offended to the point of true repentence and saving faith…

Psalm 119:171

171 My lips will pour forth praise,
for you teach me your statutes. (ESV)

Praise God that He has given us His words. Praise God that He has given us His commandments. Praise Him that He has shown us how to live!

Psalm 119:172

172 My tongue will sing of your word,
for all your commandments are right. (ESV)

Let us always have His words on our lips. Let us meditate on them day and night. All his commandments are righteousness, even those that we may not “agree with.”

Psalm 119:173

173 Let your hand be ready to help me,
for I have chosen your precepts. (ESV)

Let us be faithful to God, for He is faithful to us. He rewards our obedience with His good pleasure.

Psalm 119:174

174 I long for your salvation, O Lord,
and your law is my delight. (ESV)

We wait for His return and for our eventual glorification, and in the meantime, we take comfort and pleasure in the promises of His word.

Psalm 119:175

175 Let my soul live and praise you,
and let your rules help me. (ESV)

Isn’t it amazing to think that we shall spend eternity singing the praises of God? That we will stand before His throne and cry, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!” All because of the help of His judgments.

Psalm 119:176

176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant,
for I do not forget your commandments. (ESV)

We all stray like a lost sheep, because we are still trapped in this sinful flesh. In His great mercy, the Lord has sent His Good Shepherd to seek us. Let us not forget His commandments. Let us fulfill them. Amen, Lord!

Psalm 119:161

161 Princes persecute me without cause,
but my heart stands in awe of your words. (ESV)

One of the common themes throughout this psalm is the theme of finding refuge in God’s word during times of persecution or crisis. When we are faced with trouble, is our first reaction to reach for the bible? Is it even our second or third reaction?

Psalm 119:162

162 I rejoice at your word
like one who finds great spoil. (ESV)

David convicts us with His zeal for God’s law, not only in times of trouble, but at all times. We may enjoy God’s law, we may value it, we may even get excited about reading it. But do we treat it as if we just found a pile of gold? And indeed, we have.

Psalm 119:163

163 I hate and abhor falsehood,
but I love your law. (ESV)

What a simple praise for God and His word. But what a deeply felt praise.

Psalm 119:164

164 Seven times a day I praise you
for your righteous rules. (ESV)

I’m sure David praised God even more than seven times a day, but do we even do that much? Perhaps David made it a point to praise Him seven times a day specifically for His righteous judgments, praising Him at other times throughout the day for other reasons. I’m sure it wasn’t a formalized ritual, but do we take the time to praise Him throughout our workday?

Psalm 119:165

165 Great peace have those who love your law;
nothing can make them stumble. (ESV)

Here we see a hint of perseverance – the idea that the saints are secure in their hope and salvation. Do we take peace in this? Do we ever worry about our salvation? Indeed, we are called to work out our salvation with fear and trembling, but do we worry that we could lose it? Fear not, because we are kept by the power of God through faith!

Psalm 119:166

166 I hope for your salvation, O Lord,
and I do your commandments. (ESV)

And David here realizes this hope. He realizes the hope he has for salvation, through God’s commandments and mercy, and the hope he has that all of God’s promises will come to pass – about David, about Christ, about the end of time.

Psalm 119:167

167 My soul keeps your testimonies;
I love them exceedingly. (ESV)

Our soul is what indeed keeps God’s laws – not our flesh, not our minds even, though we are commanded to love him with our mind. It is our soul, our renewed spirit, which keeps God’s commands, and loves them exceedingly.

Psalm 119:168

168 I keep your precepts and testimonies,
for all my ways are before you. (ESV)

David knows that God sees all. Everything that we do is seen by God. We cannot ever hide in a dark corner and decide to there break His precepts, for He shall still see. Let us glory in that, that all our ways are before Him. Amen!

Psalm 119:153

153 Look on my affliction and deliver me,
for I do not forget your law. (ESV)

David asks for God’s mercy, and reminds God that he has been His faithful servant. David is not perfect, none of us are. But we still through our faith may boldly approach the throne of grace to ask for God’s mercy.

Psalm 119:154

154 Plead my cause and redeem me;
give me life according to your promise! (ESV)

As Paul told Timothy, there is but one mediator between man and God, and that is Christ Jesus. It is He who pleads our cause and redeems us, and God revives us according to His word.

Psalm 119:155

155 Salvation is far from the wicked,
for they do not seek your statutes. (ESV)

If we do not seek His statutes, if we are not abiding in His word, then we are not His disciples.

Psalm 119:156

156 Great is your mercy, O Lord;
give me life according to your rules. (ESV)

God’s mercies are great and tender, and His word is the source of all of our revival.

Psalm 119:157

157 Many are my persecutors and my adversaries,
but I do not swerve from your testimonies. (ESV)

Repeatedly David comes back in this Psalm to his torment at the hands of his enemies. How comforting it is to have God’s word as a refuge!

Psalm 119:158

158 I look at the faithless with disgust,
because they do not keep your commands. (ESV)

The treacherous do indeed disgust us. We see the ungodly and ask, “Why?” We must guard ourselves against pride, but we should also guard ourselves against acceptance of their sin, lest we, as Paul warns us, “not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.”

Psalm 119:159

159 Consider how I love your precepts!
Give me life according to your steadfast love. (ESV)

God provides us with revival according to His mercy, and His word is the eternal tool of our revival.

Psalm 119:160

160 The sum of your word is truth,
and every one of your righteous rules endures forever. (ESV)

How many times do people reject just one small part of the Bible? How many times do people try to “pit the red words against the black words?” God forbid! The entirety of His word is truth. And every single part of it shall endure forever. Amen!

Psalm 119:145

145 With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O Lord!
I will keep your statutes. (ESV)

David asks the Lord for His assistance, and promises to keep His statutes.

Psalm 119:146

146 I call to you; save me,
that I may observe your testimonies. (ESV)

David again makes the same plea, this time explicitly asking for salvation. And it is true, we cannot keep His testimonies without His saving grace.

Psalm 119:147

147 I rise before dawn and cry for help;
I hope in your words. (ESV)

I’ve said before in this series, I’m not a morning person. I don’t get up early, and I have trouble as it is to pull myself out of bed for, well, anything. I wish that like David I could rise before dawn and spend time in God’s word.

Psalm 119:148

148 My eyes are awake before the watches of the night,
that I may meditate on your promise. (ESV)

This, however, I can do. I often do my daily study time at night, after my daughter is in bed. I don’t do it every day, though I should. It is very hard to establish those habits.

Psalm 119:149

149 Hear my voice according to your steadfast love;
O Lord, according to your justice give me life. (ESV)

Even in the context of God’s word, David remembers that it is ultimately about God’s mercy and His justice. And without God’s justice, we cannot be revived.

Psalm 119:150

150 They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose;
they are far from your law. (ESV)

Wickedness, by definition, is the refusal to follow God’s law. And far from His law they are indeed.

Psalm 119:151

151 But you are near, O Lord,
and all your commandments are true. (ESV)

God, however, is near to us. He is always present, and His commands are all truth.

Psalm 119:152

152 Long have I known from your testimonies
that you have founded them forever. (ESV)

Consider this: God planned everything in the scripture before time was. All of God’s testimonies were before the foundations of the earth were laid. It is all within His perfect plan. Amen!

(Editorial note: You know you haven’t been faithful with a “daily series” when the most recent entry has dropped off of the “Previous Posts” list!)

Psalm 119:137

137 Righteous are you, O Lord,
and right are your rules. (ESV)

How many times have we heard the criticism that the idea of hell or eternal punishment is unfair? How many times have we heard, “I can’t believe in a God who would…”? Like Paul, we say “But who are you, O man, to answer back to God?” (Romans 9:20) And indeed, with David, we say, God’s judgments are indeed upright, simply because they are God’s.

Psalm 119:138

138 You have appointed your testimonies in righteousness
and in all faithfulness. (ESV)

Again, his judgments, his testimonies, his commandments are righteous and faithful to us. There is no shadow of turning in God, and everything he does is 100% loving, 100% merciful, 100% just, and 100% righteous…

Psalm 119:139

139 My zeal consumes me,
because my foes forget your words. (ESV)

David was consumed with zeal against those who rejected God. Are we?

Psalm 119:140

140 Your promise is well tried,
and your servant loves it. (ESV)

My pastor recently preached on John 8:31: “So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, ‘If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples.’” Do we love God’s word and abide in it as both David exhorts us and Christ commands us?

Psalm 119:141

141 I am small and despised,
yet I do not forget your precepts. (ESV)

Here the psalmist recognizes his own humble position before God, but he also does not forget his duty.

Psalm 119:142

142 Your righteousness is righteous forever,
and your law is true. (ESV)

All of God’s attributes are everlasting, as is His truth. His truth does not change from generation to generation. As Spurgeon said,

Do men really believe that there is a gospel for each century? Or a religion for each fifty years? Will there be in heaven saints saved according to a score sorts of gospel?

The answer to his question is, of course, no. For God’s righteousness is everlasting, and His law is truth.

Psalm 119:143

143 Trouble and anguish have found me out,
but your commandments are my delight. (ESV)

Even in the midst of trouble, do we take joy in the word of God, and pursuing His good pleasure? Sometimes when I am faced with challenges, the last thing I want to do is look into His word. But that should be my first refuge, like David.

Psalm 119:144

144 Your testimonies are righteous forever;
give me understanding that I may live. (ESV)

Again, God’s testimonies are everlasting. And when He gives us understanding through His Spirit, we truly live and shall die no more. Amen.

Psalm 119:129

129 Your testimonies are wonderful;
therefore my soul keeps them. (ESV)

What a simple prayer, and a delightful truth about God’s word. His testimonies are wonderful in every sense of the word – they are amazing and joyous to us, and they are full of wonder. So, we keep His law and His testimonies.

Psalm 119:130

130 The unfolding of your words gives light;
it imparts understanding to the simple. (ESV)

The word of God is indeed powerful. It gives light where there is darkness… the light of Christ. Christ came into the world to shine light, and to give understanding to the simple. Even the simple can understand the message of the Gospel – that Christ died for our sins.

Psalm 119:131

131 I open my mouth and pant,
because I long for your commandments. (ESV)

Like the deer pants for the water brook, David pants for the word of God, as we do as well. We long for it, and we feel its absence when we go without it.

Psalm 119:132

132 Turn to me and be gracious to me,
as is your way with those who love your name. (ESV)

God does indeed have mercy on those who love His name. He looks upon them, and sees His son.

Psalm 119:133

133 Keep steady my steps according to your promise,
and let no iniquity get dominion over me. (ESV)

David once again asks God’s help in keeping His word, and not allowing sin to have control over Him. And God does it for us! Without Him, we would still be dead and wallowing in our sins, but with Him, our steps can be directed to His word.

Psalm 119:134

134 Redeem me from man’s oppression,
that I may keep your precepts. (ESV)

Under oppression, we can still keep God’s word, but we can keep it easier with freedom. We don’t think about this often enough today, in the United States, where we do have the freedom to worship as we will, at least for the time being.

Psalm 119:135

135 Make your face shine upon your servant,
and teach me your statutes. (ESV)

God’s face does truly shine upon us when we learn His statutes. There is no greater joy for God than the redemption of the saved!

Psalm 119:136

136 My eyes shed streams of tears,
because people do not keep your law. (ESV)

Do we feel pain for the lost? Do we weep for those who do not know Christ? Teach us your statutes, Lord. Not only those that teach us how to live, not only those that teach us how not to sin, but those that teach us the glorious gospel of the payment for our sins by Your Son’s death and resurrection. Amen.

Psalm 119:121

121 I have done what is just and right;
do not leave me to my oppressors. (ESV)

If we do justice and righteousness alone, that is not sufficient for God’s good pleasure. But if we do it, as David, after God’s own heart, with faith in Him, then He will save us from our oppressors.

Psalm 119:122

122 Give your servant a pledge of good;
let not the insolent oppress me. (ESV)

A surety is a guarantee of debt, and indeed the Lord guarantees our debt of sin, that we may do good. The proud may oppress our bodies, but they may never oppress our spirit.

Psalm 119:123

123 My eyes long for your salvation
and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise. (ESV)

Again, David speaks of his eyes failing while seeking God’s precious promises of salvation in His righteous word.

Psalm 119:124

124 Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love,
and teach me your statutes. (ESV)

The psalmist, like us, recognizes his sinfulness. He knows that if God deals with us according to His justice, we are doomed to our rightful punishment in hell. But if He deals with us according to His mercy, then He will save us from that second death, and teach us His statutes and grant us, through His grace, wonderful faith in Him.

Psalm 119:125

125 I am your servant; give me understanding,
that I may know your testimonies! (ESV)

Another very good Bible study prayer… We should always remember to humbly ask God to give us understanding of His testimonies before we examine them.

Psalm 119:126

126 It is time for the Lord to act,
for your law has been broken. (ESV)

“For they have regarded Your law as void.” How much is this as true today as it was 3,000 years ago? Everywhere, men ignore the law of God, and regard it as void, no longer applicable. They create their own moralities, just as the wicked in David’s time. Act, O Lord, from Your perfect mercy, perfect justice, perfect love, and perfect righteousness.

Psalm 119:127

127 Therefore I love your commandments
above gold, above fine gold. (ESV)

Is our love for His word growing? None of us spends as much time in His word as we ought, but we do find ourselves loving it more and more? Does it capture our thoughts more than it used to? Do we spend more time discussing it, meditating on it, contemplating it, and studying it?

Psalm 119:128

128 Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right;
I hate every false way. (ESV)

There is no lack of truth in God’s word, and in those areas it speaks, we consider it to be right. Grant greater understanding to your servants, Lord, that we may know Your precepts concerning all things. Amen.

Psalm 119:113

113 I hate the double-minded,
but I love your law. (ESV)

Who are the double-minded? Those who say one thing, and do another. The hypocrites. The Pharisees of Jesus’ day. The false teachers of our own day.

Psalm 119:114

114 You are my hiding place and my shield;
I hope in your word. (ESV)

God’s word brings us strength, protection, and hope. We know that we can trust in Him and His word, because of the hope that is in us.

Psalm 119:115

115 Depart from me, you evildoers,
that I may keep the commandments of my God. (ESV)

While we should reach out to the lost, we must also avoid being entrapped by the snare of evildoers. David reminds us of this many times throughout the psalms, often with the contrast between them and the word of God.

Psalm 119:116

116 Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live,
and let me not be put to shame in my hope! (ESV)

Let us, too, ask God to uphold us, and protect us, and keep us in the comfort and obedience of His word. Let us also not be ashamed of the hope that we have through Christ Jesus, but to proclaim it always.

Psalm 119:117

117 Hold me up, that I may be safe
and have regard for your statutes continually! (ESV)

We are indeed held up and kept safe by God, to, as Peter says, “an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation…” How glorious is it that the power of God Himself keeps us through our faith? That He keeps our inheritance incorruptible?

Psalm 119:118

118 You spurn all who go astray from your statutes,
for their cunning is in vain. (ESV)

God rejects those who claim to hold faith, but deceive by rejecting Him through His law. Their deceit shows the falsehood of their so-called “faith.”

Psalm 119:119

119 All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross,
therefore I love your testimonies. (ESV)

Merriam-Webster online defines dross as:

the scum that forms on the surface of molten metal; waste or foreign matter: impurity

The 1828 edition of Webster’s mentions that this scum is “thrown off in the process of melting,” and includes the definition as “waste matter; refuse; any worthless matter separated from the better part; impure matter.”

There are a lot in the church today who say that God does not punish. They deny hell, either explicitly saying it does not exist, or refusing to say one way or another. The Bible is not so vague. Christ himself said more about hell explicitly than anyone else. But even David praises God for his justice – for putting away all the wicked of the earth like dross.

Psalm 119:120

120 My flesh trembles for fear of you,
and I am afraid of your judgments. (ESV)

Usually the fear of God refers to awe and respect, but here, David truly trembles before God and His judgments. Father, we, too fear your righteous judgments, and tremble along with David. Amen.

Psalm 119:105

105 Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path. (ESV)

One of the more familiar verses in the psalm, this one is very powerful (a keeper, as I would tell my wife…). God’s word lights our path of righteousness. What wondrous poetic imagery!

Psalm 119:106

106 I have sworn an oath and confirmed it,
to keep your righteous rules. (ESV)

How have we sworn and confirmed that? By the very profession of faith that we make. We confess Jesus as Lord, and that confession carries with it the promise of allegiance. Are we true to that promise?

Psalm 119:107

107 I am severely afflicted;
give me life, O Lord, according to your word! (ESV)

Once again, David recognizes his own inability to get himself out of trouble, and rightfully so. Only God can revive us, and His word is the vessel of our revival.

Psalm 119:108

108 Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O Lord,
and teach me your rules. (ESV)

Do we pray to God not only our praises and supplications, but also that our praises and supplications will be acceptable to Him as well? Do we pray that our prayers will be according to His will, as John advises us?

Psalm 119:109

109 I hold my life in my hand continually,
but I do not forget your law. (ESV)

Our lives are in our own hands, in the sense that we constantly expose ourselves to danger. But again, in the face of danger, we do not forget His law.

Psalm 119:110

110 The wicked have laid a snare for me,
but I do not stray from your precepts. (ESV)

In the face of traps from the wicked, we do not forget His law.

Psalm 119:111

111 Your testimonies are my heritage forever,
for they are the joy of my heart. (ESV)

Do we rejoice at God’s law? Do we take it as a heritage and pass it along to our children?

Psalm 119:112

112 I incline my heart to perform your statutes
forever, to the end. (ESV)

It is not enough to say that we believe in Jesus. As James reminds us, even the demons believe and tremble. But we must, like the psalmist, incline our heart to perform His statutes forever. Amen.