Psalms 118-120

Let’s take a closer look at Psalm 119 today. 

I want you to do an exercise with this psalm. This is the longest psalm in the book so this might take you a few minutes but I promise that it will be rewarding to your soul and your heart’s affections for God’s word. I did this this morning…it took me about 10 minutes and I am so challenged this morning from it. 

Go through this psalm and circle every time it says, “word, law, precepts, testimonies, rules, statutes, commandments or judgments.” Then underline or highlight what the psalmist says in response, or commitment to these words. For example; Verse 1 says, “blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the Law (circle) of the Lord!” another example is verse 11, “I have stored up your word (circle) in my heart, that I may not sin against you.”  

We can sum up all of these words, “precepts, law, judgements, testimonies etc…” with “God’s word.” God has given us his word, established his statutes, spoken his testimonies. This is all God’s gift of grace to us. It is HIS WORD

Do you understand the gift of God’s word to us? The benefit it has in our lives. Does your heart respond to God’s word like this psalmists does? Look at how this psalmist speaks about Gods word. 

  • “I keep it diligently” vs. 4
  • “I am steadfast in keeping…” vs. 5
  • “I have fixed my eyes on…” vs. 6
  • “I have stored it up in my heart.” vs. 11
  • “I delight in it as much as riches” vs. 14
  • “I will delight in it.” vs. 16
  • “you word gives me life.” vs. 17
  • “I will meditate on it.” vs. 27
  • “I hope in your rules.” vs. 43
  • “It is my comfort in affliction” vs. 50

And on and on it goes! I love verses 9-16. It tells us that keeping God’s word is how we keep our way pure, and it keeps us from wandering away from God! In these verses it contains a commitment to teach others God’s word, and a commitment to meditate on God’s word (verse 13).

Jump over to verses 147-148. The psalmist says “I rise before dawn and cry for help; I HOPE in your words, my eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may MEDITATE on your promise.” Then over in verse 164-165 he says, “seven times a day I praise you for your righteous rules, great PEACE have those who love your law, nothing can make them stumble.”

Does this characterize your life and attitude toward God’s word? I think that we have grown apathetic in our culture towards God’s word. Do you realize what we have access to read every single day? We often times cry out to God, “speak to me, Lord” and I believe God says, “I already have.” If we would just take the time to read it, we would see the fountain of blessing that pours out through His word. 

I know what you might be thinking, “well I just don’t understand it.” Well, you are in good company; look what the psalmist says in verses 125, 144, and 169. He says, “give me understanding…” Listen, don’t let a lack of understanding get in the way of your reading God’s word. If you earnestly seek the Lord in his word, and ask Him to give you understanding, do you think he would say “no!” Of course not! 

O that we would be a church that would desire God’s word, that delights in God’s word, that praises God for His word, that meditates on God’s word, and stores it up in our hearts! His word gives us life, it guides our steps, it guards our way, it brings us peace, it restores our soul!

I believe that if our church would desire God’s word and spend time in it every day, meditating on it and praying through it, we would see a moment of God like we have never seen before! We would see the power of the Holy Spirit move in our lives and in our community that would be unfathomable! If you don’t have a desire for his word, ask Him to give you a desire, and be disciplined to get up in the morning and begin your day with God’s word and watch what He does!