Psalm 119 - Love for God's Law

[SilverFox7]

Psalm 119 is an incredible celebration, meditation, and dedication of the law of God, and it is the longest psalm in the Bible. Rather than looking at the law from a negative and constrictive view, the law is expressed as liberating and "blessed" in this beautiful poem.

I realize we have an expanded view of God's law in the New Covenant (i.e. the law of Christ as best summarized in the Sermon on the Mount), yet we can still glean incredible insights through studying the law from a Christian viewpoint.

It's been awhile since I have studied Psalm 119, and I felt compelled to dive back into it again to see what I can learn after being away from it and experiencing a lot of changes in my life since I read it last.

I will share a few verses that catch my attention and offer some commentary where appropriate. I hope you enjoy this journey and will contribute your insights as well!

Psalm 119:1-2

New King James Version

Meditations on the Excellencies of the Word of God

א ALEPH

1 Blessed are the [a]undefiled in the way,
Who walk in the law of the Lord!

2 Blessed are those who keep His testimonies,
Who seek Him with the whole heart!

Psalm 119: 1-2 NKJV - Meditations on the Excellencies of the - Bible Gateway

I love the title Bible Gateway (link above) gives to this Psalm, "Meditations on the Excellencies of the Word of God."

God's Word should be the foundation of our thoughts and as the psalmist expresses right in the beginning, we should be walking in the law of the Lord as well.

The law as we especially know today through Jesus' teachings is not a burden. It establishes the expectations and gives us parameters of right versus wrong. It's there to guide and protect us ultimately.

Jesus reaffirms that we need to seek God "...with the whole heart,"

Matthew 22:37-38

New King James Version

37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment.

More to come...

SF

 

[Magenta]

Isaiah 35:4 plus Psalm 119:50

 

[SilverFox7]

Isaiah 35:4 plus Psalm 119:50

Beautiful! Our God is a consuming fire, Magenta!

 

[SilverFox7]

Psalm 119 is an incredible celebration, meditation, and dedication of the law of God, and it is the longest psalm in the Bible. Rather than looking at the law from a negative and constrictive view, the law is expressed as liberating and "blessed" in this beautiful poem.

I realize we have an expanded view of God's law in the New Covenant (i.e. the law of Christ as best summarized in the Sermon on the Mount), yet we can still glean incredible insights through studying the law from a Christian viewpoint.

It's been awhile since I have studied Psalm 119, and I felt compelled to dive back into it again to see what I can learn after being away from it and experiencing a lot of changes in my life since I read it last.

I will share a few verses that catch my attention and offer some commentary where appropriate. I hope you enjoy this journey and will contribute your insights as well!

Psalm 119:1-2

New King James Version

Meditations on the Excellencies of the Word of God

א ALEPH

1 Blessed are the [a]undefiled in the way,
Who walk in the law of the Lord!

2 Blessed are those who keep His testimonies,
Who seek Him with the whole heart!

Psalm 119: 1-2 NKJV - Meditations on the Excellencies of the - Bible Gateway

I love the title Bible Gateway (link above) gives to this Psalm, "Meditations on the Excellencies of the Word of God."

God's Word should be the foundation of our thoughts and as the psalmist expresses right in the beginning, we should be walking in the law of the Lord as well.

The law as we especially know today through Jesus' teachings is not a burden. It establishes the expectations and gives us parameters of right versus wrong. It's there to guide and protect us ultimately.

Jesus reaffirms that we need to seek God "...with the whole heart,"

Matthew 22:37-38

New King James Version

37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment.

More to come...

SF

Just a little background information on Ps. 119 from Halley's Bible Handbook:

The Glories of God's Word

With 176 verses, this is the longest chapter in the Bible. Every verse mentions the Word of God under one or another of these names: statutes, righteous laws, decrees, commands, precepts, word, ways....

It is an acrostic, or alphabetic, psalm. It has 22 stanzas, each beginning with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet, in sequence. What is more, each stanza has eight lines, and each of the eight lines in a stanza begins with the same letter.

I'm not planning to spend a lot of time breaking down the elements of this poem from a structural slant, but it is helpful to understand the science and detail the psalmist put into this piece. It is absolutely remarkable how precise the structure is, yet the expression of the poetry is artistic and beautiful as well.

Back in my undergraduate days, my church at that time believed King David was the author of Psalm 119. Based on the preliminary research I've done recently (not in depth by any means), while David is considered as a strong candidate as the author, other writers like Daniel and Ezra are in the mix, too. Unlike other Psalms that have a prelude stating that David is the author (e.g. Pslams 4-9, 51), Psalm 119 does not have a prelude.

Again, I don't want to dive into critical literary analysis too much unless people show an interest in that area. I'm more interested in the poetry and how it applies to my Christian walk currently. However, I will keep an eye open for verses that may support David as the author. My well-educated pastors in that past church I attended when I was in college had no doubt in their minds that David wrote this psalm (doesn't mean they were right, of course).

One other quick note: I plan to use the NKJV primarily in this study. It has the solid scholarship of the KJV but highlights the poetry much more effectively by removing some of the Old English lingo that isn't in use anymore today (I may take some flak for this one, but I'm ok with that ).

Ok, back to the poem:

Oh, that my ways were directed to keep your statutes!

Then I would not be ashamed, When I look into all your commandments. (v. 5-6)

This one hits home for me. If I could only live my life more in line with Jesus' words, I wouldn't have to feel so guilty when I am convicted of not practicing what I believe after reading/hearing God's Word. Thank the Lord for His grace!

 

[JaumeJ]

It is interesting and uplifting to read Psalm 119 replacing the word, word, with the name of our Savior, Jesuks Yeshua.
It is a wonderful Psalm.

 

[ResidentAlien]

Psalm 119 - Love for God's Law

Depends on what you mean by "law." I love God's word, the Tanakh; but I don't love the law of Moses to the point of trying to get Christ to help me keep it, like the Judaizers do.

 

[SilverFox7]

Depends on what you mean by "law." I love God's word, the Tanakh; but I don't love the law of Moses to the point of trying to get Christ to help me keep it, like the Judaizers do.

Agreed. I like how Henry Halley actually ties the law to the Word of God. I certainly do not want to go back to the Old Covenant. Psalm 119 and all of the OT for that matter should be viewed in the context of Christ and His Word.

 

[SilverFox7]

It is interesting and uplifting to read Psalm 119 replacing the word, word, with the name of our Savior, Jesuks Yeshua.
It is a wonderful Psalm.

Very well said. I am not familiar with the Jesuks Yeshua association in Ps. 119, but I am looking forward to learning more about this reference to Jesus.

 

[JaumeJ]

Very well said. I am not familiar with the Jesuks Yeshua association in Ps. 119, but I am looking forward to learning more about this reference to Jesus.

Over time the two names have been made the same by men.

 

[SilverFox7]

Over time the two names have been made the same by men.

Interesting. I had a pastor who did an entire sermon series on the names of God, which define who our Creator and Savior is--an awesome and loving God.

It looks like Messianic Judaism refers to Jesus as Yeshua:

"Messianic Judaism is a Biblically based movement of people who, as committed Jews, believe in Yeshua (Jesus) as the Jewish Messiah of Israel of whom the Jewish Law and Prophets spoke."

Messianic Movement - Messianic Jewish Alliance of America (mjaa.org)

 

[SilverFox7]

Just a little background information on Ps. 119 from Halley's Bible Handbook:

The Glories of God's Word

With 176 verses, this is the longest chapter in the Bible. Every verse mentions the Word of God under one or another of these names: statutes, righteous laws, decrees, commands, precepts, word, ways....

It is an acrostic, or alphabetic, psalm. It has 22 stanzas, each beginning with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet, in sequence. What is more, each stanza has eight lines, and each of the eight lines in a stanza begins with the same letter.

I'm not planning to spend a lot of time breaking down the elements of this poem from a structural slant, but it is helpful to understand the science and detail the psalmist put into this piece. It is absolutely remarkable how precise the structure is, yet the expression of the poetry is artistic and beautiful as well.

Back in my undergraduate days, my church at that time believed King David was the author of Psalm 119. Based on the preliminary research I've done recently (not in depth by any means), while David is considered as a strong candidate as the author, other writers like Daniel and Ezra are in the mix, too. Unlike other Psalms that have a prelude stating that David is the author (e.g. Pslams 4-9, 51), Psalm 119 does not have a prelude.

Again, I don't want to dive into critical literary analysis too much unless people show an interest in that area. I'm more interested in the poetry and how it applies to my Christian walk currently. However, I will keep an eye open for verses that may support David as the author. My well-educated pastors in that past church I attended when I was in college had no doubt in their minds that David wrote this psalm (doesn't mean they were right, of course).

One other quick note: I plan to use the NKJV primarily in this study. It has the solid scholarship of the KJV but highlights the poetry much more effectively by removing some of the Old English lingo that isn't in use anymore today (I may take some flak for this one, but I'm ok with that ).

Ok, back to the poem:

Oh, that my ways were directed to keep your statutes!

Then I would not be ashamed, When I look into all your commandments. (v. 5-6)

This one hits home for me. If I could only live my life more in line with Jesus' words, I wouldn't have to feel so guilty when I am convicted of not practicing what I believe after reading/hearing God's Word. Thank the Lord for His grace!

I was thinking this morning about how God's law (way of life in essence) is not something I should look at as a punishment/reward system. In other words, I shouldn't seek to keep the law because I'm afraid of being punished for failing or seeking blessings for keeping it. It should be a part of who I am now with the Holy Spirit as my Helper. It's a new way of life.

Psalm 119:34-35

New King James Version

34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law;
Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart.

35 Make me walk in the path of Your commandments,
For I delight in it.

The psalmist had the Holy Spirit living within him, and the law has become a part of his whole being as a result--and, he desires even more understanding, so he can live more like God every day. He wants to observe the law with his "whole heart", and he has "delight in it"!

I think that gets to the heart and core of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. The law goes beyond physical boundaries. It is a spiritual transformation where we bury the old man (sinful human nature) and rise from the waters of baptism as a new man in Jesus Christ (God's nature).

I can't do this on my own. Heck, we couldn't even meet the basic requirements of the law from the OT by our own power. It has to come by God through the Holy Spirit providing me with that power to "delight" in His ways!

A quick side note, as I continued reading through Psalm 119, I was thinking where is the next chapter? Then it dawned on me, duh there is only one chapter (the longest in the Bible), and it has 176 verses--very powerful psalm and love the Hebrew alphabet that helps break it up into bit-sized chunks.

 

[Nehemiah6]

"Messianic Judaism is a Biblically based movement of people who, as committed Jews, believe in Yeshua (Jesus) as the Jewish Messiah of Israel of whom the Jewish Law and Prophets spoke."

1. There are many problems with Messianic Judaism, the primary one being a violation of the principle laid down by Christ that there is neither Jew nor Gentile within the Church of Christ.

2. If you are a Jew and I am a Gentile, we are commanded to totally ignore that distinction within the Body of Christ. Christ broke down that "middle wall of partition" at the cross.

3. There are also issues with the use of the name "Yeshua" since the unbelieving world only knows of "JESUS", and the unbelieving world must put its faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

4. Furthermore, even though Christ came as the Jewish Messiah of Israel back then, He is now "the Savior of the World". And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. (1 John 4:14)

5. Then we have the fact that the Old Covenant is now obsolete -- indeed abolished. So to revive the feasts, festivals, and holy days laid out in that covenant is to tell God indirectly that we are wiser than Him.

 

[SilverFox7]

1. There are many problems with Messianic Judaism, the primary one being a violation of the principle laid down by Christ that there is neither Jew nor Gentile within the Church of Christ.

2. If you are a Jew and I am a Gentile, we are commanded to totally ignore that distinction within the Body of Christ. Christ broke down that "middle wall of partition" at the cross.

3. There are also issues with the use of the name "Yeshua" since the unbelieving world only knows of "JESUS", and the unbelieving world must put its faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

4. Furthermore, even though Christ came as the Jewish Messiah of Israel back then, He is now "the Savior of the World". And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. (1 John 4:14)

5. Then we have the fact that the Old Covenant is now obsolete -- indeed abolished. So to revive the feasts, festivals, and holy days laid out in that covenant is to tell God indirectly that we are wiser than Him.

I understand and agree as a fellow Christian. Yet, I still respect other people's faith perspectives.

We are all at different points and levels in our journey towards the ultimate goal of the character of Christ and union with Him.

 

[reneweddaybyday]

Psalm 119:11 is one of the first verses in Scripture I memorized ...

Psalm 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.


and I love this statement, SilverFox7

I was thinking this morning about how God's law (way of life in essence) is not something I should look at as a punishment/reward system. In other words, I shouldn't seek to keep the law because I'm afraid of being punished for failing or seeking blessings for keeping it.

God gave us His Word as a blessing to us. He alone knows what is best for us ... and if we follow God's Word out of fear ... or in order to seek blessing from God, we miss the whole point ...

... the whole point of Scripture ... all the instruction ... all the warnings ... all the encouragement ... all the blessing ... is to bring us to Him so that we can enjoy wonderful and beautiful fellowship with Him, and although we currently live in a world which has become corrupted by sin, God tells us of a new heaven/new earth where we truly will live life as He designed ...
.

 

[JaumeJ]

I was thinking this morning about how God's law (way of life in essence) is not something I should look at as a punishment/reward system. In other words, I shouldn't seek to keep the law because I'm afraid of being punished for failing or seeking blessings for keeping it. It should be a part of who I am now with the Holy Spirit as my Helper. It's a new way of life.

Psalm 119:34-35

New King James Version

34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law;
Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart.

35 Make me walk in the path of Your commandments,
For I delight in it.

The psalmist had the Holy Spirit living within him, and the law has become a part of his whole being as a result--and, he desires even more understanding, so he can live more like God every day. He wants to observe the law with his "whole heart", and he has "delight in it"!

I think that gets to the heart and core of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. The law goes beyond physical boundaries. It is a spiritual transformation where we bury the old man (sinful human nature) and rise from the waters of baptism as a new man in Jesus Christ (God's nature).

I can't do this on my own. Heck, we couldn't even meet the basic requirements of the law from the OT by our own power. It has to come by God through the Holy Spirit providing me with that power to "delight" in His ways!

A quick side note, as I continued reading through Psalm 119, I was thinking where is the next chapter? Then it dawned on me, duh there is only one chapter (the longest in the Bible), and it has 176 verses--very powerful psalm and love the Hebrew alphabet that helps break it up into bit-sized chunks.

We receive His Love and we love also. Perfect Love casts out all fear.

 

[Blik]

Depends on what you mean by "law." I love God's word, the Tanakh; but I don't love the law of Moses to the point of trying to get Christ to help me keep it, like the Judaizers do.

God gave Moses the law, it wasn't written in stone by Moses, it was written by God. Do you believe in God, or how do you think creation happened.

OT people corrupted the law as Moses gave it---they believed they could do the acts given to symbolize God's law but disregard the Lord's ways and teachings. Cutting flesh, adjusting diets, not mixing fabrics is symbolic of the law of the Lord, but it is not the law, never was. The 119th Psalm was written before Christ, but it does not teach the symbols of the law, but the spirit of the law that expresses love.

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said: (Matt. 5:10)
"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." It is true of Messianic Christian's, they are persecuted because they believe God always speaks truth.

 

[JaumeJ]

People who think the law is something of the past, do not realize just how clearly Jesus Yeshua has made its status for all to appreciate.

They see the law of not mixing fabrics as something rote, and unacceptable, not realizing it refers to our works, not to mix them with evil works. Or not to plant two kinds of seed together, another rote to the ignorance of many. It also is saying not to combine evil teachings with the true teachings from our Father.
The do not hear when Jesus Yeshua teaches if a law does not contain mercy, it may be discarded as useless.
Also those ignorant of it do not realize that the law and the prophets point to the Messiah.
Now the Spirit of the Law is truly inscribed upon our hearts because of out Savior's love for each of us, and the price He Only has paid for our redemption. This is why many prefer Yeshua because Yeshi means my Redeemer and Yah is God.
Alll of this is just too Jewish for them, for they lost the connection to the true Israel along with so many since Jesus first came to us.
May He return very soon, amen.

 

[SilverFox7]

God tells us of a new heaven/new earth where we truly will live life as He designed ...

Amen! Can't wait!!!

 

[SilverFox7]

I was thinking this morning about how God's law (way of life in essence) is not something I should look at as a punishment/reward system. In other words, I shouldn't seek to keep the law because I'm afraid of being punished for failing or seeking blessings for keeping it. It should be a part of who I am now with the Holy Spirit as my Helper. It's a new way of life.

Psalm 119:34-35

New King James Version

34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law;
Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart.

35 Make me walk in the path of Your commandments,
For I delight in it.

The psalmist had the Holy Spirit living within him, and the law has become a part of his whole being as a result--and, he desires even more understanding, so he can live more like God every day. He wants to observe the law with his "whole heart", and he has "delight in it"!

I think that gets to the heart and core of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. The law goes beyond physical boundaries. It is a spiritual transformation where we bury the old man (sinful human nature) and rise from the waters of baptism as a new man in Jesus Christ (God's nature).

I can't do this on my own. Heck, we couldn't even meet the basic requirements of the law from the OT by our own power. It has to come by God through the Holy Spirit providing me with that power to "delight" in His ways!

A quick side note, as I continued reading through Psalm 119, I was thinking where is the next chapter? Then it dawned on me, duh there is only one chapter (the longest in the Bible), and it has 176 verses--very powerful psalm and love the Hebrew alphabet that helps break it up into bit-sized chunks.

Time for a quick few beautiful verses to start out this TGIF workday...

Psalm 119:44-47

King James Version

44 So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever.

45 And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.

46 I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.

47 And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.

The psalmist was inspired to see God's Word as an eternal way of living and not just a burdensome endurance exercise of obedience and compliance during this mortal life.

If I don't have love for "Thy commandments" as expressed in v. 47, I am missing the point and need to surrender myself to the power of the Holy Spirit more fully to love God and others the way Jesus did.

 

[evyaniy]

Only One Person could pray those verses to obey the law continually, for ever and ever.

The rest of us are law-breakers

10 As it is written,
“There is no one righteous;
no, not one.
11 There is no one who understands.
There is no one who seeks after EL(Theos, Elohim, YAH, God).
12 They have all turned away.
They have together become unprofitable.
There is no one who does good,
no, not so much as one.”
13 “Their throat is an open tomb.
With their tongues they have used deceit.”
“The poison of vipers is under their lips.”
14 “Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.”
15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood.
16 Destruction and misery are in their ways.
17 The way of peace, they haven’t known.”
18 “There is no fear of EL(Theos, Elohim, YAH, God) before their eyes.”