Psalm 119

The Open Bible Trust produces literature that is written with the overall aim of encouraging its readers to open and read God's Word-the Bible-hence its name. The Bible is not a book that should be left on the library shelf as part of our book collection but read daily to give us encouragement and strengthen our faith on our everyday Christian walk. As a Christian Publishing Trust we believe that the Scriptures are indeed God's inspired words (2 Timothy 3:16).

They are God's thoughts in words revealing His plan, purpose and dealings with mankind. Hebrews 4:12 tells us that God's Word is living and powerful-a discerner of thoughts and intents of the heart. Therefore, God's Word is meant to have an effect and stir or motivate us to act in a way that is pleasing to God.

Psalm 119 is a psalm that meditates on the Word of God itself as a true guide to daily living. "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (v.105). It is most well known because of its length. Being the longest psalm it consists of 176 verses broken up into 22 sections (8 verses to each). It is an acrostic psalm (the eight verses in each section begin with the same Hebrew letter commencing at the start of the Hebrew alphabet and following through, which incidentally has been lost in translation). Each verse contains reference to at least one of the following ten words: way, testimony, precepts, commandment, saying, law, judgement, righteousness, statutes, word. These correspond to the Ten Commandments which are characteristic of this psalm.

While today we are not under law but under grace, but even so did not Christ say that the whole law and prophets hung on two commandments. First, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind" and second, "You shall love your neighbour as yourself" (Matthew 22:36-40). Even under grace we cannot disregard the estimation set out in Jesus' words here as a model for the Christian way. To know the Scriptures and allow them to guide our actions will not only be pleasing to God but will help us get to know more about our Saviour, about whom God's Word testifies, and of the hope of eternal life that He offers us (John 5:39-40). With this in view a closer consideration of the meditations contained in this psalm will surely be of spiritual benefit to us.

Verses 1 - 8
The psalm commences with a double beatitude: "Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord! Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with a whole heart" (v.1-2). The Hebrew word rendered "blessed" is esher which means happiness and in this case as an interjection, "Oh the happiness" or "O how happy". This is the same Hebrew word used in Deuteronomy 33:29 which states: "Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord." The explanation for the state of happiness of God's people was that they were saved by the Lord. Out of all the nations of the earth God had chosen them, redeemed them to be His own, and set His love on them, and as a result of this they were pronounced happy or indeed blessed (Deuteronomy 7:6-8).

God had given to them His laws/commandments by which they should live and the extension of this state of happiness was dependant on them walking in the way He had set before them and keeping His testimonies (read Deuteronomy 28:1-14). If they could have done this as a nation they would have indeed been a blessed people. However, history shows this was not accomplished. Even so, individually they could still enjoy this blessed state by a personal relationship with God, which was the outcome of seeking Him with a whole heart (v.2). King David was one who was said to have done this (1 Kings 14:8).

Now we all know that because of our sinfulness it is not possible for anyone to do this perfectly and David was a prime example of this. That is why we needed a Saviour. King David looked forward to His coming even as we look back, as we are particularly doing at this time of the year. God looks at the heart, not at our temporary failures, and knows those who love and seek Him.

By the grace of God, and through faith, we also have been chosen in Him and furthermore blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. However, if we also want to enjoy the state of blessedness in our daily walk, it is up to us to follow the Christian path-the way Christ has laid before us, the path of love, and through His enabling Spirit continually seek Him with our whole heart.