GOD’S TRUTH
Psalm 119:1–16
Psalm 119 is an acrostic hymn celebrating God’s Word as a life manual for aiding believers in their walk with God. Each unit of thought — or strophe — begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
A parallel in the English language would be a poem expounding thoughts from A to Z. The Hebrew alphabet consisted of only 22 letters in contrast to the 26 letters of the English alphabet. Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible with 176 verses.
God’s Instruction Given (1–4)
Both Psalm 1 and Psalm 119 begin with the theme of happiness or blessedness. Psalm 119 connects our happiness with a lifestyle that follows God’s instructions given within the Bible.
The happy or blessed individual obeys God’s instructions and decrees. The purpose of our lives is to follow the path of God’s design for a believer’s life.
“Walk” does not refer to the moving of the legs or a physical exercise. In this context, “walk” is a metaphor for a person’s lifestyle and the purposeful direction in which a person chooses to walk.
The Bible sets forth two paths individuals may choose to walk — the path of faithfulness and life or the path of sin and destruction. God expects believers to walk in keeping with God’s precepts and guidelines and to live blameless lives.
Obedience to God’s Word (5–8)
The psalmist expressed a desire that his ways would show a commitment to keep God’s statutes. The goal of every believer should be a life of obedience to God and the revelation of His will in the Scriptures. The Jews counted 613 commands in the Hebrew Bible.
Christians often emphasize the promises of the Bible and do not give as much emphasis to keeping God’s commands. As a young believer during the so-called Jesus Revolution in the 1970s, I purchased a book titled “The Jesus Person Pocket Promise Book.”
Unfortunately, I have never seen a “Jesus Person Pocket Command Book,” yet most of the promises in Scripture are connected to commands.
Rather than experiencing shame, the psalmist purposed to praise God with his heart. In verse 8 the psalmist prayed, “I will keep your statutes; never abandon me.”
The Goal of God’s Word (9–16)
The psalmist sets forth a situation of a young man struggling with the pressure of living a life of purity. Growing in discipleship involves the center of who you are. Keep His commands. Treasure God’s Word in your heart via Scripture memory — a powerful spiritual practice with the goal of not sinning against God.
While we will never be sinless, the psalmist provides a plan for how we can mature in our relationship. God’s Word is a treasure in our hearts — the center of our being.
Scripture memorization can provide an antidote to sin. Speak God’s Word with your lips and mouth. Meditate on God precepts and ways. A believer will never regret following a Bible reading plan in which an individual can read the Bible in one year.
How has God’s Word helped you to make godly choices? What obstacles hinder you from knowing and obeying God’s Word?
By Mark Rathel
Pastor of Friendship Baptist Church in DeFuniak Springs, Florida
