A Daily Study of Psalm 119 (NKJV)
Meditations and Prayers Relating to the Law of God
“Psalms 119 is an acrostic to end all acrostics! There are twenty-two strophes (paragraphs), corresponding to the twenty-two letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Each of the strophes has eight lines (verses), and every one of the lines in each strophe begins with the appropriate Hebrew letter marking that stanza.” – Coffman(1)
Every paragraph contains these words pertaining to God’s Laws:
Law of the Lord or Your Word– Body of prophetic, legal and moral directives (Mosaic Law)
Testimonies – Witness (God never asks us to believe anything that He does not give us evidence (testimony) for.)
Precepts – Command or order respecting moral conduct
Statutes – Something prescribed, prescribed task
Commandments – order by authorities
Judgements – Act of deciding a case, ordinance
PSALM 119:145-152 J Qoph (hebrew letter)
Day 19 Psalm 119:145-152
J Qoph.
“I cry out with my whole heart; Hear me, O LORD! I will keep Your statutes. I cry out to You; Save me, and I will keep Your testimonies. I rise before the dawning of the morning, And cry for help; I hope in Your word. My eyes are awake through the night watches, That I may meditate on Your word. Hear my voice according to Your lovingkindness; O LORD, revive me according to Your justice. They draw near who follow after wickedness; They are far from Your law. You are near, O LORD, And all Your commandments are truth. Concerning Your testimonies, I have known of old that You have founded them forever.”
In your own Bible:
Hi-lite the “Law” words from the list above.
What does the Psalmist ask of God? Hi-Lite
- :145 “Hear me, O Lord”
- :146 “Save Me”
- :149 “Hear my voice”, “Revive Me”
What does he say that he does or will do? Underline
- :145 “I cry out”, “I will keep”
- :146 “I cry out”, “I will keep”
- :147 “I rise before the dawning”, “cry for help”, “I hope”
- :148 “I may meditate”
- :152 “I have known of old”
He cries out for God to hear him and save him and he is determined to keep God’s statues and testimonies. Determination is key to being a good disciple. How determined are you? This involves the spirit of Jesus when He told the Father “not my will by yours be done”. Setting our own will aside for the will of our heavenly Father is not always easy. It takes practice and …determination!
In verse 147 and 148, He is anxious to hear from God. He rises before the dawn to cry for help, looking to God’s word for that help. The term “night watches” has to do with a soldier keeping guard, they have several “watches” in the night. His meditation on God’s word can’t wait for the morning. Are you ever anxious to hear from God, ready to meditate on His word. Meditation involves thinking about something over and over in your mind.
He mentions two of God’s wonderful attributes. Circle
- :149 “Your lovingkindness”
- :151 “You are near”, “Your commandments are truth”
Put the cross-reference James 4:8 beside verse 151. God is waiting for us in His word: To draw near to Him we must meet Him there. He is a rock, the anchor of our soul, but we must go to Him. If you are not near to God, who moved?