Between the Lines

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 119:105-112 N Nun (hebrew letter)

“Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. I have sworn and confirmed That I will keep Your righteous judgments. I am afflicted very much; Revive me, O LORD, according to Your word. Accept, I pray, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, And teach me Your judgments. My life is continually in my hand, Yet I do not forget Your law. The wicked have laid a snare for me, Yet I have not strayed from Your precepts. Your testimonies I have taken as a heritage forever, For they are the rejoicing of my heart. I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes Forever, to the very end.”

In your own Bible:

Hi-lite the “Law” words from the list above.

He begins with an emphatic statement.  Hi-Lite

• :105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

Solomon wrote something similar in Proverbs 6:23 -write it in your margin as a cross reference.

One of my favorite things to do when I was growing up was to attend Bible camp.  The paths at the camp where I attended were not lit.  Going from the dining hall out to the girl’s cabin could be scary.  Unless there was lots of moonlight, we could not see to put one foot in front of the other. We needed our flashlights to know where the roots and rocks were in the pathway and anything that we needed to avoid (bull nettle, small animals).  Going through life is like that.  This world is a dark place, we need light to illuminate the troubles and pitfalls and sinful creatures before us.  We are given this light if we will only choose to use it….God’s Word!

He is deliberate in keeping God’s law. Circle

• :106 “sworn”, “confirmed”, “keep”

There are no accidental disciples.  It must be a conscious and deliberate intent on our part.  How intentionally do you follow God’s Word.  Are you determined to “keep His righteous judgments”?

Notice time words:

Hi-lite in a different color: “Forever” (Hebrew meaning: vanishing point)

• :111 “your testimonies I have taken a a heritage forever”
• :112 “I have inclined my heart to perform Your statues forever”

What is the Word to the Psalmist? Underline these words

• :105 “lamp”, “light”
• :111 “rejoicing of my heart”

What does he promise to God? Put a box around

• :106 “I will keep your righteous judgments.”
• :109 “I do not forget”
• :111 “I have taken as a heritage”
• :112 “I have inclined my heart”

What does he ask God to do? Put brackets around

• :107 [“Revive me”]
• :108 [“accept freewill offerings of my mouth, teach me your judgments”]

He mentions the wicked in every stanza of Psalm 119.  What does he say the wicked have done to him here? Put a squiggly line under

• :107 afflicted him
• :110 laid a snare for me

How does he handle that? Put a line under each word

• :110 I have not strayed from your precepts

“This is My Father’s World” is a beautiful hymn that we sing.  The third stanza always puts a catch in my throat.  When you feel “afflicted” by the evil and wicked people in this word, remember…. 

“This is my Father’s world. O let me ne’er forget

That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world: the battle is not done:”

Maltbie D Babcock (1901)