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 119:57-64 C Heth (hebrew letter)
“You are my portion, O LORD; I have said that I would keep Your words. I entreated Your favor with my whole heart; Be merciful to me according to Your word. I thought about my ways, And turned my feet to Your testimonies. I made haste, and did not delay To keep Your commandments. The cords of the wicked have bound me, But I have not forgotten Your law. At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You, Because of Your righteous judgments. I am a companion of all who fear You, And of those who keep Your precepts. The earth, O LORD, is full of Your mercy; Teach me Your statutes.”
Hi-Lite the “Law” words (listed above).
In the middle of the paragraph, he mentions the wicked, “the cords of the wicked have bound me” :61 – Worldly people are constantly wanting to get the righteous to approve and applaud their wicked deeds. Even though “they call evil good and good evil,” (Isaiah 5:20) we should constantly remember God’s Law: Bible study is the only way to do that.
Underline “I have not forgotten Your law” :61
What does the Psalmist ask of God? Put a box around the phrases:
- :58 “Be merciful to me”
- :64 “Teach me Your statutes”
Underline the following phrases and consider their essence:
- :57 “I have said that I would keep”- this is faith and confession
- :58 “I have entreated Your favor” – Whose favor do you seek, man’s or God’s?
- :59 “I thought about my ways, and turned my feet” – introspective, checking our thoughts, motives and behaviors. Then, making the needed correction. God’s word helps us do this!
- :60 “I made haste and did not delay” – God has not promised another day, today is the day we must determine to follow God.
- :62 “At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You” – In the stillness of the night, we should find ourselves grateful for all that God has done for us that day and for those we love. This is a good time to think and pray.
- :63 “I am a companion of all who fear You, and of those who keep Your precepts.” – Godly people must stick together. There is safety and comfort in togetherness.
God is enough and loves us! Circle these emphatic statements:
- :57 “You are my portion, O Lord”
- :64 “The earth, O Lord, is full of Your mercy”
Is God and His Word enough for you?