To begin the new year, I’ve decided to read through Psalm 119 to get my heart focused on God’s Word for the year. Most Bible readers know that Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible, but it’s also interesting for being an acrostic where the first letter of each section follows the pattern of the Hebrew alphabet. The author, which some commentaries attribute as a priest, took care to find a way to express his love for God’s Word through a highly organized and complete psalm.
The NIV Study Bible notes that the author used eight Hebrew terms from Old Testament tradition to refer to the Word. These are words commonly translated as the following:
- law (torah)
- statutes (‘edot)
- precepts (piqqudim)
- commands/commandments (mis.wot)
- laws/decrees (mishpat.im)
- decrees (h.uqqim)
- word as in law or promise (dabar)
- word/promise (imrah)
Some scholars see this, the use of eight terms for God’s word, as the inspiration for the author writing 8 stanzas per Hebrew letter. The thought and care put into writing this psalm is an inspiration for having a great heart for God’s word.
In the first section, Aleph:
- v.1-3 form a brief introduction, discussing the blessings of the Word
- v.4-6 talk about the importance of obedience to the Word and how the author longs for obedience
- v.7-8 are the promise of the author to praise God and obey his Word.
The author’s love for the Word and eagerness to obey it are qualities I want to have deeper in my relationship with God. I want to long each day to be in God’s Word and to apply it through obedience.
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