Psalm 119:1-16: November 29—Obey God’s Word

Nov 18, 2009
By MARK A. RATHEL

RATHEL

The Book of Psalms is comprised of five books or collections of psalms. The fifth collection contains Psalms 107-150. Numerous smaller collections exist within this large group. For example, Jewish tradition called Psalms 113-118 “the Egyptian Hallel,” songs sung in celebration of Passover. Scripture itself calls Psalms 120-134 “Songs of Ascent,” that is, songs sung by pilgrim worshipers as they ascended upward to the Temple worship complex in Jerusalem. Psalm 119, the longest psalm, is located between these two collections. Perhaps the Jewish people associated this psalm with the next Jewish festival, Tabernacles, a festival that commemorated the giving of the law through Moses at Mount Sinai.

In earlier days, Baptists described themselves as “people of the book.” Honesty compels us to acknowledge that Baptists no longer are worthy of the title “people of the book.” Rather an ignorance of the Bible pervades and permeates the people of God. Psalm 119 extols the benefits that accrue to faithful Bible reader. The last verse details the ultimate purpose of the Word of God: to bring us to the realization of our sinful wanderings and our need for a Servant or Savior.

In the focus passage for our study of this psalm, the author outlined the blessings, the nature, and the benefits of the Word of God.

First, the Psalmist pronounced a blessing for faithful Bible readers (Ps. 119:1-3). The word translated as “happy” means “divinely approved.” Individuals approved by God walk blamelessly in His path, live according to His law, keep His decrees, seek after God, and follow His ways. “Happy” people do more than read the Word of God; “happy” people do the Word of God. The blessed “live” or “walk” according to the law of God, that is, they actively order their life around the instructions of God. Keeping the decrees of God gives proof of the heart’s seeking after Him. Following His way preserves the believer from iniquity.

Second, the Psalmist combined reading the Word of God with prayer (Ps. 119:4-8). In Ps. 119:5, the Psalmist cries out for divine assistance in keeping the statues of God. The Psalmist recognized his weakness and prayer for a habitual heart of obedience. As God’s Word, the Bible instructs us. The Divine Teacher teaches us the Word as the Holy Spirit illumines our minds into the truths of Scripture.

Learing the Word of God inevitably leads to praise to God and a firmer commitment to
obedience (v. 8).

Third, the Psalmist confessed the practical benefits of the Word of God (Ps. 119: 9-16). First, the Word of God produces purity in life (v. 9). The Word of God not only reveals God to the believer, the Word of God reveals self to the believer. Once again, the Psalmist prayed for God’s enabling power in light of sin (v. 10).

Notice the attitudes necessary to receive the full benefit of the Word of God, namely, a commitment to memorization, a teachable spirit, a testifying mouth, a meditative mind, and a delighted heart. To treasure or store up the Word implies a commitment to memorize the Word of God (v. 11). A teachable spirit resists a critical approach to the Word. A teachable spirit manifests submission to the authority of the Word (v. 12). An individual committed to the Word seeks to communicate the truth of the Scripture to others (v. 13). Meditation denotes careful reflection and pondering on the meaning and application of God’s Word. Rather than resenting God’s statues, a blessed believer delights in God’s statutes.

I have a large “sweet tooth”; I enjoy sweets too much. The Psalmist compares the Word of God to sweetness (Ps. 119:103). May God increase our “sweet tooth” for the sweetness of His Word!

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