June 29, 2021

Psalms 119 is a masterpiece of Hebrew poetry expressing Yahweh’s provisions for those who seek His fellowship. It reveals the “life experience” of the Psalmist relationship with God’s Word (Yahweh in fact)… and how it can move our focus from the turbulent world around us into a realm of peace and hope, causing us to offer up the sacrifice of praise with thankfulness… it also increase our faith, as “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” rom 10:17 nkjv

I think this Psalm covers nearly every aspect of life, life that really matters.

From the website “blueletterbible.org” we read the following:

"In this Psalm there are 8 basic words used to describe the Scriptures, God's written revelation to us:

Law (torah, used 25 times in Psalm 119): "Its parent verb means ‘teach' or ‘direct'; therefore coming from God it means both ‘law' and ‘revelation.' It can be used of a single command or of a whole body of law." (Kidner)

Word (dabar, used 24 times): The idea is of the spoken word, God's revealed word to man. "Proceeding from his mouth and revealed by him to us." (Poole)

Judgments (mispatim, used 23 times): "From shaphat, to judge, determine, regulate, order, and discern, because they judge concerning our words and works; show the rules by which they should be regulated; and cause us to discern what is right and wrong, and decide accordingly." (Clarke)

Testimonies (edut/edot, used 23 times): This word is related to the word for witness. To obey His testimonies "signifies loyalty to the terms of the covenant made between the Lord and Israel." (VanGemeren)

Commandments (miswah/miswot, used 22 times): "This word emphasizes the straight authority of what is said … the right to give orders." (Kidner)

Statutes (huqqim, used 21 times): The noun is derived from the root verb "engrave" or "inscribe"; the idea is of the written word of God and the authority of His written word. "Declaring his authority and power of giving us laws." (Poole)

Precepts (piqqudim, used 21 times): "This is a word drawn from the sphere of an officer or overseer, and man who is responsible to look closely into a situation and take action. . . . So the word points to the particular instructions of the Lord, as of one who cares about detail." (Kidner)

Word (imrah, used 19 times): Similar in meaning to dabar, yet a different term. "The ‘word' may denote anything God has spoken, commanded, or promised." (VanGemeren)"

[end quote]

Often when I read this Psalm, I think it encompasses nearly the entire conceptual teachings of the Torah (First five books of Bible)…

It reminds me of Yeshua’s answer to the Sage who asked Him which was the greatest commandment of the Torah… Mat 22:36-40 nkjv

For me, it both reprimands (corrects and challenges me), and refreshes my spirit; it never fails to cause me to marvel at the Greatness of Yahweh, and it renews my hope in the future regardless of how the “outside” looks… I come away knowing the best is yet to come.

I hope you will study this beautiful Scripture and ingest its spiritual nourishment… this link will elaborate more on it’s meaning.

Shalom… John