Unlike most other psalms, the author did not include his name in the text. for thy judgments are good--The time must therefore be at hand when Thy justice will turn the "reproach" from Thy Church upon the world ( Isaiah 25:8 , 66:5 , Zephaniah 2:8-10 ). In the forgiveness of sins through him; a discovery and application of which yields comfort under afflictions. The theme of the verses is the prayer of one who delights in and lives by the Torah, the sacred law. Several dozen prayers are incorporated into the Psalm, e.g. Compare Paul and Silas ( Acts 16:25 ; compare Psalms 63:6 ). These he joyfully takes as his perpetual heritage, to perform the duties and receive the comforts they teach, evermore. The psalm is also chanted with special solemnity at Orthodox funeral services and on the various All-Souls Days occurring throughout the year, with "Alleluia" chanted between each verse. of Hating falsehood and loving truth, often, every day, praising God for it, they find peace and freedom from temptation. Psalm 119, like the majority of the psalms, was written to be sung as a song of praise to God. 160. So also affliction of any kind acts as a wholesome discipline in leading the pious more highly to value the truth and promises of God. "[1] The psalm is a hymn psalm. Psalm 119:76 "Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant." God's mercies and salvation, as revealed in His Word, provide hope of forgiveness for the past and security in a righteous course for the future. Delight in their company is an evidence of belonging to them ( Psalms 16:3 , Amos 3:3 , Malachi 3:16 ). Each stanza contains eight verses, and the first letter of each verse is that which gives name to the stanza. Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Proud member HENGSTENBERG translates, "snares.". All men's ways are under God's eye ( Proverbs 5:21 ); the godly alone realize the fact, and live accordingly. 140. very pure--literally, "refined," shown pure by trial. Compare as to the Lord Jesus ( Acts 10:38 ). Note: mem as a prefix to a word means “from” or “than”. Copyright © 2020, Bible Study Tools. And so on for 176 verses until we reach the end of the matter at the last tav. [21][22] The Psalm is put to music in The Book of Psalms for Worship, published by Crown and Covenant Publications. (See Psalms 35:1 , 43:1 , Micah 7:9 ). AMPC. 69, 70. 75-78. in faithfulness--that is, without in the least violating Thy faithfulness; because my sins deserved and needed fatherly chastisement. 148 Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word. upon me--opposed to hiding or averting the face (compare Psalms 25:15 , 86:6 , 102:17 ). G-d waters His people with understanding and insight. We journey through a fallen world with many dangerous pitfalls, slippery places and dark foes seeking to destroy our close fellowship with our Lord, but in Psalm 119 we are given a beautiful promise and an eternal truth.. that God's Word is a gleaming lamp to our feet, that will guide us through the darkness of this fallen world and it is a shining light to brighten the pathway we take. A man would be ashamed of his hope if it turned out that it was not based upon a sure foundation; but this will never happen in our case. In order to adhere to His word, we must seek deliverance from temptations to sin as well as from despondency. His hope of deliverance from external oppression of man ( Psalms 119:34 ) is founded on his deliverance from the internal "dominion of iniquity," in answer to his prayer ( Psalms 119:33 ). HENGSTENBERG translates more literally, "The sum of thy words is truth." "[clarification needed] Thus, God as sovereign is invoked in v.36 "Incline my heart to your testimonies", while the Psalmist also takes personal responsibility in v. 112, "I incline my heart to perform your statutes forever." Beth. This is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!" The allusion is to the lamps and torches carried at night before an Eastern caravan. The grounds for the prayer are established in the first two stanzas (alef and beth): the Torah is held up as a source of blessing and right conduct, and the psalmist pledges to dedicate himself to the law. Revive me from the death of spiritual helplessness ( Psalms 119:17 Psalms 119:25 Psalms 119:40 Psalms 119:50 , Psalms 116:3 ). It cannot be cramped within any definitions of man's dogmatical systems. (Compare Psalms 119:86 Psalms 119:87 Psalms 119:95 ). There is a tradition that King David used this psalm to teach his young son Solomon the alphabet—but not just the alphabet for writing letters: the alphabet of the spiritual life. Avoidance of sinful courses is both the effect and means of increasing in divine knowledge (compare Psalms 19:10 ). 147. prevented--literally, "came before," anticipated not only the dawn, but even the usual periods of the night; when the night watches, which might be expected to find me asleep, come, they find me awake ( Psalms 63:6 , 77:4 , Lamentations 2:19 ). The sense is substantially the same. How we need the Word of God, for it is our daily food and it is refreshment for our souls. Their antiquated spellings shown in the Authorized King James Version of 1611 were written with influences of Latin and German medieval theological scholarship—forms which greatly differ from the standard modern-day renditions. It is divided into twenty-two sections or strophes, each composed of eight lines or verses. He determines to pursue this way, relying on God's quickening power ( Psalms 119:50 ) in affliction, and a gracious acceptance of his "spiritual sacrifices of prayer and praise" ( Psalms 50:5 Psalms 50:14 Psalms 50:23 ). My tongue shall speak of thy word--literally, "answer Thy Word," that is, with praise, respond to Thy word. All rights reserved. 119:1 Happy are those whose way is blameless. 124 Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes. from the beginning--that is, "every word from Genesis (called so by the Jews from its first words, 'In the beginning') to the end of the Scriptures is true." But it rather refers to the Psalmist's own praises and prayers in the night time. We must carefully treasure up the word of God, declare it to others, meditate on it, and heartily delight in it; and then by His grace we shall act according to it. 100. more than the ancients--Antiquity is no help against stupidity, where it does not accord with God's word [LUTHER] ( Job 32:7-9 ). AMP. 17-20. This characteristic love for God's law (compare Psalms 1:2 ) ensures increase. ASV. 9. God's justice and faithfulness in His government aggravate the neglect of the wicked, and more excite the lively zeal of His people. An ardent desire (compare Psalms 56:1 Psalms 56:2 ) for spiritual enlightening, establishment in a right course, deliverance from the wicked, and evidence of God's favor is expressed I opened my mouth, and panted--as a traveller in a hot desert pants for the cooling breeze ( Psalms 63:1 , 84:2 ). But the parallel first clause in this ( Psalms 119:33 ) favors English Version ( Psalms 19:13 ). is settled in--that is, stands as firmly as the heaven in which it dwells, and whence it emanated. [5] The name of God (Yahweh/Jehovah) appears twenty-four times. 1. undefiled--literally, "complete," perfect, or sincere (compare Psalms 37:37 ). David wrote this chapter in an acrostic pattern and every letter of the alphabet is followed by 8 verses. 70. fat as grease--spiritually insensible ( Psalms 17:10 , 73:7 , Isaiah 6:10 ). 78. and so shall not be "ashamed," that is, put to shame ( Psalms 119:80 ). I forsook not--Whatever else I am forsaken of, I forsake not Thy precepts, and so am not mistaken of Thee ( Psalms 39:5 Psalms 39:13 , 2 Corinthians 4:8 2 Corinthians 4:9 ), and the injuries and insults of the wicked increase the need for it. Reading: Psalm 119:9-16. Article Images Copyright © 2020 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. If you turn to Psalm 119 in your Bible you will notice that there is a strange word every 8 verses. The Psalm does not appear to have any relation to any special occasion or interest of the Jewish Church or nation, but was evidently "intended as a manual of pious thoughts, especially for instructing the young, and its peculiar artificial structure was probably adopted to aid the memory in retaining the language.". . We learn discernment and knowledge through Him. So God's laws are the believer's songs. seek him--that is, a knowledge of Him, with desire for conformity to His will. Way and path both mean the same thing in the psalm. 74. The entrance--literally, "opening"; God's words, as an open door, let in light, or knowledge. 45-48. Submitting ourselves in depression to God, He will revive us by His promises, and lead us to declare His mercy to others. 89-91. We have been looking at the longest chapter in the Bible. 37. Summary- God’s word is central to His character.He deals with us on that basis. It can be used of a single command or of a whole body of law." (Compare Psalms 119:121-126 Psalms 119:153-155 ). [and] Therefore (repeated)--All its precepts, on all subjects, are estimable for their purity, and lead one imbued with their spirit to hate all evil ( Psalms 19:10 ). The Psalmist at times seems to appeal to God's sovereignty, "inclining his heart to the law" in contrast to the Psalmist saying "I incline my heart. upon which--rather, "Remember Thy word unto Thy servant, because," &c. So the Hebrew requires [HENGSTENBERG]. The more we keep the more we love the law of God. Psalms 119:175 Psalms 119:176 seem to sum up the petitions, confessions, and professions of the Psalm. 145-149. In ancient times, laws were put in verse, to imprint them the more on the memory of the people. 113. vain thoughts--better, "unstable persons," literally, "divided men," those of a divided, doubting mind ( James 1:8 ); "a double-minded man" [HENGSTENBERG], skeptics, or, skeptical notions as opposed to the certainty of God's word. Psalm 119:89 is a popular Nigerian praise song. In this study, our reading is the second stanza of Psalm 119 which begins with the Hebrew letter Beth. No wonder the psalm … 161-165. the way of thy statutes--that is, the way or manner of life prescribed by them. On the grounds of his integrity, desire for God's word, and covenant relation to Him, the servant of God may plead for His protecting care against the wicked, gracious guidance to the knowledge of truth, and His effective vindication of the righteous and their cause, which is also His own. Psalm 119:9- Job 1:5 5 When the days of feasting had completed their cycle, Job would send and consecrate them, rising up early in the morning and offering burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, “Perhaps my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” 149. quicken me--revive my heart according to those principles of justice, founded on Thine own nature, and revealed in Thy law, which specially set forth Thy mercy to the humble as well as justice to the wicked (compare Psalms 119:30 ). Psalm 119 is an alphabetic acrostic. hope in thy word--confidently rest on its teachings and promises. It is an alphabetic acrostic in which each group of eight verses all begin with the same letter of the Hebrew alphabet, and almost every verse focuses on the beauty of God’s Torah . In sorrow the pious heart yearns for the comforts of God's promises ( Psalms 73:26 , 84:2 ). Joyful hope goes hand in hand with fear ( Habakkuk 3:16-18 ). Psalm 119:81 "My soul fainteth for thy salvation." For the meaning of dabar (word), see verse 9 above. In addition, a section of Psalm 119 is used at Saturday Lauds in weeks 1 and 3, and another section at Vespers of Saturday of week 1. 101-104. "Alleluia" is chanted between the verses to signify the victory over death accomplished by Christ's death and Resurrection, and the eternal reward promised to the faithful. The Psalm contains several dozen prayers and several themes run through it. The psalm comprises an entire Kathisma (division of the Psalter) in Orthodox liturgical practice. Verse 122 is recited prior to the shofar blowing on Rosh Hashanah. 115-117. The way of the Lord is lit up with the Light of Jesus. The Word of God admits of no eclecticism; its least title is perfect ( Psalms 12:6 , Matthew 5:17-19 ). It is also used on five days of Year I of the two-year cycle of Ordinary Time weekday readings[a] and fifteen days of Year II. A complete English version of Psalm 119 from the King James Bible was completed by Frederick Steinruck, Michael Misiaszek, and Michael Owens. Psalm 119 is the 119th psalm of the Book of Psalms, generally known in English by its first verse, in the King James Version, "Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord." The writer desires God's favor, that he may praise Him for His truth, confesses that he has erred, but, in the midst of all his wanderings and adversities, professes an abiding attachment to the revealed Word of God, the theme of such repeated eulogies, and the recognized source of such great and … These terms are of various derivations, but here used, for the most part, synonymously, though the use of a variety of terms seems designed, in order to express better the several aspects in which our relations to the revealed word of God are presented. . 118-120. 56. 2. testimonies--The word of God is so called, because in it He testifies for truth and against sin. The Bible is the key of all knowledge, the history of the world, past, present, and to come ( Psalms 111:10 ). "Thy Word is nothing but truth" [LUTHER]. Such was the national covenant at Sinai and in the fields of Moab. Rather, "This is peculiarly mine (literally, to me), that I keep Thy precepts" [HENGSTENBERG and MAURER]. The Masoretes (a group of Jewish scholars between the 6 th and 10 th centuries AD) said that the word of God is mentioned in every verse except Psalm 119:122. 165. nothing shall offend them--or, "cause them to offend" (compare Margin). (A few other psalms are written in this manner as well, but Psalm 119 is the best example.) Not only the sinner before conversion, but the believer after conversion, is unable to recover himself; but the latter, after temporary wandering, knows to whom to look for restoration. KJ21. 105. The earth, O Jehovah, is full of thy lovingkindness: Teach me thy statutes. Mine eyes fail for thy word--that is, with yearning desire for Thy word. Saturday of week 4, Monday of week 6, Friday of week 9, Wednesday of week 12, Friday of week 13, Monday of week 18, Tuesday of week 19, Monday of week 22, Tuesday and Wednesday of week 25, Saturday of week 26, Tuesday of week 28, Friday of week 29, Friday of week 32, Friday of week 33. reform of the Roman Breviary by Pope Pius X, "The Book of Psalms for Worship, Psalter, Book of Psalms", Psalm 119 – The Greatness and Glory of God's Word, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Psalm_119&oldid=982520565, Wikipedia articles needing clarification from February 2014, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Verses 89–91 are recited during the blessings before the. lift up unto . 169,170. HENGSTENBERG translates, "They stand for thy judgment," that is, ready, as obedient servants, to execute them. 102:17 ) and the tauntings of the fulfilment of the morning, and I shall keep commandments..., not noticing evil. nine letters of the first letter of Orthodox! 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