Author: Jon Green

The theme of all of Psalm 119, and this section in particular, is rejoicing in the law of the Lord. The author of this psalm continually rejoices in it. However, our culture doesn’t seem to share the same attitude toward the authority of Scripture. We live in a culture that celebrates rebellion. We wrongly believe that freedom is the ability to do whatever we want, whenever we want. But ultimate freedom–freedom from sin and freedom in Christ–comes in submission to a good God. He gives us the law for our protection.

God knows, even better than we do, what is good for us. He gives us His Word and teaches us that abiding by it will bring about abundant life. His instruction is good so we can rejoice in it and learn to live according to it, just as the psalmist does here. Praise the Lord for His Word, decrees, laws, and precepts! They are good and worth delighting in, meditating on, and memorizing. 

What can come of us following God’s Word? This passage tells us we will find delight (v. 35) and we will be able to walk in freedom (v. 45). Verse 52 tells us that the psalmist finds comfort in God’s Word. God’s Word is there for our good! Elsewhere in Scripture we see that God’s Word is sufficient to make us wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness (2 Timothy, 3:15-17). It teaches us and gives us encouragement and hope (Romans 15:4-5). 

In order for us to pursue holiness and live in a manner worthy of the gospel, it is essential that we know God’s Word intimately. God transforms us as we renew our mind by meditating on His Word. Jerry Bridges, in his book The Discipline of Grace, puts it this way, “I am very much aware that Scripture memorization has largely fallen by the wayside in our day… But let me say this as graciously but firmly as possible: We cannot effectively pursue holiness without the Word of God stored up in our minds where it can be used by the Holy Spirit to transform us.”

This week, we’re changing our rhythm. Normally we read one chapter a day, but this week we’re going to spread out this one chapter over the next six days. Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in all of Scripture, so squeezing it all into one day could make it hard to absorb. While we don’t know who wrote this psalm, we do know that it was written as a collection of thoughts and prayers largely focused on one main idea: God’s Word. Today, we’ll read verses 1-32. Thanks for reading along! 

To understand the importance of this psalm, one needs to grasp its place within the whole context of the Bible. This chapter has so much prophetic value that it actually contains one of the most quoted Old Testament verses in the New Testament. Psalm 115:1 is referenced in Matthew 22:43-45, Mark 12:36-37, Acts 2:34-35, 1 Corinthians 15:25, Hebrews 1:13, and Hebrews 10:13. In each of these instances, Scripture points to the authority and power of Jesus because this is at the very heart of Psalm 110. 

David prophetically starts this passage by declaring, “The Lord said to my Lord.” Years before Jesus is physically present on Earth, David speaks of God the Father speaking to God the Son (Jesus). It’s hard to overstate just how incredible it is that one thousand of years before Jesus was born, God announces His Son’s presence! We actually get some brief insight on this passage from Jesus Himself in Matthew 22. While speaking with the Pharisees, Jesus reminds them that David was “speaking by the Spirit” while writing this psalm. Through the Holy Spirit, David writes about the victory found in our Messiah. 

 It is worthwhile to note that Psalm 110 prophecies that God the Father tells Jesus to sit at his right hand. A posture of sitting displays the certainty of victory. Jesus has finished the work and now sits in victory with God the Father. Verse 4 says that He will serve as “a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” Melchizedek is a priest briefly mentioned in Genesis 14 whose name means “king of righteousness.” Jesus is the supreme King-Priest who faithfully followed God in pure righteousness. But this triumph is not for Jesus alone! Verse 3 states that we have the opportunity to willingly submit and follow Jesus. In serving Christ, we get to take part in His power and victory. Jesus’ flawless righteousness brings us salvation even though we don’t deserve it. When we allow Him to have ultimate authority in our life, we get to watch Him rule in perfect goodness and power. 

At the very beginning of this chapter, you may have seem that this psalm was written by someone named “Ethan the Ezrahite.” He was a wise Levite musician (see 1 King 4:31; 1 Chr. 15:17-18) and this is the only psalm written by him.

The two major themes that stand out in this passage are the steadfast love of the Lord and His faithfulness. Those are two truths that we can hold fast to in dark times. Even when we don’t see it, He’s working (go listen to “Way Maker” if you need a reminder). This serves as a comfort to us when we are in seasons where God feels far. These two attributes are foundational to our faith. 

We see Ethan build his psalm on those attributes of God as he focuses on God’s character (v. 5-18), His promises (v. 19-37), and then he appeals to God (v. 38-52). It is not unbiblical to appeal to God when you feel the dark clouds roll in. Don’t miss that! Because God desires a relationship with us, we can bring our burdens to Him and find rest (Matthew 11:28-30). However, we must not lose sight of who holds the universe in His mighty hand. Ethan demonstrates a posture that rightly recognizes God’s faithfulness, yet can still bring his questions to the Lord and even call Him to His promises. It is important to remember in those moments “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness” (2 Peter 3:9a).

Another point to note is that Ethan was interceding on behalf of King David. Ethan saw the darkness that David was experiencing and he came to God in order to appeal to Him. We too can and should intercede for others when we see the dark clouds rolling in. This is just another reason why it is so important for believers to live in community with other believers. We are able to intercede on behalf of our brothers and sisters and come alongside them.

Many scholars believe this psalm was written by David when the ark of the covenant, representing God’s physical presence with the Israelites, was brought into Jerusalem. The psalm gives the reader a picture of a processional: singers, musicians, women playing tambourines, all praising God and exalting the Lord. Second Samuel 6 tells us that when the ark came into the city of David that David himself led the processional, dancing with all his might. He might have even been singing some of the words of this psalm. 

Getting the ark to Jerusalem had taken many, many, many years and the only reason it could be brought into the city of God was because Israel’s enemies were finally subdued. God had given His people victory at last and, in this psalm, you can sense David’s relief and joy at God’s physical presence being returned to His people. This is a psalm of celebration and praise. 

David praises God for His mighty power. He is the one who rides in on the clouds, shakes the earth, pours down rain from the heavens, crushes his enemies and saves His people. He also praises God for His nearness. He is the one who sets the lonely in families, fathers the fatherless, defends the widow, provides for the poor, and daily bears His peoples’ burdens. And this God, who is powerful and big, but also compassionate and near, was coming even closer to His people through the ark of the covenant. And that’s why David was celebrating so animatedly. This God was coming into their city, at last! 

If only we shared that same enthusiasm! David was celebrating a box representing the presence of God being moved closer to His people. We, as believers, have the presence of God living inside us. 1 Corinthians 6:19 tells us that our bodies are God’s temples, where His Holy Spirit dwells constantly. We don’t have to wait for the ark of the covenant to come close or go to the Temple to be near God. We have access to Him at all times. The God that David praises in this Psalm is the same God living inside of us. Let’s praise God for His presence within us and take advantage of His accessibility today.

David uses this psalm to demonstrate how considering the poor can transform one’s life from the illusion of self-sufficiency to that of total dependence on God. Consideration extends beyond just a thought to wise action and intervention. 

We often think of being poor as purely a monetary or physical condition. The term poor, or poverty, does not simply refer to people in lower economic standing. There is also emotional, relational, and spiritual poverty. None of us are immune to that. Deep awareness of our deficiencies, brokenness, and our own poverty should overwhelm us with our desperate need for a savior. Once we realize that, we are better equipped to care for the needs of those around us.  

David continues in verses 5-9 to confess his fears and vulnerabilities to God. By listing rejection, ridicule, gossip, and betrayal, David effectively surrenders himself, his relationships, and situations to God as we are commanded to in Philippians 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:7. Upon realizing our own poverty and deficiency we should also confess our sins, fears, and situations to God and praise God for who He is!

Our culture glorifies individualism and self-determination. From a young age we are conditioned to believe the idea that our successes are the result of our hard work, failures are the result of our laziness, and that we can do everything on our own. But Scripture tells us that we should strive towards full dependence on God rather than ourselves. That realization points us toward our Savior and can transform our lives from self-supported poverty to God-provided blessing.  

Throughout Scripture, we see examples of God working outside the boundary of explanation: Daniel in the lion’s den, Hannah’s prayer for a child, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the fiery furnace- stories of the impossible.

Psalm 22 is quite possibly one of the best examples we have of God’s miracle-working power. Charles Spurgeon called this chapter “the Psalm of the Cross”, describing both the darkness and the glory of Jesus’ death and resurrection. He also said it should be read with reverence: “Putting off our shoes from our feet, as Moses did at the burning bush, for if there be holy ground anywhere in Scripture it is in this psalm.” This should cause us to pause and read this chapter again more closely. David continues to exemplify faith in action as he has in previous chapters, showing us his grief, honesty, and transparency–followed quickly by his praise. But, here he also gives us direct and clear signals that point to the One who would be the ultimate “But, God” story.  

Upon closer examination, we can see that verses 1-21 describe the agony that Jesus would experience. Jesus even quotes this Psalm while hanging on the cross (Matthew 27:46). Verse 15 references Jesus’ thirst on the cross (John 19:28), and verse 18 foreshadows those who cast lots for His clothing (Matthew 27:35). Did David know of what he was prophesying or was he simply faithful to speak the words that God placed on his heart? Either way, he knew his God and he trusted His word, even when he was scorned and mocked for doing so (verses 7-8). 

Do we, like David, trust God when our situation feels impossible? Are we honest and transparent with our feelings, recognizing that even David and Jesus felt forsaken by God? Things seemed impossible for them, and they were honest with God about their heartbreak. Yet, they trusted and worshipped. They knew that God sat on His throne as the Holy One, and He was not far from them. They knew that their situation was humanly impossible.  

But, God.  

There is great power in knowing the truth of God’s Word. It should be the filter through which all of our life experiences flow. Although troubling, it comes as no surprise to those familiar with Scripture that nations rage and people plot against the Lord and His anointed. In fact, Peter recalls the truths found in Psalm 2 to encourage himself and his companions in the face of great adversity. 

How many times have we found ourselves frustrated because some conflict arose when we were following Jesus with all of our heart? It can be easy to become offended by our life circumstances. Jesus Himself did only what the Father told Him to do and He was faced with great opposition, even death on the cross. Without the truth of Scripture to light our way, we may become discouraged and lose hope in this life. Time and time again God’s Word declares that He is sovereign and He is good.

Psalm 2, the first Messianic psalm pointing to a savior to come, tells of people who are raging and plotting against not only their Maker but the very One who has sacrificed everything to save them. Can we declare ourselves innocent from this hopeless attitude? Mankind momentarily thrives in the illusion of control and when we feel it slipping from our grasp we begin to plot and scheme for ways to hold on to it. Fear becomes the motivating factor in our lives rather than faith. Our thoughts and vision become blurred and we lose sight of the truth of Scripture that Jesus is enthroned in the heavens. Hebrews 12:2 reminds us that the road is not easy but we have an example of victory in Jesus Christ.

No, this life of following Jesus is not going to feel safe. But those of us who have made the Lord our refuge can live in peace knowing our destiny is secure. We don’t have to spin our wheels plotting for ways to retain “control.” God tells us, “Fear not for I am with you, be not dismayed for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10). This psalm ends with the charge to “serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling.” Fear of God doesn’t rob us of joy but instead it should drive us to Christ where there is safety. The reality of the Scriptures truly can set us free and embolden us to live a life full of joy in Christ.

This psalm, part of a section of Psalms 113-118, commentaries tell us was a song of praise sung by the Jews during Passover. This is important to understand because Jesus sang these songs on the night before He was crucified. This is the same night Judas betrayed Him and He was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane. 

Let’s look again, then, at the words Jesus was singing (v. 1) as He alone knew what the next few hours would hold: “Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but to your name give glory, because of your mercy, because of your truth.” In light of verse 1, why should the Gentiles say in verse 2: “So where is their God?”

We know from Luke 22:42 that Jesus asked God to spare Him from death. Jesus was not asking where God was at the moment. Jesus certainly was asking God to show up and change things. Don’t we all feel like that at some point, even when we have faith in who God is and where He is? Our prayers can easily become a plea for deliverance from struggle and pain.

But in the midst of those prayers, are we also giving God glory? Jesus understood exactly what torture He was facing. Yet He knew God to be merciful and truthful and believed His Father to be worthy of praise and glory. As the Enduring Word commentary explains: “Singing these words must have moved Him in a way beyond our comprehension. No soul—neither that of the composer of the song, nor that of anyone who employs it—ever entered so completely into all its deep spiritual significance, as did the soul of Jesus, as, before passing out to Olivet, to Gethsemane, to Calvary, He sang it with that little group of men.”

When we face struggles, even those that seem insurmountable on our own, we can remember who our Father is. He never changes (Malachi 3:6). He is all-knowing (Isaiah 46:10). He is with us wherever we go (Psalm 139 and Jeremiah 23). He walks the road with us to the very end. No matter what happens on earth, he is worthy of our praise and glory. He knows what is ahead, because He has already been there. We can trust Him completely.

David pours out his heart in Psalm 109. He releases his feelings, his tremendous hurt and anger toward his enemies. He uses harsh words and pleads for God’s help. Let’s not sugar-coat this. David doesn’t hold back when describing what actions he hopes God will take: Make the enemies’ days few, make their children beggars, have creditors take all they have, make it so that no one extends kindness to them, have the enemies’ names be blotted out from the next generation, clothe them with disgrace, and wrap them in shame. David was very real and very honest. It is extremely important to note, however, that David doesn’t take the action himself. He puts these thoughts, feelings, and requests into God’s hands, asking that God save him according to His unfailing love. David pours out his heart to God and then he trusts in whatever God will do next. 

Journaling is a part of many Christians’ Bible-reading and quiet time. It may include writing keywords or short phrases to record what you’re reading and learning from God’s Word, your hurts, joys, praises, or prayer requests. Other times, journaling may take on more of a diary-like process, such as writing a letter to God. Either way, there is freedom that comes from being fully, totally, completely honest with God. This honesty includes even those thoughts and feelings that we may be scared to put words to or feel guilty for feeling. We are called, however, to pour out our hearts to him. God is our refuge (Ps 62:8b). 

David’s psalm is not about requesting God to bring destruction to those with whom we disagree with or those who have hurt us, but rather to be honest and real with God. This psalm is about submitting our feelings to Him. David was brutally honest and laid his requests before God. He wanted action to come from God without taking it in his own hands. We serve a loving and just God. A God who became flesh to die for us and carry the burden of our sins on His shoulders. And with the new covenant through Jesus, we learn that we are to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44). 

So, while we should continue to be truthful and forthright with God about our feelings, and sometimes action is necessary, let’s also commit to praying for those who might fall into our “enemy” category. God holds the world and future in his hands. Often, we may need to trust in that truth and pray without any other action.