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If you were to ask a group of nominal Christians how they would describe the Bible, you might not have to go very far before you heard the response, “God’s rulebook.” For many people, the Bible is just a list of God’s do’s and don’ts. He doesn’t want you to cheat, steal, lust, lie, etc. These rules typically keep you from fun, but as long as you begrudgingly follow along then you get to go to Heaven.

Not only is this an uninspiring view of Scripture, it’s just not accurate. God’s rules are not to determine who is “in or out”, but rather are a guidepost to the best available life for us. Since God is the creator of life, He knows how it is best meant to be lived.  In verse 140 the psalmist writes, “Your promises have been thoroughly tested, and your servant loves them.” This isn’t how Christians typically think about God’s commands! However, the author loves God’s word because it has been tested and proven to be the path of life.  

One of the most noticeable things about this passage is the genuine joy that this writer has in following God’s commands.  It is like he has found the best way to live and eagerly desires to walk in it, while also grieving for those who are still lost. Yet many times modern Christians have the opposite reaction.  They grieve over having to follow God’s word and think they are missing out on some better way of life in which the world gets to participate.  This is just not true! As evidenced in this psalm, God’s word is wonderful (v. 129), giving light (v. 130), fully trustworthy (v. 138), righteous (v. 144), and true (v. 160).

As followers of Jesus we don’t have to do what He says, rather, we get to. We’ve been given good commands from a loving Father who wants the very best for His children. Today, use Psalm 119 as a reminder that it is a delight to follow the laws of the Lord. These commands aren’t meant to keep you from joy, but rather provide it. As verse 133 says, may we eagerly desire that God would “Direct [our] footsteps according to [His] word”.

It is clear by now that the author of Psalm 119 loves God’s Word. Throughout today’s reading, he states its many benefits: God’s word makes us wise (v. 99), teaches us how to live (v. 102), keeps us from going down the wrong path (v. 101), gives understanding (v. 100), and lights our way (v. 105). The author loves God’s Word because of how it enriches and blesses his life.

But he doesn’t utter these words without trial. The words he says here aren’t empty phrases; they’ve been tested by fire. Verses 110-128 talk about the writer’s desperate situation. He is oppressed by the wicked and overwhelmed by evil-doers who disregard God’s way. Everywhere he looks, people are walking down the wrong path. When he finds himself alone in his pursuit of God, he looks to God’s Word to sustain him (v. 116), deliver him (v. 117), and provide refuge (v. 114).

What do you do when you feel alone? What do you do when your back is against the wall? Where do you turn? The world around us is dark. At times, it’s easy to feel alone in our faith. When we do, we should follow the example of this psalmist and turn to God’s Word. Let God’s own voice remind us of who He is and who we are in Him. When we can’t find our way, let’s find comfort in the fact that what was true thousands of years ago, when the author penned this psalm, is still true today: God’s word is a lamp for our feet, a light on our path (v. 105).

Although we don’t know the exact situation this psalmist was in, we know it was dire. In verse 87 and 92 the author references he was close to death because of the affliction he was facing.  Even though he could possibly die at the hand of these afflictions, he declares in both verses “…I have not forsaken your precepts.” The author of this Psalm is so devoted to the word of God even the threat of death would not cause him to ignore its wisdom and promise.

The Good News Translation of verse 82 says, “My eyes have become strained from looking for your promise.”  Our current culture understands eye strain. Digital eye strain is a very real condition that we have all likely experienced as a result of working too long at a computer or scrolling too long on a phone. We are familiar with the blurred vision, dry eyes, or even headaches we’ve had after staring at a backlit screen for too long. But how many of us have experienced these symptoms as a result of searching diligently for promises in God’s word?

It’s the diligence of the Psalmist in not only searching for these promises, but also in believing that they will keep him afloat amidst the tumultuous battles he is facing. In these 32 verses of Psalm 119, we are given the picture of a person who is fragile and weak but:

• “but now I keep your word.” (v. 67)
• “but with my whole heart, I keep your precepts.” (v. 69)
• “but I delight in your law.” (v. 70)
• “but I have not forsaken your precepts” (v. 87)

The author is modeling 2 Corinthians 4:8-10. He is “afflicted in every way, but not cursed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.” May we follow the example of this psalmist, and be a people of faith whose eyes are strained from reading and believing the promises of God’s word and whose eyes are fixed on Jesus, even amidst the battles we face.

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.