-Psalm 119 The Longest Psalm

Psalm 119 The Longest Psalm

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Prayer and Hymn Book The Book Of Psalms is probably the most read, and the most referred to, of all the Old Testament books. Its 150 psalms express every emotion from joy to despair, from love to hate. Various situations and predicaments led ancient worshipers to use the psalms to address God, and ever since people of faith have learned from these texts how to express themselves to God through song and prayer. Some have called this Old Testament book “the prayer book of the Bible.” Others have referred to it as “the hymn book of the Bible.”

The Greek word for “psalm” refers to a song performed to the accompaniment of stringed instruments, and the word “psalter,” from the Latin, is another title for this book. In Hebrew, the original title of The Book Of Psalms was “The Book Of Praise.”

Hebrew poetry differs from English poetry. In English, traditional poetry is characterized by rhyme and rhythm. In Hebrew, the sense of thought determines the poetic form. Characteristic of this form is the matching of lines as parallel parts of a verse – the second line of a verse may echo or “second” the first. The first line makes an assertion and the second says, “Yes, and even more so!” Sometimes parallel lines and verses group together to form “stanzas.” Psalm 119 is a good example of this. Many Bible scholars feel that reading psalms from the Authorized King James Version, rather than from some of the newer translations, brings one closer to the true feeling and sense of the Hebrew poetry.

The Book Of Psalms consists of five divisions, or books: Book One includes psalms 1-41; Book Two includes psalms 42-72; Book Three includes psalms 73-89; Book Four includes psalms 90-106; Book Five includes psalms 107-150. Each book ends with a benediction giving praise and thanksgiving to God. The superscriptions, or brief titles written just above the text, offer little basis for making a determination about authorship, but may give us a hint about how ancient Israel interpreted these texts. Also, classifying the psalms according to type (i.e. praise, lament, royal, wisdom, creation, etc.) is most helpful in understanding the context or setting. Wisdom psalms, such as Psalm 119, provide wise instruction for daily living and guidance for living a full life, and a life full of God’s Word.

Praise The Word
Psalm 119 is devoted to praise of the Word of God, which it mentions in nearly every verse, under one title or another. This psalm does not have a superscription but is generally believed to have been written by David. However, others have suggested that it was written by Ezra, for use by the returned Jews, near the time of the founding of the second temple, to lead these people to better appreciate and prize the Holy Scriptures. It has also been suggested that this psalm was to be the conclusion of the whole series of psalms. Nevertheless, its main purpose is to glorify the Torah (God’s law or teaching). Almost every verse is directed to God, using many forms of petition. The writer uses synonyms for God’s Word such as: law, testimonies, precepts, judgments, commandments, statutes, sayings, word, way and path.

I Love Your Word!
Psalm 119 takes the form of a personal testimony and is designed for practical and personal improvement without reference to national or ecclesiastical matters. It is a storehouse of material for our meditation and pious devotion. The writer was so taken up with affection for God’s Word that he often would blurt out in exclamation, “O how I love Thy law!” (v. 97). Notice the following:

• I will delight myself in Thy commandments, which I have loved (v. 47)
• Thy law do I love (v. 113)
• I love Thy testimonies (v. 119)
• I love Thy commandments above gold (v. 127)
• Thy servant loveth it (v. 140)
• Consider how I love Thy precepts (v. 159)
• Thy law do I love (v. 163)
• I love them exceedingly (v. 167)

Quicken Me
It is a rewarding exercise to identify and dwell upon the keywords which occur throughout Psalm 119. Take for instance the word “quicken” which appears many times in the King James Version. In most cases the psalmist said it as a prayer to God: “quicken me” (“renew my life” in the NIV; “revive me” in the NASB). Notice the direct connection of “quicken” to the Word of God in the following verses:

• Quicken Thou me according to Thy word (v. 25)
• Quicken Thou me in Thy way (v. 37)
• Quicken me in Thy righteousness (v. 40)
• Thy word hath quickened me (v. 50)
• Quicken me after Thy lovingkindness (v. 88)
• Thou hast quickened me (v. 93)
• Quicken me, O Lord, according unto Thy word (v. 107)
• O Lord, quicken me according to Thy judgments (v. 149)
• O Lord: quicken me according to Thy judgments (v. 156)
• Quicken me, O Lord, according to Thy lovingkindness so shall I keep the testimonies of Thy mouth (v. 159)

As seen in the above verses as well as throughout this psalm, it was written out of deep and often passionate faith as well as a deep love for God’s Word.

No Idle Words
In closing, let me quote from the classic work of Charles H. Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, his introduction to Psalm 119: “Many superficial readers have imagined that it harps upon one string, and abounds in pious repetitions and redundancies; but this arises from the shallowness of the reader’s own mind. Those who have studied this divine hymn, and carefully noted each line of it, are amazed at the variety and profundity of thought. Using only a few words, the writer has produced permutations and combinations of meaning … It contains no idle words … This Psalm, like the whole Scripture which it praises, is a pearl island, or, better still, a garden of sweet flowers.”

By Ray Miller

With permission to publish by: Sam Hadley, Grace & Truth, 210 Chestnut St., Danville, IL., USA.

Website: www.gtpress.org

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