SOUNDING
OUT:
Psalm 119: The Basis of Blessing
As mentioned in previous Sound-Outs, Psalms 119
is divided into 22 sections of eight verses each beginning with
a different letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Each presents some
basis for the practical application of the Word of God in the
life of the believer. It demonstrates how the believer can build
a relationship with his loving heavenly Father through the greatness
of His Word. If we remember this as we study Psalm 119 it should
make an impact on our lives.
This first stanza has an obvious division. The first three
verses are general and introductory and deal with characteristics
of a blessed man. The final five verses are a dialog between the
psalmist and God on obedience the basis for blessing. The three
verse preface sets the subject and purpose of the psalm, and the
five verses that follow show how the believer can enjoy the blessing
that is presented in the introduction.
Psalm
119:1-3 ALEPH.
Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the
LORD.
2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies,
and that seek him with the whole heart.
3 They also do no iniquity: they walk
in his ways.
The
basis for blessedness in life is settled in verses one and two
and established in verse three. God’s Word is the basis
of blessing. How we respond to the commandments of the Lord form
our character and set the course of our journey in life. Walking
in the law of the Lord keeps our way, and keeping His testimonies
testifies to a heart dedicated to seeking God. Verse three then
characterizes the blessed using both the negative and positive
statements. He does no iniquity, and walks in God’s ways.
“Undefiled” in verse one is the Hebrew tamiym.
It occurs 91 times and is translated “undefiled” only
here. It is usually translated “without blemish” (44
times) or “perfect” (18 times). It carries the primary
idea of being complete, whole, entire, sound, unimpaired, and
having integrity. It has the essence of being complete and entirely
in accord with truth and fact.
Those who walk in the law of the Lord find them selves
enjoying the completeness that God’s Word provides. Like
II Timothy 3:17 which describes the purpose of God’s Word
in the New Testament, Psalms 119:1 sets its purpose in the Old
Testament, to complete and fully equipped believers for our journey
in life.
Bullinger in the Companion Bible notes that the blessedness
spoken of here is in the plural in Hebrew. He suggests the translation,
“O the great happiness.” The Emphasized Bible translates
it “How happy.” The blessedness the psalmist describes
is extreme, excessive, immoderate, or more than abundant. God’s
Word sets a standard of the abundant blessing God desires for
His people.
Psalm
119:4,5:
Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.
5 O that my ways were directed to
keep thy statutes!
Verse
four shifts from genera,l introductory statements to specific
dialog between the Psalmist and God. After verse three every verse
except 115 is directed to God. We find the psalmist developing
his personal relationship with the Lord based on the greatness
of the Word He has committed unto us. Verse four is the first
of many declarations of what God has done, and it is followed
by the psalmist’s heartfelt confession of desire to do as
God has asked. Verse four contains the first of twenty-four uses
of “O,” an interjection or exclamation of emotion
and passion for God and the things of God. How we respond to the
commandments of the Lord establishes our character and builds
strength for our journey in life.
In verses six and seven the psalmist acknowledges that
although he has begun his pursuit, he has not yet realized his
desire yet. He understands it is a process, a growth and anticipates
the benefits of having his heart’s desire fulfilled.
Psalm
119:6,7:
Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.
7 I will praise thee with uprightness
of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous
judgments.
He
declares or confesses both his desire to walk with the Lord without
any sense of shame and to freely praise Him with uprightness of
heart. He acknowledges that only by interacting with God’s
Word will he be able to realize these desires of his heart. When
he respects all of God’s commandments, he will not be ashamed.
“Respect” from the Hebrew means to “look to,”
“show regard for,” “consider,” or “pay
attention to.” This reminds me of II Timothy 2:15. When
we are diligent in doing God’s Word we can be workman who
are not ashamed. His desire to learn God’s righteous judgments,
are not primarily for personal benefit, but so that he can praise
God. His relationship with the Lord is important and valuable
to him. His knowledge of the Lord will afford him access to praise
and worship God, as He should.
This beginning stanza closes with an affirmation, a declaration
of intent and resolve. He also requests God’s gracious response
to his confession. His heartfelt reliance upon the Lord’s
help provides the foundation from which he draws the strength
to affirm his decision to act.
Psalm
119:8:
I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.
This
is the first of more than sixty requests the psalmist makes of the
Lord in Psalm 119. He trusts God will honor his request, for he
desires to do as God has directed him. God has commanded him to
keep his precepts diligently (verse 4) and the psalmist declares
his resolve to obey.
In this first stanza in the Acrostic Psalm of God’s
Word we see the basis for blessing, God’s Word, and the means
for securing the blessing obedience. The psalmist declares his resolve
to develop his relationship with the Lord through the magnificence
of His Word, and he acknowledges his reliance upon God’s help
in doing so. The relationship he is pursuing is based on God’s
goodness and His grace, and he resolves to pursue it from the very
depth of his being, drawing upon his assurance that the Lord will
help him to do as He has asked.
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