We’ve a hammock in our backyard, a wonderful place to pass some lazy hours of a day reading through the Psalms. So much encouragement and opportunity for growth in love toward the Lord awaits the child of God in this amazing collection of poetic works. Though all is beneficial, as with most things, we develop favourites. In the Psalms, my favourite is Psalm 119. From start to finish, it is a praise of God’s word. The writer encourages us to diligently examine God’s commands, and to hold them in reverence. He speaks of the comfort which is experienced by those who will trust in the Lord, and of the hope which upholds them. A distinction in character is made throughout, between those who love the law of God and those who despise the same.

The Psalm consists of 176 verses, with all but a few exceptions mentioning in some manner the word of God. Regarding the design of the Psalm,
“It is divided into twenty-two parts or stanzas, denoted by the twenty-two letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Each stanza contains eight verses, and the first letter of each verses is that which gives name to the stanza.”
(Jamieson, Fausset, Brown Commentary)

Of the phrases which are used to describe the word of God in this Psalm, it has been observed:
“There are ten words by which Divine revelation is called in this psalm, and each expresses what God expects from us, and what we may expect from him.
1. God’s law; this is enacted by him as our Sovereign.
2. His way; this is the rule of his providence.
3. His testimonies; they are solemnly declared to the world.
4. His commandments; given with authority.
5. His precepts; not left as indifferent matters to us.
6. His word, or saying; it is the declaration of his mind.
7. His judgments; framed in infinite wisdom.
8. His righteousness; it is the rule and standard of what is right.
9. His statutes; they are always binding.
10. His truth or faithfulness; it is eternal truth, it shall endure for ever.”
(Matthew Henry Concise Commentary)

Over the next 22 weeks, Lord willing, we will investigate each of these parts of Psalm 119 in detail. May we mutually profit from such an endeavour.

Click here for this week's Answering The Atheist
Must everyone die? Some Bible verses tells us that everyone will die (Romans 5:12; Hebrews 9:27), but others say that some will never die (Genesis 5:24; John 8:51; John 11:26; Hebrews 11:5). Is there a contradiction?