This is The Way – Devo Day 2

Introduction to Psalm 119

Psalm 119 is the longest Psalm and the longest chapter in the Bible. It is arranged in an acrostic pattern, structured around the Hebrew alphabet. There are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet, and this psalm contains 22 stanzas of 8 verses, featuring one letter of the alphabet. Each line in each stanza begins with a word that begins with the same letter. For instance, each of the eight verses in the first stanza (Psalm 119:1-8) begins with the Hebrew letter “Aleph’.

However, the acrostic format of the poem is lost when translated into English. For our devotional, I’ll be utilizing the English Standard Version (ESV) of the Bible for this devotional study, but I also encourage you to read the passages highlighted or referenced in your own Bible as well (so you can make notes there).

The entire Psalm is devoted to glorifying God and His Word. The author (unspecified but some believe it was David) records his delight in God’s Word. The psalm is remarkable for how often it refers to God’s written revelation, His word, referring to it in at least 171 of the 176 verses.

In Psalm 119 there are 8 basic words used to describe the Scriptures, God’s written revelation to us:

• Law (torah, used 25 times in Psalm 119): “Its parent verb means ‘teach’ or ‘direct’; therefore coming from God it means both ‘law’ and ‘revelation.’ It can be used of a single command or of a whole body of law.” (Kidner)
• Word (dabar, used 24 times): The idea is of the spoken word, God’s revealed word to man. “Proceeding from his mouth and revealed by him to us.” (Poole)
• Judgments (mispatim, used 23 times): “From shaphat, to judge, determine, regulate, order, and discern, because they judge concerning our words and works; show the rules by which they should be regulated; and cause us to discern what is right and wrong, and decide accordingly.” (Clarke)
• Testimonies (edut/edot, used 23 times): This word is related to the word for witness. To obey His testimonies “signifies loyalty to the terms of the covenant made between the Lord and Israel.” (VanGemeren)
• Commandments (miswah/miswot, used 22 times): “This word emphasizes the straight authority of what is said… the right to give orders.” (Kidner)
• Statutes (huqqim, used 21 times): The noun is derived from the root verb “engrave” or “inscribe”; the idea is of the written word of God and the authority of His written word. “Declaring his authority and power of giving us laws.” (Poole)
• Precepts (piqqudim, used 21 times): “This is a word drawn from the sphere of an officer or overseer, and man who is responsible to look closely into a situation and take action… So the word points to the particular instructions of the Lord, as of one who cares about detail.” (Kidner)
• Word (imrah, used 19 times): Similar in meaning to dabar, yet a different term. “The ‘word’ may denote anything God has spoken, commanded, or promised.” (VanGemeren)

The purpose of these daily devotionals is to help you find delight in hearing God speak to you from the Scriptures as we study together and in working to apply His Word to your life – This is The Way.

Questions to Ponder

1. Why do you think the Psalmist used so many different words to describe the Word of God?
2. Since there are so many good books to read why should you take the time to read and study God’s Word?
3. What are you hoping to get out of this daily devotion?
4. Are you willing to not only hear God’s Word but also ready to obey and incorporate it into your life?