The Truth In Print, April 2007 Vol. 13 Issue 4
The Way Of Integrity, Psalms 119
One distinction of this Psalm is its length.
And it is most likely “avoided” for that reason – vs. 2 applies, it says seek God
with the whole heart. Its peculiarity also lies in the 176 verses being divided
into twenty two sections. These sections are explained by the Psalm being an
Alphabetical Psalm, i.e. each section like the first eight verses is headed
with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet --- the first letter being Aleph for vss.
1-8, then the next letter and so on through twenty two sections.
As I drew near
to the close of the Psalm I thought in its 176 verses it teaches or preaches
itself. I wrote down eight points in verses1-8 and then kept noticing the
connection to the first eight verses throughout the Psalm.
“Aleph” Psalms 119:1-8,
“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.
[4] Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently. [5] O that my ways
were directed to keep thy statutes! [6] 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. [8] I will
keep thy statutes:
O forsake me not utterly.”
The word
undefiled (vs. 1) means complete, blameless, i.e. having
integrity. The way of integrity set forth is:
1. To walk in
the law of the Lord, vs. 1.
2. To observe His testimonies, vs. 2.
3. To seek Him
with all the heart, vs. 2.
4. To do no
unrighteousness, vs. 3.
5. To have no reason to be ashamed as one looks
into the Word, vs. 6.
6. To worship in
prayer and praise with uprightness of heart, having learned His statutes, vs.
7.
7. The desire to
learn His judgments, vs. 7. That certainly connects to having no reason to be
ashamed when we look into them.
8. The resolve to keep God’s statutes, vs. 8.
Dear reader, why
not take your Bible and set down and spend some time with each of the remaining
twenty one sections? Look closely at what is said and meditate on the
applications that relate to your own life before God a man’s judge.
Points From Each Of The Remaining 21 Sections:
“Beth” Ps. 119:9-16. God’s word sought and treasured in our heart keeps us
from sin! In our last publication we noted — ”If we delight in His statutes
then we are not going to forget them no matter what circumstance comes upon
us.” And we looked at several!
“Gimel” Psalms 119:17-24. Here the writer
desired the kind of blessings in life that would enable him to keep God’s
commands. Keeping them is the reason He gave them to us! Compare verse 4. The
life that he desire was to be able to serve God. And the blessing asked was to
be able to see the wonderful things of God’s law, for he was but a “pilgrim”
here on earth. Have you experienced what he did, i.e. the reproach that can
come as a result of longing for God’s ordinances, and keeping them, at all
times? He states “who” it is that wanders from God. Because he did not want to
wander from God the scriptures would be his counselors (lit., the men of his
counsel) to establish his ways. Compare verse 5.
“Daleth” Psalms 119:25-32 &
“He” 33-40. Here one might take some time to consider what a reproach
their own inconsistencies have been in their life. However, he made the proper
choice — the lying (29), the dishonest gain (36), the worthless things (37),
and the reproach he dreaded (39) all necessitated asking God to revive him in
His ways (37) to allow him to be free from the reproach of inconsistency. This
comes only by righteousness! And to get rid of those inconsistencies he had to
tell God of his ways (26).
“Vav” Psalms 119: 41-48. Comparing this
section with the prior there is “boldness” in serving God when there are no
inconsistencies. And being free from such reproach there is the added delight
in God’s word as a source of joy in our lives. Compare verse 6.
“Zayin” Psalms 119: 49-56. The author can
comfort himself for he saw in God’s law that God is not given to change and
always faithful to His ordinances. Remember this, what God’s word has already done
is its pledge that it will do it again when needed!
“Heth” Psalms 119:57-64. He is a companion
of all who fear God, because he considered
God’s ways and turned his feet. So did the Prodigal Son
when he was reduced to misery (Lk. 15:17-18).
“Teth” Psalms 119:65-72. He says that
after the affliction he received he learned God’s statutes. Do you think that
the affliction is part of God “making” him to understand His precepts (27) and
making him keep His statutes (35)?
“Yodh” Ps. 119:73-80 & Kaph” Ps. 119: 81-88. Read and
learn here what God tells us to do when we are persecuted with a lie. What is
beneficial to us in verse 78 when we are harmed? And what is absolutely
necessary in verse 69, else the wicked us will have cause to talk? We keep His
statutes so that we will not be ashamed (vs. 80). Verse 88 states “why” he asked for God to revive him.
“Lamedh”
Psalms 119: 89-96. Through
all the changes that come in life it is God’s Word that remains firm. Just like
the earth that He established. If the earth is still here then His promises are
still with you!
“Mem” Psalms 119: 97-104. God’s Word
“alone” can make you wise! Because God had taught him and not man he was wiser
than enemies with their carnal cunning, he had more insight than his teachers
who spent no time meditating for the right applications and timely use of the
Word, and he understood more than the aged who never matured in God’s Word.
Restraining the feet from sin is the result of knowledge applied (vs. 101).
“Nun” Psalms 119:105-112. He had
inherited God’s Word as a permanent possession even to the end. Thank God that
no man can take His Word from you!
“Samekh”
Psalms 119:113-120. Hear this, “I am afraid of your judgments.” He has this
right — instead of fearing his persecutors he fears God’s judgments.
“Ayin” Psalms 119:121-128. Hear this, “I
hate every false way!” Understand that it is on the grounds of your integrity
that you may plead to God for protecting care against the wicked.
“Pe”
Psalms 119:129-136. In answer to his prayers his hope of deliverance from man’s external
oppression (vs. 134) is founded on his deliverance from the “internal” dominion
of iniquity” (vs. 133). He grieved over the conduct of those constantly
mistreating him — not just for mistreating him but because they were violating
God’s law.
“Tsadge”
Psalms 119:137-144. Remember this — those who forget
God’s Word will become your adversary though you considered a friend not a foe.
And then your zeal for Christ will mean nothing to them!
“Ooph” Psalms 119:145-152. Here the cry for help goes with “I will observe your
statutes.” God is providing us with the things that we need to be telling Him
and meaning it when we do!
“Resh” Psalms 119:153-160. The sum of God’s
Word is truth. Consider that this is “how” we must love God’s Word. Our love of
God’s Word provides us with a basis with which to plead, while the wicked do
not keep His word.
“Shin” Psalms 119:161-168. Every day the
same process works “peace” in our lives. And that is hating falsehood, loving
the truth every day — praising God for it and thus finding peace. And nothing
shall cause these to stumble! God knows when we do His will because we rejoice
in Truth (I Cor. 13:6).
“Tav” Psalms 119:169-176. Understanding,
loving, praising and choosing God’s precepts is the basis for asking God’s hand
to be ready to help.
Conclusion: What was the life
he desired? Read again “Gimel” Psalms 119:17-24.
By
Bob Lovelace