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