Psalm 119
Part 17
Tonight
we will be looking at Psalm 119, but it will be presented a little differently
because I am just going to give you a brief introduction to this Psalm and then
I am going to have every willing man come up here and read 8 verses. Now some
may have to come up and read 8 verses more than once, but I thought it would
make this a memorable lesson by doing it this way. Besides this is how
Scripture was taught many times during the OT times except one man usually read
the Scriptures while the other listened. I thought this would be the best way
to handle this Psalm in one lesson.
Psalm
119 is the longest chapter in the Bible as it has 176 verses. The overall theme
of this chapter is praising God for His Word and it teaches us verse after
verse how important His Word is. Our Psalm contains 22 stanzas consisting of 8 verses each. Each of the stanzas
represents the Hebrew alphabet in an acrostic pattern. The reason some believe
it was written this way was to make it easier for the Jew to memorize it. If
you will listen closely as the different men come up here to read each stanza,
the message will be easy to understand.
I will read the first 8
verses, and then I want the next man to come up and read the next 8 verses off
the screen here at the pulpit, and all of you can following along as the verses
will also appear on the screen. Every time another man comes up here, I want you
to keep in mind that they are starting a new stanza that represents another
letter in the Hebrew alphabet.
Psalm 119:1 Blessed
are the undefiled in the way, Who walk in the law of the LORD! 2 Blessed are those who
keep His testimonies, Who seek Him with the whole heart! 3 They also do no iniquity; They
walk in His ways. 4 You have
commanded us To keep Your precepts diligently. 5 Oh, that my ways were directed
To keep Your statutes! 6 Then
I would not be ashamed, When I look into all Your commandments. 7 I will praise You with
uprightness of heart, When I learn Your righteous judgments. 8 I will keep Your statutes; Oh,
do not forsake me utterly!
9
How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your
word. 10 With my whole heart
I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! 11 Your word I have hidden in my
heart, That I might not sin against You!
12 Blessed are You, O LORD! Teach me Your
statutes! 13 With my lips I
have declared All the judgments of Your mouth.
14 I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much
as in all riches. 15 I
will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways. 16 I will delight myself in Your
statutes; I will not forget Your word.
17
Deal bountifully with Your servant, That I may live and keep Your
word. 18 Open my eyes, that I
may see Wondrous things from Your law. 19
I am a stranger in the earth; Do not hide Your commandments from
me. 20 My soul breaks with
longing For Your judgments at all times.
21 You rebuke the proud -- the cursed, Who stray from Your
commandments. 22 Remove from
me reproach and contempt, For I have kept Your testimonies. 23 Princes also sit and speak
against me, But Your servant meditates on Your statutes. 24 Your testimonies also are my
delight And my counselors.
25 My soul clings to the dust; Revive
me according to Your word. 26
I have declared my ways, and You answered me; Teach me Your statutes. 27 Make me understand the way of
Your precepts; So shall I meditate on Your wondrous works. 28 My soul melts from heaviness;
Strengthen me according to Your word. 29
Remove from me the way of lying, And grant me Your law graciously. 30 I have chosen the way of truth;
Your judgments I have laid before me.
31 I cling to Your testimonies; O LORD, do not put me to
shame! 32 I will run the
course of Your commandments, For You shall enlarge my heart.
33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your
statutes, And I shall keep it to the end. 34 Give me understanding, and I
shall keep Your law; Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole
heart. 35 Make me walk in the
path of Your commandments, For I delight in it.
36 Incline my heart to Your testimonies, And not to
covetousness. 37 Turn away my
eyes from looking at worthless things, And revive me in Your way. 38 Establish Your word to Your
servant, Who is devoted to fearing You.
39 Turn away my reproach which I dread, For Your judgments are
good. 40 Behold, I long
for Your precepts; Revive me in Your righteousness.
41
Let Your mercies come also to me, O LORD -- Your salvation according to Your
word. 42 So shall I have an
answer for him who reproaches me, For I trust in Your word. 43 And take not the word of truth
utterly out of my mouth, For I have hoped in Your ordinances. 44 So shall I keep Your law
continually, Forever and ever. 45
And I will walk at liberty, For I seek Your precepts. 46 I will speak of Your
testimonies also before kings, And will not be ashamed. 47 And I will delight myself in
Your commandments, Which I love. 48
My hands also I will lift up to Your commandments, Which I love, And I will
meditate on Your statutes.
49 Remember the word to Your servant,
Upon which You have caused me to hope. 50
This is my comfort in my affliction, For Your word has given me
life. 51 The proud have me in
great derision, Yet I do not turn aside from Your law. 52 I remembered Your judgments of
old, O LORD, And have comforted myself. 53
Indignation has taken hold of me Because of the wicked, who forsake Your
law. 54 Your statutes have
been my songs In the house of my pilgrimage.
55 I remember Your name in the night, O LORD, And I keep Your
law. 56 This has become mine,
Because I kept Your precepts.
57 You are my portion, O LORD;
I have said that I would keep Your words.
58 I entreated Your favor with my whole heart; Be
merciful to me according to Your word. 59
I thought about my ways, And turned my feet to Your testimonies. 60 I made haste, and did not delay
To keep Your commandments. 61
The cords of the wicked have bound me, But I have not forgotten Your
law. 62 At midnight I will
rise to give thanks to You, Because of Your righteous judgments. 63 I am a companion of all
who fear You, And of those who keep Your precepts. 64 The earth, O LORD, is full of
Your mercy; Teach me Your statutes.
65 You have dealt well with Your
servant, O LORD, according to Your word.
66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge, For I believe Your
commandments. 67 Before I was
afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word. 68 You are good, and do
good; Teach me Your statutes. 69
The proud have forged a lie against me, But I will keep Your precepts
with my whole heart. 70
Their heart is as fat as grease, But I delight in Your law. 71 It is good for me that I
have been afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes. 72 The law of Your mouth is better
to me Than thousands of coins of gold and silver.
73 Your hands have made me and
fashioned me; Give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments. 74 Those who fear You will be glad
when they see me, Because I have hoped in Your word. 75 I know, O LORD, that Your
judgments are right, And that in faithfulness You have afflicted
me. 76 Let, I pray, Your
merciful kindness be for my comfort, According to Your word to Your
servant. 77 Let Your tender
mercies come to me, that I may live; For Your law is my delight. 78 Let the proud be ashamed, For
they treated me wrongfully with falsehood; But I will meditate on Your
precepts. 79 Let those who
fear You turn to me, Those who know Your testimonies. 80 Let my heart be blameless
regarding Your statutes, That I may not be ashamed.
81
My soul faints for Your salvation, But I hope in Your word. 82 My eyes fail from searching Your
word, Saying, "When will You comfort me?" 83 For I have become like a
wineskin in smoke, Yet I do not forget Your statutes. 84 How many are the days of
Your servant? When will You execute judgment on those who persecute me? 85 The proud have dug pits for me,
Which is not according to Your law.
86 All Your commandments are faithful; They persecute
me wrongfully; Help me! 87
They almost made an end of me on earth, But I did not forsake Your precepts. 88 Revive me according to Your
lovingkindness, So that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth.
89
Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven. 90 Your faithfulness endures to
all generations; You established the earth, and it abides. 91 They continue this day
according to Your ordinances, For all are Your servants. 92 Unless Your law had been my
delight, I would then have perished in my affliction. 93 I will never forget Your
precepts, For by them You have given me life.
94 I am Yours, save me; For I have sought Your
precepts. 95 The wicked wait
for me to destroy me, But I will consider Your testimonies. 96 I have seen the consummation of
all perfection, But Your commandment is exceedingly broad.
97
Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. 98 You, through Your commandments,
make me wiser than my enemies; For they are ever with me. 99 I have more understanding than
all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation. 100 I understand more than the
ancients, Because I keep Your precepts. 101
I have restrained my feet from every evil way, That I may keep Your word. 102 I have not departed from Your
judgments, For You Yourself have taught me.
103 How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than
honey to my mouth! 104
Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.
105
Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. 106 I have sworn and confirmed
That I will keep Your righteous judgments.
107 I am afflicted very much; Revive me, O LORD, according to
Your word. 108 Accept, I
pray, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, And teach me Your
judgments. 109 My life is continually
in my hand, Yet I do not forget Your law.
110 The wicked have laid a snare for me, Yet I have not
strayed from Your precepts. 111
Your testimonies I have taken as a heritage forever, For they are the
rejoicing of my heart. 112 I
have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes Forever, to the very end.
113 I hate the double-minded, But I love
Your law. 114 You are my
hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word. 115 Depart from me, you evildoers,
For I will keep the commandments of my God!
116 Uphold me according to Your word, that I may live; And do
not let me be ashamed of my hope. 117
Hold me up, and I shall be safe, And I shall observe Your statutes
continually. 118 You reject
all those who stray from Your statutes, For their deceit is falsehood. 119 You put away all the wicked of
the earth like dross; Therefore I love Your testimonies. 120 My flesh trembles for fear of
You, And I am afraid of Your judgments.
121 I have done justice and
righteousness; Do not leave me to my oppressors. 122 Be surety for Your servant for
good; Do not let the proud oppress me. 123
My eyes fail from seeking Your salvation And Your righteous word. 124 Deal with Your servant
according to Your mercy, And teach me Your statutes. 125 I am Your servant; Give
me understanding, That I may know Your testimonies. 126 It is time for You to
act, O LORD, For they have regarded Your law as void. 127 Therefore I love Your
commandments More than gold, yes, than fine gold! 128 Therefore all Your precepts
concerning all things I consider to be right; I hate every
false way.
129
Your testimonies are wonderful; Therefore my soul keeps them. 130 The entrance of Your words
gives light; It gives understanding to the simple. 131 I opened my mouth and panted,
For I longed for Your commandments. 132
Look upon me and be merciful to me, As Your custom is toward those who
love Your name. 133 Direct my
steps by Your word, And let no iniquity have dominion over me. 134 Redeem me from the oppression
of man, That I may keep Your precepts. 135
Make Your face shine upon Your servant, And teach me Your statutes. 136 Rivers of water run down from
my eyes, Because men do not keep Your law.
137
Righteous are You, O LORD, And upright are Your judgments. 138 Your testimonies, which You
have commanded, Are righteous and very faithful. 139 My zeal has consumed me,
Because my enemies have forgotten Your words.
140 Your word is very pure; Therefore Your servant
loves it. 141 I am small
and despised, Yet I do not forget Your precepts. 142 Your righteousness is an
everlasting righteousness, And Your law is truth. 143 Trouble and anguish have
overtaken me, Yet Your commandments are my delights. 144 The righteousness of Your
testimonies is everlasting; Give me understanding, and I shall live.
145 I cry out with my whole
heart; Hear me, O LORD! I will keep Your statutes. 146 I cry out to You; Save me, and
I will keep Your testimonies. 147
I rise before the dawning of the morning, And cry for help; I hope in Your
word. 148 My eyes are awake
through the night watches, That I may meditate on Your word. 149 Hear my voice according to
Your lovingkindness; O LORD, revive me according to Your justice. 150 They draw near who follow
after wickedness; They are far from Your law.
151 You are near, O LORD, And all Your commandments are
truth. 152 Concerning
Your testimonies, I have known of old that You have founded them forever.
153 Consider my affliction and deliver
me, For I do not forget Your law.154 Plead my cause and redeem me;
Revive me according to Your word. 155
Salvation is far from the wicked, For they do not seek Your statutes. 156 Great are Your tender
mercies, O LORD; Revive me according to Your judgments. 157 Many are my persecutors
and my enemies, Yet I do not turn from Your testimonies. 158 I see the treacherous, and am
disgusted, Because they do not keep Your word.
159 Consider how I love Your precepts; Revive me, O LORD,
according to Your lovingkindness. 160
The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous
judgments endures forever.
161
Princes persecute me without a cause, But my heart stands in awe of Your word.
162
I rejoice at Your word As one who finds great treasure. 163 I hate and abhor lying, But
I love Your law. 164
Seven times a day I praise You, Because of Your righteous judgments. 165 Great peace have those who
love Your law, And nothing causes them to stumble. 166 LORD, I hope for Your
salvation, And I do Your commandments. 167
My soul keeps Your testimonies, And I love them exceedingly. 168 I keep Your precepts and Your
testimonies, For all my ways are before You.
169 Let my cry come before You, O LORD;
Give me understanding according to Your word.
170 Let my supplication come before You; Deliver me according
to Your word. 171 My lips
shall utter praise, For You teach me Your statutes. 172 My tongue shall speak of Your
word, For all Your commandments are righteousness. 173 Let Your hand become my help,
For I have chosen Your precepts. 174
I long for Your salvation, O LORD, And Your law is my delight. 175 Let my soul live, and it shall
praise You; And let Your judgments help me.
176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; Seek Your servant,
For I do not forget Your commandments.
Offer invitation.