Good morning,
The Bible is the greatest book ever written. It tells us how the world began, how it will end, and its complete history. It tells us about life and death. It tells us why there is so much wickedness in the world. It tells us of the love of God. It explains what sin is and why we need a Savior.
The greatest chapter of the Bible dealing with God’s word is Psalm 119. The 176 verses are divided into twenty-two groups of eight verses each. The first group of eight begin with the Hebrew letter aleph. The next eight verses begin with the Hebrew letter beth. This pattern continues throughout the twenty-two letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
The focal point for the 176 verses is the Word of God. This Psalm includes seven names for the Word of God. These seven names are: “thy law,” ”thy testimonies,” “thy word,” “thy statutes,” “thy judgments,” “thy precepts,” and “thy commandments.”
Psalm 119:25-32
“My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word.26 I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes.27 Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.28 My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word.29 Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously.30 I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me.31 I have stuck unto thy testimonies: O Lord, put me not to shame.32 I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.”
The Psalmist begs God to make him alive, strengthen him, according to the word of God. The word of God is powerful. It encourages us and makes us able to stand in this world of wickedness.
He asks God to teach him and allow him to understand.
He has chosen the path of righteousness and asks God to keep him from lying. He then uses two action verbs, stuck and run. He has stuck or kept the commandments of God and desires to run to them.
Is this our commitment to God’s word? Is it our desire to understand God’s word, to keep it, to run to it? Are we willing to allow God’s word to convict us of our sin? Do we want God to remove our sin from us?
These verses challenge us to ask God for understanding of His word. To run to the word of God and keep His commandments.
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001
Leave a Reply