Psalm 119:9-16

The Christian's Golden ABC of the Praise, Power, and Value of God's Word

This beautiful psalm, whose writer is not known, is divided into twenty-two sections of eight verses each. All the verses in the same paragraph open with the same letter of the Hebrew alphabet, all twenty-two letters of the Hebrew language thus being used. The outstanding characteristic of this wonderful psalm is the fact that in all but two verses (122 and 132) the Word of God is designated by some expression, such as commandments, judgments, statutes, precepts, testimonies, law, and others, all these terms being used here as synonyms, a fact which makes the psalm of direct value to all believers of all times, a manual of pious thought, especially for all teachers of the Word.

Beth. OF THE DISTINGUISHING SIGNS OF AN IRREPROACHABLE LIFE. — V. 9. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? When will it be possible for a young person, surrounded with the many temptations of youth, 2 Tim. 2, 22, to be and remain clean in his conduct? By taking heed thereto according to Thy Word, by watching carefully over every step and applying the rule of God's Word to every situation with which he is confronted.

The state of mind of such an earnest seeker after truth and holiness is now described.

V. 10. With my whole heart have I sought Thee, earnestly desiring the closest fellowship with the Lord; O let me not wander from Thy commandments, so as to lose sight of the fundamental directions for conduct.

V. 11. Thy Word, all that God had said in revealing Himself and His holy will to men, have I hid in mine heart, like a precious treasure which fills his entire inner life, that I might not sin against Thee, for sin cannot gain a foothold in a heart filled with the knowledge of God and with love for His Word.

V. 12. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, the object of the believer's joyful praise; teach me Thy statutes, for the more a Christian knows of the precepts of God's holy will, the more he desires to learn the way of sanctification. At the same time he exercises himself in confession.

V. 13. With my lips have I declared, he will solemnly proclaim, all the judgments of Thy mouth, especially those decisions of God's justice which approve of a righteous life and act as a constant spur to the faithful.

V. 14. I have rejoiced in the way of Thy testimonies, in the manner in which God has revealed Himself and all His attributes, as much as in all riches, for therein the true wealth of the faithful consists, in the active possession and in the constant use of the Word of God.

V. 15. I will meditate in Thy precepts, pondering them, mulling over them, trying to penetrate ever more deeply into their divine meaning, and have respect unto Thy ways, ever on the lookout for the paths which God's Word prescribes.

V. 16. I will delight myself, find the greatest joy, full happiness, in Thy statutes, studying the rules of God's holy will in their relation to the conduct of every person in the world; I will not forget Thy Word.

It is this rallying around the Bible which makes the individual and whole church organizations a power in the Lord.