The Priority of God’s Word in Psalm 119
Today’s Bible reading* is the beginning of the longest Psalm. Psalm 119 is a testimony of the priority of God’s Word for God’s people.
Over and over again, in the classic Hebrew poetry style, the psalmist uses different descriptions of God’s Word. Every verse talks of the benefits of God’s Word. He uses eight words (law, testimonies, precepts, statutes, commandments, judgments, word, and ordinances).
Psalm 119 is an acrostic from the Hebrew Alphabet in order. Each of these eight-line sections begins with a different letter. Depending on your translation, you may have seen Hebrew words or Hebrew letters (א Aleph, ב Beth, ג Gimel, ד Daleth, etc.) The first Hebrew word in each line in that section begins with that Hebrew letter. The psalmist goes through the entire Hebrew alphabet (twenty-two letters) talking about God’s Word.
He describes the benefits of God’s Word. Describes his love for God’s Word. He describes the unsurpassed value of God’s Word. And he describes the practical wisdom of God’s Word.
Application
How central is God’s Word in your life? How much do you value what God says? How often do you turn to God’s Word for insight, wisdom, comfort, guidance, or instruction? How much time do you spend reading and studying God’s Word individually and with other people? Do you find yourself preferring to spend time in God’s Word over other daily activities?
* Chapters covered in today’s reading:
Psalms 119:1-88