The shining excellence of God's word. Psalm 119
The word of God will never cease to be resplendent, perfect, excellent and a light for those who meditate on it and seek to perfect their path and actions. Psalm 119 is a poetic composition that contains in 176 verses distributed in 22 stanzas of 8 verses each, the most notable and glorious excellences of the wisdom of God, given to men as divine Law, to perfect their ways. Each stanza of this poem has as subtitle a letter of the Hebrew alphabet in an orderly fashion starting with Aleph which is the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet and so on until the end of the poem.
Enjoying the excellence of God's word is like the delicacy of a banquet, therefore, we will meditate on some stanzas of this important Psalm.
Aleph
Blessed are the perfect in the way,
those who walk in the law of the LORD.
2 Blessed are those who keep his testimonies
and seek him with their whole heart;
3 For they do no iniquity
Those who walk in his ways.
4 Thou hast commanded
That thy commandments be diligently kept.
5 Would that my ways were ordered
To keep thy statutes!
6 Then I would not be ashamed
When I keep all your commandments.
7 I will praise thee with uprightness of heart
When I learn thy righteous judgments.
8 I will keep your statutes;
Do not utterly forsake me. Psalm 119: 1-8
Imagen source
The author of Psalm 119 gives us the important teaching to consider and meditate on the Lord's commandments and to consider them so that it may go well with him on his way. Considering God's word as counsel for our life should fill us with great joy and never forget God's word. The best way to cleanse our ways is to keep the word of God. If we seek God from the heart, he will help us to keep us in a straight line and will not let us deviate from his commandments. The guarantee of keeping God's word centers on not sinning against God. Meditating on the excellence of God's word will help us to keep his judgments and commandments in our mouth. The psalmist wrote this in the second stanza of the poem, saying:
Beth
By what shall a young man cleanse his way?
By keeping thy word.
10 With my whole heart I have sought you;
that I may not stray from your commandments.
11 I have kept your words in my heart
that I may not sin against you.
12 Blessed art thou, O Lord;
teach me thy statutes.
13 With my lips have I counted
all the judgments of thy mouth.
14 I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies
more than all riches.
15 I will meditate in thy precepts
I will consider thy ways.
16 I will rejoice in thy statutes;
I will not forget your words. Psalm 119: 9-16
Imagen source
Making God's law our will leads us along the path of his commandments. If we meditate on his statutes and keep them, we will be guaranteed the gift of wisdom that comes from God and all will go well in life. God's commandments are the guide to abide in his will. The psalmist teaches us to incline our hearts to the commandments of God and not to covetousness, so that our eyes will not behold vanity, but the excellency of God's way. If we long for the commandments of God, the Lord will quicken us in his righteousness.
He
Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes,
and I will keep it to the end.
34 Give me understanding, and I will keep your law,
and I will do it with my whole heart.
35 Lead me in the path of your commandments.
For in it I have my will.
36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies
And not to covetousness.
37 Turn away my eyes from beholding vanity
quicken me in your way.
38 Confirm thy word to thy servant
who fears you.
39 Remove from me the reproach that I have feared.
for thy judgments are good.
40 Behold, I have longed for your commandments.
quicken me in your righteousness. Psalm 119: 33-40
Imagen source
Psalm 119 illustrates that God's word is a glorious lamp that illuminates our path. The brightness of the excellence of God's wisdom will illuminate our mind, soul, eyes and heart. The light of God's word will help us to turn away from all the darkness and corruption of the evil life. God wants us to keep his righteous judgments so that we will always remain under the light and brightness of his word.
Nun
Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path,
and a light to my path.
106 I have sworn and ratified
that I will keep your righteous judgments.
107 I am greatly distressed;
quicken me, O LORD, according to thy word.
108 I beseech thee, O LORD, let the willing sacrifices of my mouth be acceptable to thee,
and teach me thy judgments.
109 My life is continually in danger,
but I have not forgotten your law.
110 The wicked have laid a snare for me
But I have not turned away from your commandments.
111 I have taken your testimonies as my heritage forever.
For they are the joy of my heart.
112 I have inclined my heart to keep thy statutes
continually, even to the end. Psalm 119: 105-112
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The excellence of God's word helps us to perfect our prayer life and to ask according to God's will. In the last stanza of the poem in Psalm 119, the author tells us that God's word gives us understanding to cry out to Him. If we pray with understanding of God's word, our prayer will easily come before the throne of grace. Likewise, if we learn the statutes of the Lord, this will help us to sing with overflowing lips to our God and cause our tongue and mouth to speak only the sayings of the Lord. Meditating on Psalm 119 is broad, deep and rewarding before God.
Tau
Let my cry come before you, O Lord;
Give me understanding according to your word.
170 Let my prayer come before you;
Deliver me according to your word.
171 My lips shall overflow with praise
When thou teachest me thy statutes.
172 My tongue shall speak your words,
For all thy commandments are righteousness.
173 Let your hand be ready to help me.
For I have chosen your commandments.
174 I have desired thy salvation, O LORD,
And thy law is my delight.
175 Let my soul live, and let it praise thee,
And let thy judgments help me.
176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant,
For I have not forgotten your commandments. Psalm 119: 169-176
Imagen source
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