This is the longest of the Psalms within the book and the author is not known. However, a few commentators suggest it was written by Nehemiah, Ezra, or David.
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Although most judicious interpreters assign it to the times of the Babylonian captivity; yet there are so many things in it that are descriptive of David’s state, experience and affairs, that I am led to think it might have come from his pen’
This psalm which emphasises glory to God and His Word is divided into twenty-two sections, each beginning with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet, as do many other psalms, Psalm 9 / Psalm 10 / Psalm 25 / Psalm 34 / Psalm 37 / Psalm 111 / Psalm 112 / Psalm 119 / Psalm 145.
The word ‘torah’, that is, the word ‘law’ is used twenty-five times in this psalm and refers to God’s teaching. The word, ‘dabar’, that is, ’word’ is used twenty-four times in this psalm and refers to God’s spoken word.
The word ‘mispatim’, that is ‘judgements’ is used twenty-three times and refers to god’s judgments. The words ‘deut and edot’, that is, ‘testimonies’ is used twenty-three times and refer to the witness of God’s word.
The words ‘miswah and miswot’, that is ‘commandments’ is used twenty-two times and refer to the commands of God. The word ‘huqqim’ that is, ‘statutes’ is used twenty-one times and refers to God’s written word.
The word ‘piqqudim’, that is ‘precepts’ is used twenty-one times and refers to particular instructions of God. The word ‘imrah’, that is ‘word’ is used nineteen times, this word has a similar meaning to ‘imrah’ but generally means anything which God has spoken. The theme of the psalm is the glorious word, or the law of God, and our obedience to the law.
The NIV doesn’t offer a heading for this psalm, but the KJV does. Although the headings aren’t inspired by God, they are important because they give us some understanding of the Psalm and they help us to see why it was written. The headings usually tell us four things.
1. Who wrote them, probably wrote them, or possibly wrote them.
2. Information about the historical background to the Psalm. Why it was written.
3. They tell us of the tune the Psalm was written to.
4. How it was used.
The heading tells us this psalm contains sundry prayers, praises, and professions of obedience.
The psalmist begins by telling us it is those who are happy, those who keep themselves blameless in reference to their obedience to God’s law, Psalm 119:1. It’s those who are blessed who constantly seek God with all their heart, Psalm 119:2 / Deuteronomy 10:12 / Matthew 22:37. Those who are blessed are those who don’t do wrong but follow God’s ways, Psalm 119:3.
It’s those people who aren’t ashamed of being obedient to God’s ways, they are totally focused on the will of God, Psalm 119:4-6. As a result of that obedience, the psalmist would praise God, learn His laws and they would have confidence that God wouldn’t forsake them, Psalm 119:7-8.
The psalmist tells us that the only way a young person can purify their ways was by dedicating their life to God’s commandments, Psalm 119:9 / 2 Timothy 2:22. Anyone who keeps themselves close to God’s commands, decrees, statutes, and precepts will have a better chance of staying faithful to God and His ways, Psalm 119:10-16.
The closer we stay to God’s ways, the less chance there is of falling away from God and His ways, Psalm 119:10-11. When we read God’s word regularly, Psalm 119:12-13, His word helps us to remain pure in His sight, Ephesians 5:26 / John 15:3, it cleanses us and keeps us pure, John 15:3 / John 17:17.
The only way a person can really rejoice as one rejoices in great riches is to have a knowledge of God’s word and follow what they are reading, Psalm 119:14. However, we must remember not only read God’s word, but we must also listen to what it says and do it, Proverbs 2:10-12 / Matthew 4:1-10 / James 1:22.
When we meditate upon God’s word, Psalm 119:15, we will renew our minds and be spiritually transformed, Romans 12:1-2. In other words, the real joy comes when we are obedient to God’s word, Psalm 119:16.
The goal of every righteous servant is to live according to God’s statutes, Psalm 119:17, and the reward is comfort and strength. When a righteous servant commits themselves to follow God’s word, they find life, insight, and guidance.
When we read God’s word, our eyes begin to see wonderful things, Psalm 119:18. In other words, our eyes are opened, Matthew 11:25 / Acts 9:18. When we commit ourselves to God’s word, we will often feel like we’re strangers on earth, Psalm 119:19. This is because we often feel like we’re the only ones who genuinely care about God and His ways, Psalm 119:20.
The world around us is full of arrogant and accursed people, it’s filled with those who have strayed from God’s commands, Psalm 119:21, and those who slander us, Psalm 119:23. In a world like this, we all certainly need God to direct our ways through His word.
The psalmist tells us that the only way they could live in a world like this was by meditating, Psalm 119:23, and delighting in God’s decrees and allowing God’s statutes to be their counsellor, Psalm 119:24 / John 14:16.
It appears the psalmist is in deep spiritual distress, hence, why they laid low in the dust, waiting to be renewed by God’s word, Psalm 119:25. The psalmist pleads with God for help, that He will preserve their life, Psalm 119:25.
They gave an account of their lives to God and God answered them, Psalm 119:26. He wants to be taught God’s statutes, and he wants to understand God’s precepts so that he can meditate upon God’s wonderful deeds, Psalm 119:226-27.
Their soul is weary with sorrow, Psalm 119:28, hence, why they ask God that they be true to them. They don’t want to live deceitfully, Psalm 119:29 / 1 Samuel 21:2 / 1 Samuel 21:8 / 1 Samuel 27:8 / 1 Samuel 27:10, but deliberately chose to live faithfully, Psalm 119:30.
The psalmist didn’t want to be put to shame, Psalm 119:31, they wanted to gain more understanding of God’s commands, Psalm 119:32. They wanted more joy and the only way to do this was to keep very close to the commands of God.
The psalmist wants to be taught God’s decrees in order that he will follow it until the day he dies, Psalm 119:33. They wanted to understand God’s will, Psalm 119:34, but not just for knowledge’s sake, they wanted to understand it and obey it with all their heart, Psalm 119:34. They wanted God to direct their ways through His Word because that is where their delight was, Psalm 119:35.
The only way to prevent them from going after selfish gain, Psalm 119:36 / Joshua 7:21 / Numbers 22 / 2 Samuel 11:2-17 / 1 Kings 21:1-13 / 2 Peter 2:14-16, the only way to keep themselves away from focusing on worthless things, Psalm 119:37 / Numbers 15:39 / Job 31:1, was to keep their minds off the things of the world and focus on the statutes of God, Psalm 119:37 / Philippians 2:13 / Philippians 4:8 / Colossians 3:1-2.
The psalmist asks God to fulfil His promise, so that God may be feared, Psalm 119:38. In other words, they are asking God to fulfil His promise according to His word, Luke 1:38. They ask God to take away the disgrace they dread, Psalm 119:39.
These are the insults they received from others because they followed God’s commands, 2 Corinthians 12:10 / 1 Timothy 4:10 / Hebrews 13:13 / 1 Peter 4:14. The psalmist acknowledges that God’s laws are good, Psalm 119:39. He longs for God’s precepts and asks God to preserve in life in His righteousness life, Psalm 119:40.
The psalmist is seeking God’s unfailing love and salvation, Psalm 119:41, which comes through being obedient to God’s word. When they focus on God’s word and His promises found within them, they will be able to face anyone who taunts them, Psalm 119:42.
They ask God to never take His word of truth away from their mouth, Psalm 119:43 / John 17:17 / James 1:18, that is, they want to be totally committed to obeying God’s laws, Psalm 119:44, and as a result, they would walk about in freedom, Psalm 119:45 / 1 Peter 2:16.
When a person is totally free, they will be able to boldly speak to kings without being put to shame, Psalm 119:46, that is, without being intimidated. When we trust God’s word, when we put our hope in God’s word, when we obey His laws and delight in His commands, Psalm 119:47, when we love His commands and meditate upon them, Psalm 119:48, then we are blessed with a sense of security.
The psalmist is obviously feeling the pressure from those who are arrogant and wicked. They are suffering but they find hope and comfort in God’s word, Psalm 119:49. Despite the suffering he was facing from the arrogant, they continued to remain faithfully obedient to God, Psalm 119:50-51.
Their commitment to God caused them to have an anger toward the wicked, Psalm 119:53, that is, those who were disobedient. Those who forsake God’s law often lead others to do the same, Psalm 119:53 / Luke 17:1-2.
We get the impression that the more the psalmist draws closer to God’s word, the more they are aware of the sin around them. Despite being mocked, despite the wicked, the psalmist says that God’s decrees are the theme of their songs where they live, Psalm 119:54 / Acts 16:25.
The psalmist remembers God’s Name in the night so that they will keep His law, Psalm 119:55. In other words, God was constantly on their mind, Romans 10:17. Remembering God at night has been a long time practice of the psalmist, and as a result, they are able to obey His precepts, Psalm 119:56.
The psalmist had made God his portion in life, Psalm 119:57, but despite seeking God’s face, it appears that they had sinned at some point, Psalm 119:58, but repented, Psalm 119:59-60 / 2 Corinthians 7:10. This was godly repentance because immediately after repenting, they didn’t waste any time in totally committing themselves to obey God’s law, Psalm 119:60.
Despite being bound with robes by the wicked, Psalm 119:61, they didn’t blame God but continued to be faithful to Him and His laws. This is seen in that they gave thanks to God at midnight, Psalm 119:62.
He received a lot of encouragement from their friends, Psalm 119:63 / 1 Corinthians 15:33, that is, those who like them feared the Lord and follow His ways, Psalm 119:63 / Proverbs 1:7 / Proverbs 2:5 / Proverbs 9:10. The psalmist knows that the earth is filled with God’s love, Psalm 119:64 / Psalm 86:15, and wants God to teach them His decrees, Psalm 119:64.
The psalmist appears to reflect upon their life and comes to the conclusion that God has been good to them, Psalm 119:65-66, despite living in an evil world. They wanted God to teach them knowledge and good judgment, Psalm 119:66, that is, spiritual discernment, Job 34:3 / Hebrews 5:14.
They had been afflicted because they went astray, Psalm 119:67, but as a result, they drew closer to God and obey His word, Psalm 119:67 / 1 Thessalonians 3:3 / Hebrews 5:8 / Hebrews 12:11. They had been afflicted because they went astray, but as a result, they learned God’s decrees, Psalm 119:67-68. In other words, their once hard heart has now been softened by the word of God, Ephesians 4:19 / 1 Timothy 4:2.
Because they were committed to keeping God’s law, they were arrogantly smeared, Psalm 119:69-70, but because they learned that obedience to God’s laws, Psalm 119:71, was more precious than a thousand pieces of silver and gold, Psalm 119:72 / Psalm 19:7-10. God’s word was now more valuable than anything the world had to offer, Luke 16:13-15.
The psalmist reminds us that they were made and formed by God, Psalm 119:73 / Genesis 2:7 / Psalm 139:14, and since we’re created by God, it’s natural that we should allow God’s word to continue to form our souls, Hebrews 4:12.
The psalmist says that others will rejoice when they see the transformation in the psalmist’s life, Psalm 119:74 / Matthew 5:16 / Philippians 2:15. The psalmist had been afflicted by God, Psalm 119:75, and so they pray for relief from their affliction in order that they might survive their distress, Psalm 119:76.
They appeal to God’s unfailing love, faithfulness and compassion, Psalm 119:76-77, in order that God will allow them to live, Psalm 119:77 / Job 1:21 / 1 Samuel 3:18 / 2 Samuel 16:11. Their commitment to God had caused them to be persecuted by those who were arrogant, Psalm 119:78, and so, they ask that the arrogant be put to shame for wrong them without any excuse, Psalm 119:78 / Matthew 26:14-16 / Acts 5:1-11 / 1 Timothy 1:20 / 2 Timothy 4:10.
However, because of their commitment to God, Psalm 119:78, they also gained more friends, more people who were committed to God and His commands. They know if they are wholeheartedly committed to keeping God’s decrees, they will not be put to shame like the arrogant, Psalm 119:79-80.
The psalmist appears to be in some kind of trouble, they were suffering, and so, they cry out to God for salvation, Psalm 119:81. They are desperate, their eyes are failing to look for God’s promise to comfort them, Psalm 119:82 / 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 / 2 Corinthians 4:13.
Just as a wineskin gets blackened and wrinkled from smoke, Psalm 119:83, this is how they feel. In other words, their suffering is making them feel older than they actually were. They ask God to deliver them from those who arrogantly tried to persecute them by setting traps for them, Psalm 119:84-85 / 1 Samuel 28:6-7 / Jonah 4:7-9.
The traps these arrogant people are setting up weren’t in accordance with God’s law, Psalm 119:85 / Exodus 21:33-34. However, despite being persecuted for no cause, Psalm 119:86 / Psalm 35:19 / Matthew 5:10-12, the psalmist turned to God’s precepts for their deliverance, Psalm 119:87. They turned to God’s unfailing love for life, Psalm 119:88.
The psalmist appears to have been delivered from their suffering, from those who waited to destroy them and the reason for that was simply because they turned to God’s word, which is eternal and firm, Psalm 119:89-91 / Matthew 5:18 Isaiah 40:8 / Matthew 24:35 / 2 Timothy 3:16. Despite the world around them changing all the time, they received comfort from God’s unchanging Word.
It was God’s law which prevented them from perishing in their affliction, Psalm 119:92, and as a result the psalmist won’t forget God’s precepts, Psalm 119:93. He then asks God to save them because they have sought God’s precepts, Psalm 119:94. Despite the wicked are waiting to destroy them, they will ponder on God’s statutes, Psalm 119:95.
The psalmist had learned from their own personal experience, that mankind has limitations when it comes to perfection, but there are no limits, no boundaries, to perfection in God’s word, Psalm 119:96 / Psalm 18:30 / Psalm 19:7.
The psalmist’s love is clear in that they meditated upon it all day long, Psalm 119:97. Because God’s commands are always with them because they spend so much time meditating upon God’s word, they are wiser than their enemies, Psalm 119:98.
They have more insight than their teachers, the elders, Psalm 119:99-100, and those who reject God’s word, Acts 4:13. The psalmist didn’t become arrogant, thinking they knew everything, but because they feared God, they knew this was the beginning of wisdom.
It appears that the precepts of God had greater influence in their life than the traditions that had been handed to him by the teachers and elders who appear to have rejected God’s word, Psalm 119:101-102 / John 3:1-15.
The psalmist finds God’s word sweet to taste, sweeter than honey, Psalm 119:103 / Psalm 23:1-3 / Psalm 8:1 / Proverbs 27:7. As a result of tasting God’s sweet word, they made the deliberate decision not to follow every wrong path, Psalm 119:104.
The psalmist tells us that mankind can’t direct their own lives in order to please God. Mankind needs God’s word to help us live as we are supposed to, it’s God’s word which is a lamp for our feet, a light on our path, Psalm 119:105 / John 8:12. In other words, it’s God’s word which helps us live the kind of life which God wants us to live, Ephesians 4:1 / Isaiah 57:2 / Micah 6:8 / 1 John 1:7.
They had taken an oath and confirmed that they will follow God’s righteous laws, Psalm 119:106. They have suffered much and so they ask god to preserve their life, according to His word, Psalm 119:107. Because God’s word was directing the psalmist’s life, they offered freewill offerings of praise and thanksgiving, Psalm 119:108.
They openly declare that their life was totally in God’s hands, Psalm 119:109, and despite being surrounded by the wicked who try to trap them in a snare, Psalm 119:110, they have kept God’s precepts, Psalm 119:111.
God’s statutes are their heritage, and they bring joy to their heart, Psalm 119:111. They are determined to keep God’s decrees all the days of their lives, Psalm 119:112, that is, they are committed to serving God all the days of their life.
The psalmist declares that they hate those who are double-minded, Psalm 119:113, which means they are aware of the dangers these people pose to others, 1 Kings 18:21. The psalmist says that God is their refuge and shield, Psalm 119:114, that is, shelter and strength.
They found safety only in God’s word, they trusted God’s word to keep them safe from those evildoers, Psalm 119:115-116 / Matthew 4:4 / Matthew 4:7 / Matthew 4:10. They ask God to sustain, uphold, and deliver them, Psalm 119:117, so that they can live and keep their hopes alive.
The psalmist is confident that those who turn away from God’s word will come to nothing, Psalm 119:118, they will be like dross, Psalm 119:119, that is, the leftovers from the refining process, Isaiah 1:22 / Jeremiah 6:28-30 / Ezekiel 22:18-19. The psalmist is fearful of God and as a result, they stand in awe of God’s laws, Psalm 119:120.
The psalmist tells us that they were being unfairly oppressed. It was unfair because what they had done was righteous and just, Psalm 119:121-122. As a result of this unfair oppression, their eyes fail from looking for salvation and from looking for God’s religious promise, Psalm 119:123, and so, they cry out to God for help, Psalm 119:124 / Job 17:3.
It’s a sad, but the general rule is that when people do what is right, they will often receive persecution from those who are evil, Matthew 5:11 / John 15:20. When the psalmist read God’s word, they were assured that they were right and their arrogant oppressors were wrong, Psalm 119:125 / Judges 21:25.
Despite their arrogant oppressors violating God’s laws by persecuting a righteous and just servant of God, Psalm 119:126, the psalmist is determined to continue to love God’s commandments. They will love His commandments because they are more precious than gold, even pure gold, Psalm 119:127 / Matthew 6:24.
Because of God’s precepts, they are determined to hate every wrong path, Psalm 119:128, which implies they are determined not to walk on the wrong path, Matthew 7:13-14.
The psalmist tells us when they realise that God’s statutes are wonderful, they will automatically obey them, Psalm 119:129. When they open up God’s word, they find that the words give light and understanding even to the simple, Psalm 119:130, that is, the innocent. This again encourages them to obey His word.
When the psalmist opens their mouth, they pant and want more of God’s commands, Psalm 119:131. As a result, they desire to be closer to God so that they can receive God’s mercy, Psalm 119:132. They want God’s word to direct their footsteps in order that they will stay away from sin, Psalm 119:133 / Romans 6:14 / 1 Corinthians 6:12.
By being obedient to God’s word, the psalmist will find freedom from human oppression, Psalm 119:134. They want God’s face to shine on them, Psalm 119:135, that is, they want God to show favour to them so that God can teach them His decrees. Notice the psalmist is deeply moved, they are moved to tears because there are some who don’t obey God’s law, Psalm 119:136 / Matthew 23:37-39 / Mark 3:5.
The psalmist declares that God is righteous and His laws are right, Psalm 119:137, and they declare that His statutes are trustworthy, Psalm 119:138. Their zeal is wearing them out because their enemies ignore God’s word, Psalm 119:139 / Psalm 69:9 / John 2:13-17.
They acknowledge that God’s promises have been thoroughly tested, Psalm 119:140, that is, God keeps His promises, and as a result, the psalmist loves them, Psalm 119:140. It’s God’s word, which is the word of truth, 2 Corinthians 6:7. It’s God’s word, which is the word of life, Philippians 2:16, it’s God’s word, which is filled with power, Hebrews 1:3.
Despite the psalmist feeling lowly and despised, Psalm 119:141 / 1 Samuel 16:10-13 / 2 Corinthians 11, they didn’t forget God’s precepts, Psalm 119:141. They didn’t forget that God’s righteousness and law is true, Psalm 119:142 / John 18:37-38.
Despite being troubled and in distress, Psalm 119:143, the psalmist found delight in God’s commands, Psalm 119:143. God’s statutes give them understanding so that they may live, Psalm 119:144 / John 10:10.
It appears the psalmist is being oppressed, Psalm 119:145, and as a result, they wake up in the morning, Psalm 119:146-147 / Mark 1:35. They are crying out to God for help because they couldn’t sleep through the night, Psalm 119:148 / Luke 6:12.
It was during this time of oppression that they cry out to God for hope, and while meditating upon God’s promises, Psalm 119:148, they receive that much-needed hope.
They ask God to preserve their life according to God’s love and God’s law Psalm 119:149, because those who were wicked were devising evil schemes against them, Psalm 119:150. These were the wicked who had no respect for God or His laws, Psalm 119:150.
Despite what those wicked people were doing, the psalmist knew that God was near, Psalm 119:151 / Psalm 73:28 / Jeremiah 23:23, and His commands were true, Psalm 119:151. They had learned from long ago, that God established His statues to remain forever, Psalm 119:152.
The psalmist is suffering greatly and asks God to deliver them from those who had no respect for God’s law because they hadn’t forgotten God’s law, Psalm 119:153. They want God to defend their cause, Psalm 119:154 / Psalm 35:1 / Psalm 43:1 / Hosea 4:17, to redeem them and preserve their life as God has promised in His word, Psalm 119:154.
The psalmist knows that those who practise wickedness will not receive salvation, because they don’t seek God’s decrees, Psalm 119:155 / Galatians 5:19-21. God’s compassion is great, Psalm 119:156 / Isaiah 1:18 / Isaiah 43:22-25, and the psalmist asks God to preserve their life according to God’s laws, Psalm 119:156.
Despite their foes persecuting them, Psalm 119:157 / Matthew 13:20-21, they didn’t turn away from God’s statutes, Psalm 119:157. Despite their foes being faithless, and disobeying God’s word, Psalm 119:158, they love God’s precepts because they preserve their life according to God’s love, Psalm 119:159.
The psalmist knows that God’s word is true and His righteous laws are eternal, Psalm 119:160. They have complete confidence that God will defend them, redeem them and preserve their life.
The psalmist tells us that even the rulers of the land were persecuting them without any cause, nonetheless, they were more afraid of God’s word and they wouldn’t turn from it, Psalm 119:161. When they read God’s promises they rejoiced like someone who found some great buried treasure, Psalm 119:162. They hate and detest anything which is false but loves God’s law, Psalm 119:163.
They praise God seven times a day because of His righteous laws, Psalm 119:164, that is, they constantly praised God throughout the day, Leviticus 26:28. As a result of praising God, they received God’s peace, Psalm 119:165 / Philippians 4:7, and were made stronger in their faith, Psalm 119:165.
They will patiently wait on God to save them and they will continue to follow God’s commands, Psalm 119:166. They obey His statutes and love them greatly, Psalm 119:167, and they obey God’s precepts and His statutes because God knows all their ways, Psalm 119:168 / Psalm 139:1-24 / Matthew 10:30 / Hebrews 4:13.
God’s word was going to protect them from turning away from God’s righteousness and because they will obey God, they will be blessed with life, peace, strength and comfort, Nahum 1:7 / John 10:10.
The psalmist asks that his cry is heard by God and asks for understanding according to God’s word, Psalm 119:169. They also ask that their supplication be heard by God so that God would deliver them according to His promise, Psalm 119:170.
They want to praise God continually with their mouths when God teaches them His decrees, Psalm 119:171. They want to be able to sing God’s word, they want to sing of God’s righteous commands, Psalm 119:172.
They want God’s hand to be ready to help them because they have chosen God’s precepts, Psalm 119:173, that is, they have chosen to live by God’s commandments. They long for God’s salvation because it’s God’s law, which brings the delight of salvation, Psalm 119:174 / 1 Peter 1:23.
Just as a sheep strays away in the wilderness, the psalmist asks God to continue to direct them through His commandments, Psalm 119:176 / Romans 7:21. In other words, they are asking God to renew and transform their lives, Romans 12:2. The psalmist describes themselves as a servant, Psalm 119:176 / Luke 17:10, who hasn’t forgotten God’s commands, Psalm 119:176.
Someone once said, ‘The best evidence of the Bible’s being the word of God is to be found between its covers. It proves itself.’ Indeed, were it not for the proof within its pages of the inspiration that it claims for itself, the Bible would never have become the most widely circulated book in the world.
Every Christian ought not only to believe the Bible but he ought also to be able to thoroughly examine the foundation upon which that faith rests. For it we don’t know why we believe the scriptures are inspired by God’s Holy Spirit, our faith in it and in Christ himself may be uprooted by the cynicism and scepticism of adverse Biblical critics.
Christian evidences is the term usually applied to the study of reasons for believing in the inspiration of the Bible and the religion of Jesus Christ. Whole books have been written in this field, and it is impossible in the space allotted in this study to more than touch upon these things.
The student who would like to study these matters in greater detail should secure one or more of the several fine books which have been written in defence of the Bible. The Bible presents the highest standard of morality that the world has ever known.
Never has the world known a finer rule than the golden rule, Matthew 7:12. If anyone doubts the superiority of the Christian religion from a moral point of view, let him examine those countries in which the Bible has had little influence and see the degeneration of man.
The moral standard given by Christ are so superior to those of other religions that it is impossible to account for these principles except on the basis that they were divinely revealed.