Psalm 119: Wrapup

So did you remember the 7 words referring to God's word? Let's look back on something we read before we got to Psalm 119.

¹⁶All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

• What is God's word useful for
• teaching
• rebuking
• correcting
• training in righteousness
• equipping the man of God for good works
• What are some of the other things that we read about in Psalm 119?
• promoting the fear of God
• helping us live pure lives
• comforting us when dealing with bad people
• comforting us when we're not happy
• focusing on what God wants us to do
• living boldly
• growing when we're afflicted
• benefitting others
• helps us when waiting
• God's word is eternal
• making us wise
• guiding our path
• God's word is to be greatly desired
• God's word is right and trustworthy
• we can put our hope in God's word when crying out for help
• What have you learned about God's word

Psalm 119: A look back

Do you realize that it was over a month ago that we started Psalm 119? Today (and tomorrow) we are going to take a look back at some of the things that we've learned.

• What was the main focus of Psalm 119? God's word or law
• How many of the different words referring to God's word can you remember?
• commands
• decrees
• law or laws
• precepts
• promises (or promise or promised)
• statutes
• word or words
• Which is mentioned most frequently? law or laws is mentioned 45 times
• All of these words, except promise, are mentioned at least 20 times. Promise is only mentioned 14 times. All total, these words are mentioned 177 times. Since there are only 176 verses, you can see that this is the central theme to Psalm.
• What are some of the things the Psalmist is going to do that were mentioned over and over?
• obey - mentioned 17 times
• meditate - mentioned 8 times
• praise - mentioned 6 times

¹⁵ I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.

¹⁶ I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.

Psalm 119:15-16

• When you think about God and His law, what are some things you think about?
• What are some ways that you want to focus on (not neglect) God's Word?

Taw

We come now to Taw the last letter in the acrostic in Psalm 119. We've learned a lot about God's Word by reading His Word. We'll review some of what we learned the rest of the week, but today let's look at some of the psalmist's closing thoughts.

¹⁶⁹ May my cry come before you, O LORD; give me understanding according to your word.

¹⁷⁰ May my supplication come before you; deliver me according to your promise.

¹⁷¹ May my lips overflow with praise, for you teach me your decrees.

¹⁷² May my tongue sing of your word, for all your commands are righteous.

¹⁷³ May your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts.

¹⁷⁴ I long for your salvation, O LORD, and your law is my delight.

¹⁷⁵ Let me live that I may praise you, and may your laws sustain me.

¹⁷⁶ I have strayed like a lost sheep. Seek your servant, for I have not forgotten your commands.

Psalm 119:169-176

Discussion Questions

• What are some of his closing thoughts?
• He wants understanding (v. 169)
• He humbles himself before God (supplication) (v. 170)
• He praises God (v. 171)
• He sings of God's word (v. 172)
• He has chosen God (v. 173)
• He delights in the law (v. 174)

Let's look at one of Jesus' parables:

¹²"What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? ¹³And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. ¹⁴In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.

Matthew 18:12-14

• He's a lost sheep who hasn't forgotten God's word. (v. 176) Will God take him back?

Now let's look at a passage in Romans.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.

Romans 12:1

• The Psalmist wants his life to praise God. In Romans our lives are supposed to worship God. Should our attitude be like the psalmists?
• How do we know we can do this? His word sustains us.
• Food also sustains us. But what must we do for it to sustain us? Eat it
• Can we just eat once and that will be enough? No, we must eat multiple times every day.
• Should we then read God's Word every day?

Sin and Shin

We are almost to end of Psalm 119. It's been a long time that we've been looking at it, but it's been well worth the time that we've spent on it. Today we come to Sin and Shin. Here we read about how God's word is to be highly treasured and loved. We saw some of this last week and today we see more of how the psalmist loves God's word. Let's read.

¹⁶¹ Rulers persecute me without cause, but my heart trembles at your word.

¹⁶² I rejoice in your promise like one who finds great spoil.

¹⁶³ I hate and abhor falsehood but I love your law.

¹⁶⁴ Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous laws.

¹⁶⁵ Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.

¹⁶⁶ I wait for your salvation, O LORD, and I follow your commands.

¹⁶⁷ I obey your statutes, for I love them greatly.

¹⁶⁸ I obey your precepts and your statutes, for all my ways are known to you.

Psalm 119:161-168

Discussion Question

• What are some of the things we read here that tellof how the psalmist feels about God's Word? Let's look at them and you tell me what they mean...
• My heart trembles at Your Word (v. 161)
• I rejoice in Your promise like one who finds great spoil. (v. 162)
• I love your law. (v. 163)
• Seven times a day, I praise You for Your righteous laws. (v. 164)
• Great peace for those who love Your law. (v. 165)
• I love them greatly. (v. 167)
• Now let's look at two of these and dig into what they are saying.
• I rejoice in your promise like one who finds great spoil. (v. 162) He finds great spoil.
• Do you remember in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull how excited Mac was when they found all of the treasure at the end? Mac was os enamored of th treasure that it cost him his life.
• Can you think of a time when you found great spoil?
• How did you feel when you got your new Bibles? Did you rejoice?
• Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous laws. (v. 164) Seven times a day
• Do you eat seven times a day?
• Do you play with legos seven times a day?
• Do you play Wii seven times a day?
• Do you suppose this indicates the Psalmist is constantly praising God?
• Do you suppose the psalmist really, really loves God's word?
• Why does the psalmist say he will obey God's Word?
• He loves it
• All of his ways are known to God

Remember God's Word is a valuable treasure that you should love and obey. But also remember God is watching you.

Resh

We've got just a few more days to go before we finish up our journey through Psalm 119. In today's study we come to the letter resh. We once again see the psalmist contrasting himself with the wicked people around him and wanting his life to be preserved. Let's read.

¹⁵³ Look upon my suffering and deliver me, for I have not forgotten your law.

¹⁵⁴ Defend my cause and redeem me; preserve my life according to your promise.

¹⁵⁵ Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek out your decrees.

¹⁵⁶ Your compassion is great, O LORD; preserve my life according to your laws.

¹⁵⁷ Many are the foes who persecute me, but I have not turned from your statutes.

¹⁵⁸ I look on the faithless with loathing, for they do not obey your word.

¹⁵⁹ See how I love your precepts; preserve my life, O LORD, according to your love.

¹⁶⁰ All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal.

Psalm 119:153-160

Before we get to our discussion questions, I want to do something a little different. First, I want to look at a few of these verses from a different translation - the Amplified Bible.

We will see here how different translators bring out different aspects of the text. Sometimes this can be helpful for understanding the message of the text. Consider when you're playing Star Wars Lego on the Wii. There's a weapon that you call a "meter." When you boys are playing and talking about meters, you each know what the other is talking about. To me, a meter might be a parking meter where you would put money in to pay for parking or the primary unit of linear measure in the metric system. If you only knew about your "meter" then you might be confused if I told Mommy about having to keep going out every 15 minutes to feed the meter. But if instead I said I had to keep going out every 15 minutes to pay for parking, you might understand better. By looking at a different translation, you might better understand a passage of Scripture or you might respond to it differently.

¹⁵³ Consider my affliction and deliver me, for I do not forget Your law.

¹⁵⁴ Plead my cause and redeem me; revive me and give me life according to Your word.

¹⁵⁵ Salvation is far from the wicked, for they seek not nor hunger for Your statutes.

¹⁵⁶ Great are Your tender mercy and loving-kindness, O Lord; give me life according to Your ordinances.

Psalm 119:153-156 (Amplified Bible)

Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation

Now, I will admit that when I read this text in the Amplified Bible, something clicked that hadn't when just reading it in the NIV or the NIrV. I recognized it as being the inspiration for the song "Revive Me" by Jeremy Camp which we have heard sung in church a couple of times. When you hear the words sung, you may get yet a different impression of this passage of Scripture because of the way emotion can be communicated through the singing. So, let's listen to the song.

Discussion Questions

• Which did you like best? The NIV, the Amplified, or the song?
• I know my impressions of greatly differed between the NIV and the song. The song doesn't have all of the words in the text and chooses words to help focus on the theme. Did you get different impressions from the different versions?
• We've talked before about how singing God's word is valuable. Do you think that this song is a good example of singing God's word?
• Though the full text in the Bible that we read touches on several themes, what is the theme that you hear in the song?


• Do you think that this song is a good representation of this part of Psalm 119 or do you think it misses? Or in other words, do you think the theme in the song is found in the text?
• Did you find it refreshing today to look at this text differently by using another translation and using a song?

Qoph

Today we come to qoph in our journey through Psalm 119. The theme that I want to look at today is that when we call out for help, we can put our hope in God's word. So, let's read!

¹⁴⁵ I call with all my heart; answer me, O LORD, and I will obey your decrees.

¹⁴⁶ I call out to you; save me and I will keep your statutes.

¹⁴⁷ I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word.

¹⁴⁸ My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises.

¹⁴⁹ Hear my voice in accordance with your love; preserve my life, O LORD, according to your laws.

¹⁵⁰ Those who devise wicked schemes are near, but they are far from your law.

¹⁵¹ Yet you are near, O LORD, and all your commands are true.

¹⁵² Long ago I learned from your statutes that you established them to last forever.

Psalm 119:145-152

Discussion Questions

• The psalmist is calling out for help. To whom?
• The first two verses may sound a little different from what we've read before. But really they are not. The psalmist isn't really saying that he expects God to answer and then after God has answered he will obey. Rather, he is saying that he expects God to answer and while he is still waiting for the answer, he will obey. (v. 145-146)
• How urgent is his cry for help? Urgent enough, that he's getting up early to cry for help (v. 147)
• In what is he placing his hope (a wish and expecting the wish will be fulfilled)? God's word (v. 147)
• How important is it to the psalmist to focus on God's word? He is staying up all night meditating on God's word (v. 148)
• Who is it that is causing him to cry out for help? those who devise wicked schemes (v. 150)
• How is he comforted?
• God is near (v. 151)
• God's word is true (v. 151)
• He has learned from God's loaw (v. 152)
• He knows that God's laws will last forever (v. 152)

Tsadhe

We now come to the Hebrew letter Tsadhe. Today, we read about how God's word is right and trustworthy. In the Hebrew, we can translate righteous/right as what is right or just or normal, rightness, justness (of weights and measures) or straight, upright, correct, right. When we read trustworthy, the original Hebrew can be translated as firmness, faithfulness, truth, fidelity, steadfastness, steadiness. Count how many times right or righteous is mentioned. Count how many times words meaning trustworthy are mentioned. Let's read!

¹³⁷ Righteous are you, O LORD, and your laws are right.

¹³⁸ The statutes you have laid down are righteous; they are fully trustworthy.

¹³⁹ My zeal wears me out, for my enemies ignore your words.

¹⁴⁰ Your promises have been thoroughly tested, and your servant loves them.

¹⁴¹ Though I am lowly and despised, I do not forget your precepts.

¹⁴² Your righteousness is everlasting and your law is true.

¹⁴³ Trouble and distress have come upon me, but your commands are my delight.

¹⁴⁴ Your statutes are forever right; give me understanding that I may live.

Psalm 119:137-144

Discussion Questions

• How many times was right or righteousness mentioned? 5 Define it
• How many times were words meaning trustworthy mentioned? 2 Define it
• Do you think if these are repeated over and over they are important?
• What does the Psalmist say about how he feels about God's word?
• He loves it (v. 140)
• He delights in it (v. 143)
• What are some situations the Psalmist says God's word helps him?
• when people don't like him (v. 141)
• when he's having trouble (v. 143)
• How does he know God's word will help him? it is right and trustworthy
• Do you think God's word can help you? When?

Pe

As we continue our journey through Psalm 119, we come to the Hebrew letter Pe. Here, we readed about how God's word is to be greatly desired. Can you remember the feeling on Christmas morning or your birthday when you are about to open a present? Can you recall the excitement as you start to rip away the paper and try and figure out what the present is? This is how the psalmist feels about God's word. Let's read!

¹²⁹ Your statutes are wonderful; therefore I obey them.

¹³⁰ The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.

¹³¹ I open my mouth and pant, longing for your commands.

¹³² Turn to me and have mercy on me, as you always do to those who love your name.

¹³³ Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me.

¹³⁴ Redeem me from the oppression of men, that I may obey your precepts.

¹³⁵ Make your face shine upon your servant and teach me your decrees.

¹³⁶ Streams of tears flow from my eyes, for your law is not obeyed.

Psalm 119:128-136

Discussion Questions

• What is the best gift you ever got? Did you know what it was beforehand?
• What did you think about that gift? Was it bad, okay, or wonderful?
• How did the psalmist feel about God's word? (v. 129)
• How did you feel as you were unwrapping this gift?
• The psalmist talks about the unfolding of God's word. This means opening up of or beginning to understand God's word. Do you think he was excited by it? (v. 130)
• Reading verse 131, how do you think the Psalmist felt about God's word? Bored, sad, exicted? Why?
• If we can agree that the Psalmist thought God's word was a wonderful gift (that keeps on giving!) what are some of the things he did as a response?
• he obeyed (v. 129, 134)
• he followed the right path (v. 130)
• he learned (v. 135)
• he was saddened when people disobeyed (v.136)

Ayin

As we continue our journey through Psalm 119, we come to Ayin the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The theme I want to touch on today is this: When faced with multiple paths, hate the wrong ones. In light of what we read yesterday about people who stray from the path and the day before about how God's word is a light to our path, we know the importance of the right path. But sometimes we are tempted by other paths that may not be the right path. So, let's read.

¹²¹ I have done what is righteous and just; do not leave me to my oppressors.

¹²² Ensure your servant's well-being; let not the arrogant oppress me.

¹²³ My eyes fail, looking for your salvation, looking for your righteous promise.

¹²⁴ Deal with your servant according to your love and teach me your decrees.

¹²⁵ I am your servant; give me discernment that I may understand your statutes.

¹²⁶ It is time for you to act, O LORD; your law is being broken.

¹²⁷ Because I love your commands more than gold, more than pure gold,

¹²⁸ and because I consider all your precepts right, I hate every wrong path.

Psalm 119:121-128

Discussion Questions

• Before we look at how the Psalmist hates the wrong paths, we need to see where he is first.
• He is living a "good" life
• doing what is righteous and just (v. 121)
• serving God (v. 125)
• wanting to understand God's laws (v. 125)
• He is looking to God
• looking for God's salvation and promise (v. 123)
• looking for God to respond to bad people(v. 126)
• He is motivated by God's word
• He loves God's commands (v. 127)
• God's word is valuable to Him (v. 127)
• He considers God's word right - as in the right path, a straight, level path
• As a result of living a life obedient to God, looking to God, and realizing that God's word points to the right path, he hates the wrong paths. It is important to note:
• Hate - literally means to hate. Not "not like as much as the other" and not "slightly dislike" and not "dislike", but hate!
• wrong - translated elsewhere as false meaning a lie, deception, disappointment, falsehood
• path - way, path, road, passing of life, way of living

Nun

Now we come to Nun. Today, we're going to do things just a little bit different. We'll be having some discussion questions before we do our reading and then we'll have more after we do our reading. But, anyway, back to nun, the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet. In this section we see that God's word guides us. God's word helps us to know where to go and keeps us heading in the right direction.

Discussion Questions

• If you are walking through the woods in the dark, what tool would you want with you? A flashlight?
• If there's a path through the woods, would you want to stay on it?
• If you are walking in the dark and drop your favorite toy, what would you do?
• If you are walking in the woods at night and hear a strange noise off the path, what would you do?
• If you're walking at night in the dark, do you think you should remember your flashlight?

Now, keeping in mind that God's word guides us, listen as we read for how God's word keeps us on the right path.

¹⁰⁵ Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.

¹⁰⁶ I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous laws.

¹⁰⁷ I have suffered much; preserve my life, O LORD, according to your word.

¹⁰⁸ Accept, O LORD, the willing praise of my mouth, and teach me your laws.

¹⁰⁹ Though I constantly take my life in my hands, I will not forget your law.

¹¹⁰ The wicked have set a snare for me, but I have not strayed from your precepts.

¹¹¹ Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart.

¹¹² My heart is set on keeping your decrees to the very end.

Psalm 119:105-112

Discussion Questions

• Based on verse 105, what would you compare God's word to?
• Does the Psalmist plan to stay on the path? How? (v. 106)
• The Psalmist is suffering and worried about losing his life. How does he expect to not lose it? (v. 107)
• The wicked are out to get him. What does he do? (v. 110)
• How do we know he'll have his "flashlight" with him? (v. 109)
• How does he plan on staying on the path? (v. 112)

Mem

Mem is the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet that we come to in Psalm 119. In this section of Psalm 119, we read about how God's word makes us wise. Webster.com defines wise (adj) as "characterized by wisdom : marked by deep understanding, keen discernment, and a capacity for sound judgment." For our purposes, we can think of it as being smart, having common sense, having good judgement, making good decisions, having insight into and understanding about things. Listen for some of these words and concepts as we read. Also, pay attention to how the Psalmist has to do things (put effort into) in order to gain some benefit (get something out of it) from God's word.

⁹⁷ Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.

⁹⁸ Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me.

⁹⁹ I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes.

¹⁰⁰ I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts.

¹⁰¹ I have kept my feet from every evil path so that I might obey your word.

¹⁰² I have not departed from your laws, for you yourself have taught me.

¹⁰³ How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

¹⁰⁴ I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path.

Psalm 119:97-104

Discussion Questions

• What does the Psalmist put into God's word? What does he do with it?
• He loves it (v. 97)
• He meditates on it (v. 97, 99)
• He obeys it (v. 98)
• He statys away from evil (v. 101)
• He doesn't depart from the law (v. 102)
• He "eats" or consumes it (v. 103)
• What does he get out of God's law?
• made wise (v. 98)
• insight (v. 99)
• understanding (v. 100, 104)
• able to obey (v. 101)
• learned it (v. 102)
• gains pleasure from it (v. 103)
• What do you want to put into learning God's word?
• memorizing?
• meditating?
• praying?
• singing?

Lamedh

Today, we're finally moving into the second half of Psalm 119. Today's letter is Lamedh. In this section, we read about how God's word is eternal.

⁸⁹ Your word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.

⁹⁰ Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures.

⁹¹ Your laws endure to this day, for all things serve you.

⁹² If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.

⁹³ I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have preserved my life.

⁹⁴ Save me, for I am yours; I have sought out your precepts.

⁹⁵ The wicked are waiting to destroy me, but I will ponder your statutes.

⁹⁶ To all perfection I see a limit; but your commands are boundless.

Psalm 119:89-96

Discussion Questions

• How long is it until Christmas? less than two months
• How long have you been alive? Is that longer than until Christmas?
• How long has Daddy been alive? Is that longer? What about Grandpa?
• How long is eternity?
• God's word is eternal. What does that mean? How long has it been around? How long will it last? (Verse 89)
• What about God's faithfulness? It's eternal too (Verse 90)
• What about God's law? It's eternal, too (Verse 91)
• The psalmist would have perished in his affliction if he had not delighted in God's law. Why? He probably realized God's law would last long after his affliction was over. (Verse 92)
• The psalmist sees a limit (end) to everything but what? God's law (Verse 96)
• Does keeping in mid the eternalness of God's word help you realize how short any of your waiting is?

Kaph

As we continue our journey through Psalm 119, we come to the halfway point: the Hebrew letter Kaph. As with each section, we're looking at this section and looking into a theme in the section. This section talks about how God's word helps us in waiting.

⁸¹ My soul faints with longing for your salvation, but I have put my hope in your word.

⁸² My eyes fail, looking for your promise; I say, "When will you comfort me?"

⁸³ Though I am like a wineskin in the smoke, I do not forget your decrees.

⁸⁴ How long must your servant wait? When will you punish my persecutors?

⁸⁵ The arrogant dig pitfalls for me, contrary to your law.

⁸⁶ All your commands are trustworthy; help me, for men persecute me without cause.

⁸⁷ They almost wiped me from the earth, but I have not forsaken your precepts.

⁸⁸ Preserve my life according to your love, and I will obey the statutes of your mouth.

Psalm 119:81-88

Discussion Questions

• Do you sometimes find it hard to wait?
• The psalmist is waiting for something. What is he waiting for? salvation (from his affliction) (Verse 81)
• Hope, we defined last week, is "wishing and expecting that wish to be fulfilled." What has the psalmist placed his home in? God's word (Verse 81)
• Does it seem like the psalmist has waited a long time? (verses 82,83,84, 87)
• How does he handle the waiting?
• Remembering God's law (Verse 83)
• Remembering God's word is trustworthy (Verse 86)
• Not forsaking (turning away from) God's law (Verse 87)
• Obeying God's law (Verse 88)
• What can you do to help you wait on God?
• Reciting scripture
• Memorizing scripture
• Meditating on scripture
• Singing scripture

Yodh

We continue our journey through Psalm 119 and now we come to Yodh. Today's section continues some with the them of affliction, but expands on it to show how we can use God's word to benefit other people.

⁷³ Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding to learn your commands.

⁷⁴ May those who fear you rejoice when they see me, for I have put my hope in your word.

⁷⁵ I know, O LORD, that your laws are righteous, and in faithfulness you have afflicted me.

⁷⁶ May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant.

⁷⁷ Let your compassion come to me that I may live, for your law is my delight.

⁷⁸ May the arrogant be put to shame for wronging me without cause; but I will meditate on your precepts.

⁷⁹ May those who fear you turn to me, those who understand your statutes.

⁸⁰ May my heart be blameless toward your decrees, that I may not be put to shame.

Psalm 119:73-80

Discussion Questions

• We see a little more about affliction in this section. Here, what does the Psalmist say happened? Proud people have treated him badly without any reason (Verse 78)
• What is his response to this? Meditating on God's law (Verse 78)
• Does he blame God for his affliction? No, he know God is being faithful (Verse 75)
• What does he know God's word promises for his comfort and continued life? God's unfailing love and compassion (Verses 76-77)
• Backing up a little bit, why does he want to learn God's commands? Because God created him. (Verse 73)
• When he is around others that love God, what does he want?
• He wants them to be joyful because his hope is in God's word (Vers 74)
• He wants to teach them God's laws (Verse 79)
• How does he expect to remain blameless? By following God's law (Verse 80)
• Do you want to take what you have learned from God's word and share it with others like the Psalmist does?
• How would you like to do so?

Teth

Today we continue on with the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet: Teth. The theme I want to look at today is how the word of God helps us grow when we are afflicted. To be afflicted means to be distressed so severely as to cause persistent suffering or anguish. The root word in Hebrew means to be brought low, humbled. In other words, something bad has happened to the Psalmist where, though his life had been good and people looked up to him and respected, he was made to be low where people looked down on him and turned away from him. Pay attention in this passage to what the word of God meant to him.

⁶⁵ Do good to your servant according to your word, O LORD.

⁶⁶ Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I believe in your commands.

⁶⁷ Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word.

⁶⁸ You are good, and what you do is good; teach me your decrees.

⁶⁹ Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies, I keep your precepts with all my heart.

⁷⁰ Their hearts are callous and unfeeling, but I delight in your law.

⁷¹ It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.

⁷² The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.

Psalm 119:65-72

Discussion Questions

• How do you think the Psalmist was afflicted? People told lies about him. (Verse 69)
• What was his life like before he was afflicted? He didn't obey God's laws. (Verse 67)
• As he wrote this, his affliction was probably over (although not necessarily so). What did the Psalmist think of it? It was good that he was afflicted. (Verse 71)
• What was the benefit of his being afflicted? He learned God's laws. (Verse 71)
• What are some things that he learned from God's law as the result of his affliction?
• God would do good for him. (Verse 65)
• Knowledge and good judgement (Verse 66)
• God is good and does good (Verse 68)
• How does he feel about God's law now?
• He delights in it (Verse 70)
• It is worth more to him than thousands of pieces of silver and gold (Verse 72)

Heth

So we've spent some time so far looking at Psalm 119. We've seen several themes of how God's word relates to our lives. These include:

• the word of God promotes the fear of God
• the word of God helps us to live pure lives
• the word of God helps us when people are doing or saying bad things to us
• the word of God helps us when we're not happy
• the word of God helps us focus on what God wants us to do
• the word of God helps us to live boldly
• the word of God gives us comfort

Heth is the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The theme I want to look at today is how we turn to God's word is response to what He has done for us.

⁵⁷ You are my portion, O LORD; I have promised to obey your words.

⁵⁸ I have sought your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise.

⁵⁹ I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes.

⁶⁰ I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands.

⁶¹ Though the wicked bind me with ropes, I will not forget your law.

⁶² At midnight I rise to give you thanks for your righteous laws.

⁶³ I am a friend to all who fear you, to all who follow your precepts.

⁶⁴ The earth is filled with your love, O LORD; teach me your decrees.

Psalms 119:57-64

Discussion Questions

• In the NIrV, verse 57 begins "Lord, you are everything I need." What do you think that means? Everything he needs is provided by God
• What are some things that you need? How does God provide for them?
• Recognizing the sufficiency of God's provision for Him, how does the Psalmist respond? He promises to obey God's word.
• In verse 59, the Psalmist has thought about the way he lives his life? What does he decide to do? Follow God's laws.
• What else does the Psalmist say about following/obeying God's law?
• he won't waste time and will obey quickly
• regardless of what's happening, he won't forget to obey
• he'll give thanks to God - even in the middle of the night
• he'll be a friend to others who obey
• he wants to keep learning God's law
• What are some of the reasons he wants to do this? We've already seen one
• God provides all he needs (verse 57)
• God's decisions are fair (verse 62)
• The earth is full of God's love (verse 64)

Zayin

Zayin is the next letter in the Hebrew alphabet. One theme I see in this passage is finding comfort in God's word. Comfort means assistance and support or a feeling of relief or encouragement.

⁴⁹ Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope.

⁵⁰ My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.

⁵¹ The arrogant mock me without restraint, but I do not turn from your law.

⁵² I remember your ancient laws, O LORD, and I find comfort in them.

⁵³ Indignation grips me because of the wicked, who have forsaken your law.

⁵⁴ Your decrees are the theme of my song wherever I lodge.

⁵⁵ In the night I remember your name, O LORD, and I will keep your law.

⁵⁶ This has been my practice: I obey your precepts.

Psalm 119:49-56

Discussion Questions

• What does it mean to have hope?
• If the Psalmist has hope, do you think that he might be lacking in something at the moment or be in a situation where he doesn't want to be?
• Verse 50 talks about suffering. What is suffering?
• What is the first thing he says provides him comfort?
• In verse 52, what does he say provides him comfort?
• Since he remembers God's ancient law, do you suppose he's read a lot of scripture and perhaps memorized scripture?
• The last part of verse 54 in the NIrV reads "I sing about your orders" indicating that he actually sings God's word. Do you ever sing God's word?
• Can you name some songs that you've sung where you are singing God's word?

Waw

Waw (not "wow") is the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Like each of the sections we've read this far, we can kind of find a theme in this section. The theme I see here is how God's word helps us to live boldly. Webster.com (the online dictionary) defines bold as "fearless before danger." Do you sometimes get scared? I know that I do. But, this section of Psalm 119 reminds us that with God's word, we don't have to fear, we can live boldly!

⁴¹ May your unfailing love come to me, O LORD, your salvation according to your promise;

⁴² then I will answer the one who taunts me, for I trust in your word.

⁴³ Do not snatch the word of truth from my mouth, for I have put my hope in your laws.

⁴⁴ I will always obey your law, for ever and ever.

⁴⁵ I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.

⁴⁶ I will speak of your statutes before kings and will not be put to shame,

⁴⁷ for I delight in your commands because I love them.

⁴⁸ I lift up my hands to your commands, which I love, and I meditate on your decrees.

Psalm 119:41-48

Discussion Questions

• In verse 41, what does the Psalmist want to come to him?
• What was promised to him by God?
• He writes of being taunted (insulted). Why is he not scared of this?
• He also writes speaking before kings. Kings in his day were pretty powerful, they made the laws and would lead their armies in battle and if they wanted to have somebody punished, they could. Why is he not afraid of doing this?
• What are some things that you're afraid of?
• Do you think that remembering God's word can help you not to be scared of them

He

He is the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Here we can see how God's word helps us keep focused on what God wants us to do.

³³ Teach me, O LORD, to follow your decrees; then I will keep them to the end.

³⁴ Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart.

³⁵ Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight.

³⁶ Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain.

³⁷ Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.

³⁸ Fulfill your promise to your servant, so that you may be feared.

³⁹ Take away the disgrace I dread, for your laws are good.

⁴⁰ How I long for your precepts! Preserve my life in your righteousness.

Psalm 119:33-40

Discussion Questions

• When you're playing Star Wars Lego on the Wii, can you play soccer at the same time?
• If it's good to focus when you're playing Wii, should you also focus on what God wants you to do?
• The Psalmist wants to learn God's laws, how long does he expect to keep them? the rest of his life
• The Psalmist wants to keep God's law, how will he obey it? with all his heart
• What are some things that the Psalmist worries will distract him?
• selfish gain - wanting something for yourself really badly that you don't really need.
• worthless things - things that have no value, especially with regard to what God wants for us
• What are some things that distract you from God?
• What can help you focus on God?

Daleth

As we've been working our way through Psalm 119 and working our way through the Hebrew alphabet, we've also been seeing different aspects of how the Word of God is helpful to us.

• Under aleph, we learned about how the Word of God promotes the fear of God
• Under beth, we learned about how the Word of God can help us to live pure lives
• Under gimel, we see how the Word of God is useful when people are doing bad things to us or saying bad things about us

Today, in the daleth section, we'll read about what the Word of God offers us when we're not happy.

²⁵ I am laid low in the dust; preserve my life according to your word.

²⁶ I recounted my ways and you answered me; teach me your decrees.

²⁷ Let me understand the teaching of your precepts; then I will meditate on your wonders.

²⁸ My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.

²⁹ Keep me from deceitful ways; be gracious to me through your law.

³⁰ I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart on your laws.

³¹ I hold fast to your statutes, O LORD; do not let me be put to shame.

³² I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free.

Discussion questions

• What are some indications that the Psalmist might be not very happy?
• Verse 25 talks about being "laid low in the dust" which can be taken to mean near death
• Verse 26 says "I recounted my ways..." which some translations of the Bible translate as meaning telling of what they've done wrong and others translate as meaning making complaints.
• Verse 28 says "My soul is weary with sorrow" which in the NIrV is translated "My sadness has worn me out."
• How does the Psalmist respond to these things?
• To being near death, preserve my life according to your word
• To recounting their ways, teach me your decrees
• To being weary, strengthen me according to your word
• Each time, it involves turning to God's Word and trusting in it
• What is one way the Psalmist has chosen to be faithful to God? by putting his trust in God's law (v 30)
• Why does the Psalmist trust God's laws? Because God has set him free (v 32)