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Podcast Introduction

Today is Psalms Wednesday and we’ll read chapter 119. Last week we read the shortest Psalm and the shortest chapter in the Bible. Psalm 119 is the longest. Today we’re going to skip on this date in church history I’m calling today’s episode “Ode To the Owner’s Manual.“

Comments on Psalm 119

Introduction to Psalm 119

We do not know the author of this, the longest psalm and the longest chapter in the Bible. Psalm 119 is another acrostic. There are 22 sections of 8 verses each, and each section is assigned one of the 22 Hebrew letters in succession, with each verse in each section beginning with that letter.

Psalm 119 is written to glorify God and His Word. Nearly every verse mentions Scripture in one way or another. The most common word used is Law, or in Hebrew, torah. It appears 25 times. The Hebrew word dabar, which is translated as “word” in English, appears 24 times. Judgements, or mispatim (Hebrew) is used 23 times. Testimonies (edut/edot Hebrew) is also used 23 times. Commandments (miswah/miswot) shows up 22 times. Statutes (huqqim), 21 times. Precepts (piqqudim) 21 times. Word (imrah) 19 times.

It is important to note that without exception, every mention of the Scripture is tied to its author…God. This psalm is not a celebration simply of Scripture, but of Him, the giver of Scripture.

“This wonderful psalm, from its great length, helps us to wonder at the immensity of Scripture. From its keeping to one subject it helps us to adore the unity of Scripture; for it is but one. Yet, from the many turns it gives to the same thought, it helps you to see the variety of Scripture…. Some have said that in it there is an absence of variety, but that is merely the observation of those who have not studied it. I have weighed each word, and looked at each syllable with lengthened meditation; and I bear witness that this sacred song has no tautology in it, but is charmingly varied from beginning to end. Its variety is that of a kaleidoscope: from a few objects a boundless variation is produced. In the kaleidoscope you look once, and there is a strangely beautiful form. You shift the glass a very little, and another shape, equally delicate and beautiful, is before your eyes. So it is here.” (Charles Spurgeon)

“Luther professed that he prized this Psalm so highly, that he would not take the whole world in exchange for one leaf of it.” (Charles Bridges)

Comments on Psalm 119

As I said in the Introduction, the word for Scripture that is used most in this psal