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The 119th Psalm - Introduction

This song is an acrostic - each stanza, consisting of eight verses, begins with the next consecutive letter of the Hebrew alphabet.  It's likely that, instead of being used in public worship, this psalm may have been employed to teach children or young people their alphabet as well as how to relate to their God.  We too need to learn how we may relate to Him.

Aleph

The first letter of the alphabet is aleph, and every line of the first stanza begins with that letter.  The stanza's purpose is to teach that the ONLY foundation for a life that pleases Jehovah is a life of keeping His Law, particularly as it's expressed in the "second law" (Deuteronomy).  The student needs to learn, then, that the only way to be "undefiled" is to live all of life according to that law.  Happiness depends upon that kind of living, upon that kind of relationship with Jehovah, upon relating to everyone and to everything according to His "testimonies."

The student must seek with all his heart, in other words, to please Jehovah, and that seeking can only be successful if it's done according to His Word.  If he learns Jehovah's words and then lives in accordance with them, he will be kept from all iniquity, because God's Words will guide him - they're good words, the keeping of which results in a good life.  Those who heed them, "walk in His ways."

The student needs to recognize that God has, in fact, commanded him to keep those Words "diligently."  But it can't be done in the student's own strength or ability.  He needs help.  So he should pray, "Oh that my ways were directed to keep Your statutes!  Then I would not be ashamed."  Any shame in life just results from disobedience to God's Words. Obviously, then, it behooves him to seek help from the God Whose Words they are.

And, not only so, but the commandments of God are good and beautiful.  The student who becomes thoroughly acquainted with them finds that, "When I look into all Your commandments, I will praise You with uprightness of heart." The law (God's Word) reflects the Character of the Lawgiver and moves the student to praise Him.  In fact, he's taught to say, "When I learn Your righteous judgements, I will keep Your statutes."  In other words, learning God's view on life is such a happy experience that it moves him to want to keep the commandments.

Knowing from experience his own tendency to fall away from those words, though, the student who sings this song prays for mercy.  He says, "Oh do not forsake me utterly!" Anticipating his likely failures, he prays that the Lord won't leave him when they happen.

It would be good for every one of us to have this student's view of God's Word.  It would do us well, at the beginning of each and every day to join him in singing, "Oh that my ways were directed to keep Your statutes!"  His Word is an ample guide to absolutely every aspect of life.  Let's be serious students!

Al I have finally made it to Psalm 119 I am looking forward to doing this study with you. Today I hae re-read Aleph and  read the 2nd 8 stanzas. I am reading them in the NCV this time.

1. Happy are those who live pure lives, who follow the Lord's teachings.
2.  Happy are those who keep his rules, who try to obey him with their whole heart.
3. They don't do what is wrong, they follow his ways.
4. Lord, you gave your orders to be obeyed completely.
5. I wish I were more loyal in obelying your demands.
6. Then I would not be ashamed when I study your commands.
7. When I learned that your laws are fair,I praised you with an honest heart.
8. I will obey your demands, so please don't ever leave me.

I think that these first 8 stanzas truly set the tone of the Christian's life and what God expects of us as his children. We should all TRY as it isays in verse 2. The more we TRY the more we will DO his word. I have certainly found this to be true in my life.

In Christ we are saved from the condemnation of the Law, but also we are saved unto ability to keep the Law that we never had before!