Psalm 119:1-8

THE 119TH PSALM

PSALMS 119:1-8

119:1 ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.
119:2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.
119:3 They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.
119:4 Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.
119:5 O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!
119:6 Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.
119:7 I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.
119:8 I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.

"Blessed are they that keep his testimonies and that seek him with the whole heart." (v.2)

The 119th Psalm is chock full of synonyms for the Word of God, that is the main subject of this Psalm. Some 9 different words are used to describe His Word, and it is a beautiful tribute to such a great God. These are the "blessed ones" who seek Him with all their hearts, they are blessed because they seek Him. These are the "undefiled in the way" (v.1) and they "do no iniquity" (v.3) because they Love God's Law. Indeed they are blessed. They are not ashamed, when they have respect to the Word of God; they are ashamed in nothing (v.7). This speaks of victory; it speaks of prosperity; it speaks of blessings. 

In these few verses we see already several synonyms for the wonderful Word of God. We have "Law", "Testimonies", "Ways", "Precepts", "Statutes", "Commandments", etc, all as an introduction for the rest of the entire chapter. The focus is, again, on the Word, but also on it's worth to us. As we read these verses, we will see what It does for us; what It is to us; and what our attitude should be toward It. It is resplendent with poetic references of the joy of knowing Jesus, as He is the True Word. As we read through the Psalm, let us be mindful of the Lord of the Psalm, and the purity of His love for us. Only a whole-hearted seeking will prove Him, and only a true love for Him (The Word made flesh) will promote us to the joy the psalmist had as he penned these hallowed words. Yes, "Blessed" and "very blessed", are they that walk in His statutes, and seek the Way of the Lord. Let us remember that merely knowing is not seeking, nothing short of a whole-hearted commitment will do. Is it worth it to you? It is to me.

--Marty Dunn

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