This long psalm deserves a long introduction.
The author is unnamed; older commentators almost universally said it is a psalm
of David, composed throughout his entire life. More modern commentators
sometimes conclude that it is post-exilic, coming from the days of Nehemiah or
Ezra. It may be that David was the author, but we can’t say this with
certainty, and it is not necessary to know; if it were important, God would
have preserved the name of David to this psalm. No matter who the author was,
it was likely written over some period of time and later compiled, because
there is not a definite flow of thought from the beginning of the psalm to the
end. The sections and verses are not like a chain, where one link is connected
to the other, but like a string of pearls where each pearl has equal, but
independent value.
Psalm 119 is arranged in an acrostic pattern.
There are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet, and this psalm contains 22 units
of 8 verses each. Each of the 22 sections is given a letter of the Hebrew
alphabet, and each line in that section begins with that letter. The closest
parallel to this pattern in Scripture is found in Lamentations 3, which is also
divided into 22 sections, and a few other passages in the Hebrew Scriptures use
an acrostic pattern.
Since this is a psalm glorifying God and His
word, it refers to Scripture over and over again.Psalm 119 is remarkable for
how often it refers to God’s written revelation, His word. It is referred to in
almost every verse. The Masoretes (a group of Jewish scholars between the 6th
and 10th centuries AD) said that the word of God is mentioned in every verse
except Psalm 119:122. Other people analyze this differently (with disagreement
about verses 84, 90, 121, and 132). But Scripture is mentioned in at least 171
of the 176 verses.
According
to Your word: This is how
one takes heed. The foundation for a morally pure life is found in God’s word.
· God’s word shows us the standard of purity,
so we know what is right and what is wrong.
· God’s word shows us the reasons for purity,
so we understand the wisdom and goodness of God’s commands.
· God’s word shows us the difficulty of
purity, and reminds us to be on guard.
· God’s word shows us the blessings of
purity, and gives us an incentive to make the necessary sacrifices.
· God’s word shows us how to be born again –
converted, so our inner man may be transformed after the pattern of ultimate
purity, Jesus Christ.
· God’s word shows us the way to be empowered
by the Holy Spirit, so that we have the spiritual resources to be pure.
· God’s word is a refuge against temptation,
giving us a way of escape in the season of enticement.
· God’s word is a light that clears away the
deceptive fog of seduction and temptation.
· God’s word is a mirror that helps us see
our spiritual and moral condition, and thus walk in purity.
· God’s word gives us wise and simple
commands, such as to “Flee youthful lusts”
(2 Timothy 2:22).
· God’s word washes us from impurity, and
actually cleanses our life in a spiritual sense (Ephesians 5:26, John 15:3).
· God’s word is the key to the renewing of
our minds, which in turn is the key to personal, moral, and spiritual
transformation (Romans 12:1-2).
· God’s word gives a refuge against
condemnation when we have been impure, and shows us how to repent and come back
to a pure life.
· God’s word shows us how to conduct our
lives so that we are an encouragement to others in purity.
Jesus
spoke specifically of the power of His word to cleanse and keep us pure: You
are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you (John 15:3). Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is
truth. (John 17:17).[1]
Collect for Pentecost 22—Lord, we pray that Your grace may always
precede and follow us that we may continually be given to good works; through
Jesus Christ our Lord.[2] -12 October
2021
[1] https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/psalm-119/
[2] Collect for Pentecost 22, Lutheran Worship © 1980 Concordia Publishing House, St, Louis
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