Studies in Psalm 119 – The Behavior of the Blessed

1. Read: Psalm 119:1-8

2. About Psalm 119.

1) It is the longest Psalm in the book of Psalms.

2) It is also the longest chapter in the Bible.

3) The Psalm is divided into 22 parts.

4) Each part begins with a different letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

5) In Hebrew, each line of these parts begin with that letter.

6) Is this significant? There’s not a letter that doesn’t honor God’s word.

7) The content of this chapter is respect, praise, and honor for God’s word.

8) God’s word is described with several different words in this Psalm.

a. Laws

b. Testimonies

c. Ways

d. Precepts

e. Statutes

f. Commandments

g. Judgments

h. Word

i. Truth

9) All of these words are used to refer to God’s word.

10) There is great respect for God’s word in this Psalm.

11) We ought to have this same respect also.

12) Without God’s word we would not have the information we need for our salvation.

13) We ought to join the Psalmist in praising God for His wonderful word!

14) This first part of this Psalm serves as an introduction to the entire Psalm.

15) Let’s study it together.

3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. “Undefiled in the Way”

1) In a way we see a high standard set forth.

a. Matthew 5:48 “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”

b. Philippians 3:14 “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

2) In another way, this standard is achievable.

a. Luke 1:6 says of Joseph and Mary, “And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.”

b. 2 Peter 3:14 “Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.”

2. “Walk in the Law of the Lord”

1) This indicates ongoing action.

2) A walk is something that occurs one step after another.

3) It doesn’t cease.

4) Deuteronomy 8:6 “Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him.”

5) Colossians 2:6 “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:”

6) 3 John 1:4 “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”

3. “Keep His testimonies.”

1) The word “keep” indicates that we hold something tightly and don’t let it go.

2) It also signifies an ongoing action or attitude.

3) John 8:52 “…If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.”

4) Luke 11:28 “…blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.”

4. “Seek Him with the whole heart.”

1) God always demands everything we got be given to Him.

2) Matthew 22:37 “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.”

3) Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

5. This is the conduct that is blessed.

1. We are commanded to keep God’s precepts diligently.

1) God’s commands are just that, commands.

2) The Creator has absolute right to command us and expect us to obey those commands.

3) Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15).

4) Even so, God’s commands are not dictatorial.

5) 1 John 5:2-3 “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.”

6) Keeping God’s commands requires some effort on our part.

7) The word “diligence” means to make a constant effort at an undertaking.

8) This is how we must approach the word of God.

9) It is something to be constantly undertaken with effort.

2. It ought to be our desire to do this!

1) We ought to delight in knowing and doing God’s word.

2) Without that guidance and counsel, we wouldn’t know the right way.

3) What a blessing and delight it is that God has told us how to live right.

4) Psalm 1:2 “But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.”

5) Psalm 19:10 “More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.”

3. We have no reason to be ashamed when we respect God’s commands.

1) Others may sneer at us and ridicule us.

2) Others may pressure us into their mold of behavior.

3) But we ought to hold the truth in our minds that so long as God approves our behavior, we have nothing to be ashamed of.

4) “Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God” (2 Timothy 1:8).

5) 2 Timothy 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

1. I will praise thee with uprightness of heart when I learn of thy righteous judgments.

1) By keeping the commands of God, we can have an upright heart.

2) Our praise will thus be done in a way that God will accept.

3) By learning God’s word, we can commit to worshipping Him appropriately.

4) John 4:23-24 “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”

5) God’s judgments are righteous.

6) The word righteous in this context means that they provide equity between men.

7) Consider Deuteronomy 16:19 “Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.”

8) Psalm 11:7 “For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.”

9) God’s righteous judgments provide so much for us; we ought to commit to praising Him for it.

2. I will keep thy statutes.

1) Not only do we enjoy the benefits of God’s instruction, but by keeping it we can be righteous as well.

2) 1 John 3:7 “Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.”

3) We do this by obeying God.

4) We can’t be saved without obedience.

5) Hebrews 5:9 “And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;”

6) We will be lost if we fail to obey. 2 Thessalonians 1:8 ” In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:”

7) We must make a commitment in our life to keep God’s statutes if we expect salvation.

1. We have noted in Psalm 119:1-8

1) Blessed Conduct

2) Binding Commands

3) Bona Fide Commitment

2. Invitation