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I have long been fascinated by Psalm 119, although I’ll admit that for many years my interest was directed toward its literary value. With 176 verses divided equally into 22 sections, one for each letter of the Hebrew alphabet, this is the longest chapter in the Bible. As a former literature teacher, I am awed by the shepherd-king who skillfully wove his petitions and praises into a beautiful acrostic poem, starting all eight verses in each section with the same Hebrew letter. How I wish I could read that ancient language!
On a theological level, I tended to view this Psalm as a treatise to the importance of God’s word.After all, each of the 22 sections mentions God’s law, decrees, precepts, promises, commands, statutes, or word.And many of our favorite verses about God’s word come from this Psalm.
It wasn’t until recently, as we began reading one section each morning to start our homeschool day, that I saw this as a Psalm of obedience.Faced with an unfortunate junior-high indifference to school in general and to Bible reading in particular, I found it interesting that in the earliest sections of this Psalm, David is practically begging God to help him take interest in His word.
“Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees.” v. 5
“Do not let me stray from your commands.” v. 10
“Cause me to understand your precepts.” v. 27
Halfway through the Psalm, which, according to one Bible scholar, could have been halfway through David’s life, we were encouraged to see that he no longer struggled to be interested in God’s word.Over the years, David had formed a habit of spending time studying the word, even when it hadn’t been easy.
“This has been my practice: I obey your precepts.” v. 56
How beautiful to see that by the end of Psalm 119, and possibly also near the end of David’s life, his original struggle had turned into a fierce love of God's word.
“I obey your statutes, for I love them greatly.” v. 167
May this be an encouragement to my boys, to me, and to each one of you, to take those small, daily steps of obedience, forming the habits that God desires for our lives.
What life experiences have made it hard for you (now or in the past) to spend time in God’s word each day? What has helped you get out of that slump?
Sometimes the “season of life” has made it difficult for me to be faithful in reading the word: the years when they kids were small and always got up super early in the morning; home assignments when we are “off schedule” because of so much traveling; and to be honest, sometimes I struggle with a simple lack of enthusiasm for getting up early and reading the Bible. The most helpful thing for me is to have a Bible-reading plan, whether it is a devotional book or simply a commitment to read through one book of the Bible at a time. Right now I am singing through my old church hymnal, and also reading through the book of Psalms once a month. I thought I would get tired of reading all 150 Psalms over and over again each month, but 6 months in with this habit, I can’t imagine ever stopping!