Quick, how many verses are there in Psalm 119? If you said 176 you get the Bible Quiz prize of the week. How many of them directly speak of loving or valuing God’s law? Not as easy a question is it? And before I did this study, I could not have told you. But my count came up with at least 31 verses that specifically law that they love, delight in, or value God’s commandments, precepts, testimonies, and laws.
We won’t read the entire chapter, though you should when you get a chance. In fact, that might be a weekly or monthly challenge for us. What a wonderful passage. Verse 103 describes God’s Words as “sweeter than honey to my mouth!” But we will pray.
1 Corinthians 13 is called the love chapter. But Psalm 119 beats it all hollow in terms of absolute volume of verses. The Corinthians passage tells us how to love each other. Psalm 119 tells us how the Psalmist loved God’s Word. Both are good. Let’s dive in.
First notice verse 1.
Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord!
It does not talk of love, but is reminiscent of Psalm 1:1 and 2.
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.
Neither of these verses specifically mention love but 1:2 does use “delight.” My quick look found eleven specific times when “delight” is used in reference to our attitude toward the law. Love is mentioned 13 times, long or long for is 7 times and praise is 3 times. Recall that different translations will affect our “count,” but the sentiment will be the same. Verse 11 is “stored in my heart,” in ESV, while NASB says, “treasured.” We love, value, and treasure the Law.
Before we go to Psalm 119, let’s take a quick look at the Law, the Ten Commandments to refresh our memories. They can be found in Exodus 20:1-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21. The passage is preceded by verse 5.
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
Jesus reprised it in Matthew 22:37-40 where He added, “And your neighbor as yourself.” The focus of the Ten Commandments is to love God and love neighbor. And why would we love those commands? Let’s look at them.
I. “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 3 “You shall have no other gods before me.
God brought the Israelites out of slavery. And He did the same for us, only instead of a physical slavery, He freed us from the slavery of sin. (And some indeed have been physical slaves, addicted, to sin and sinful things.) And “sin” is anything that rebels against God, so having any “other gods” is literally slavery. Especially since they are inferior to the One True God. We can and do love that freedom.
II. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.”
Again we are struck with the inferiority of any possible substitute and love God for pointing that out. Further notice the promise to those who keep (and love) the commandments. God is protecting us from fraudulent claims of other so called gods.
III. “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain."
Holding God in high esteem is another option for love. Hopefully we will not curse with our lover’s name.
IV. “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”
How can we help but love the God who made us and provided rest for us? This is a protection for us and not to pacify a vengeful, truculent Deity. And our interaction with God is contained in Jesus’ summary. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God.” Next comes the second phase: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
V. “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.”
We thank God for mothers and fathers, and love Him for this provision. Notice the promise of long life that accompanies this. We get a loving set of parents and long life. Lots to love there.
VI. “You shall not murder.“
I love life and most people do. The protection of our lives definitely extends to concern for others’ lives as well. And God, the source of life, is the author of our life and holds our days in His hands. (Ps 37:18)
VII. “You shall not commit adultery.”
Remember the father and mother that the Lord gave us? Well He keeps them together and the intact family reflects the unity of the Trinity and the bond between Christ and the Church. Lots to love there.
VIII. “You shall not steal.”
God gave us property, in fact all that we have. We love Him for that, and we are thankful for the protection He offers. We must respect others’ rights to property as a demonstration of love.
IX. “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”
Again, God is Truth. Anything less than that is an affront to Him and His nature. I love it when people saw the truth about me, and react negatively when they do not. Our “witness” likewise is loving when we stick with “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.” Show love.
X. “You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's.”
This is probably the most extensive of all commandment. Most, if not all, of our other actions are founded in this.
Coveting is the internal motivation that ultimately leads to action. It ties into number VIII in protecting the possession of property. Number VII is the result of desiring to have someone else’s wife. Even if she is not yet married. (Sex is transferable here, goes for male and female.) Telling untruths can usually be traced to a selfish motive. (Number IX.) And of course, wanting to take someone else’s life is the ultimate offense against people. (Number VI.)
Coveting is more than just admiring other peoples’ possessions, it is a want to have it myself. Sometimes we shade it by saying, “I want one like it,” but in reality, we want that one. This is ultimately a symptom of placing more value on material things than we put on God. That is Idolatry, Number I.
The shelter built around us by these commandments is cause for praise and worship. No wonder the Psalmist loved the law. Let’s take a quick look at his words. Most of them need little or no comment.
2 Happy are those who keep His decrees and seek Him with all their heart.
11 Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.
14 In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. (Chapter 1)
16 I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.
18 Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.
20 My soul is consumed with longing for your rules at all times.
23 Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statutes. (Chapter 1 again)
24 Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors.
31 I cling to your testimonies, O Lord; let me not be put to shame!
34 Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart.
35 Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it.
36 Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!
40 Behold, I long for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life!
43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for my hope is in your rules.
44 I will keep your law continually, forever and ever, 45 and I shall walk in a wide place, for I have sought your precepts.
47 for I find my delight in your commandments, which I love.
48 I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on your
statutes. (Chapter 1 again.)
50 This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.
52 When I think of your rules from of old, I take comfort, O Lord.
70 their heart is unfeeling like fat, but I delight in your law.
72 The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
74 Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice, because I have hoped in your word.
77 Let your mercy come to me, that I may live; for your law is my delight.
78 Let the insolent be put to shame, because they have wronged me with falsehood; as for me, I
will meditate on your precepts. (More meditate.)
81 My soul longs for your salvation; I hope in your word.
82 My eyes long for your promise; I ask, “When will you comfort me?”
92 If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.
97 Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.
99 I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation. (CH 1)
103 How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
111 Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart.
112 I incline my heart to perform your statutes forever, to the end.
113 I hate the double-minded, but I love your law.
114 You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.
119 All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross, therefore I love your testimonies.
123 My eyes long for your salvation and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise.
127 Therefore I love your commandments above gold, above fine gold.
131 I open my mouth and pant, because I long for your commandments.
140 Your promise is well tried, and your servant loves it.
143 Trouble and anguish have found me out, but your commandments are my delight.
147 I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in your words.
148 My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promise. (Ch 1)
159 Consider how I love your precepts! Give me life according to your steadfast love.
162 I rejoice at your word like one who finds great spoil.
163 I hate and abhor falsehood, but I love your law.
164 Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous rules.
165 Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.
166 I hope for your salvation, O Lord, and I do your commandments.
167 My soul keeps your testimonies; I love them exceedingly.
174 I long for your salvation, O Lord, and your law is my delight. (Get a two-fer there.)
175 Let my soul live and praise you, and let your rules help me.
Whew! That is a lot. And, we skipped a lot. We have passed over a lot of “keep Your laws” and the like, because it may imply “love” and value, but we are out of time. There are numerous other great verses, but.... As suggested, read the chapter. More than once. In fact, do this study with a different version. Oh yes, look at the times when the testimonies and law are declared to be true and right. Another study there. Selah.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ps+119&version=HCSB
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