Tag Archives: Psalm 119

11/17/2021

On Psalm 119.57-64 (Heth)

⁵⁷The Lord is my portion;
I have promised to keep your words.
⁵⁸I have sought your favor with all my heart;
be gracious to me according to your promise.
⁵⁹I thought about my ways
and turned my steps back to your decrees.
⁶⁰I hurried, not hesitating
to keep your commands.
⁶¹Though the ropes of the wicked
were wrapped around me,
I did not forget your instruction.
⁶²I rise at midnight to thank you
for your righteous judgments.
⁶³I am a friend to all who fear you,
to those who keep your precepts.
⁶⁴Lord, the earth is filled with your faithful love;
teach me your statutes.

The eight stanza of Psalm 119 (ח/heth – sounds like the ch in Bach, you have to get a little phlegm in the back of your throat when you say it), but this stanza begins with the line “The Lord is my portion.” This is an image that occurs frequently throughout the Old Testament, and especially in the Book of Psalms. The word typically refers to a share or a portion of land received by inheritance. In an agrarian society like ancient Israel, owning land was a source of economic, political, and societal security. Those who owned land had standing and influence. But here, our psalmist affirms that the Lord is his portion. “The Lord” here (printed in all caps on most versions) represents the personal covenant name of God, i.e. יהוה, Yahweh; this is the name that He revealed to Moses from the burning bush, “I am who I am” (Exodus 3.14). In other words, our psalmist understands that Yahweh, the one true and living God, the personal covenant keeping God, is the only one in whom we may find safety, security, stability, satisfaction, and contentment in this life. As the old hymn goes, “All other ground is sinking sand.”

This principle is not unlike that famous slogan of pastor and author John Piper, “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” Or as question 1 of the Westminster Shorter Catechism states, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.” This is the point, namely that glad and joyful obedience to the Word of God springs forth from a heart that is perfectly satisfied and wholly content in Him. This is why our psalmist says in verse 57, “I have promised to keep your words.” And again in verse 60, “I hurried, not hesitating to keep your commands.” And again in verse 62, “I rise at midnight to thank you for your righteous judgments.” Of course, the counter point is equally true, that when we begin to look for sources of satisfaction and contentment outside of Him, we quickly fall into sin. The world we live in is constantly offering us a plethora of competing products and services intended to satisfy and fulfill; this is the essence of an advertisement rich consumeristic society. But, these options overpromise and under deliver, because nothing can satisfy and fill the deepest longings of the human heart like the God who made it. This is why our psalmist writes in verse 59, “I thought about my ways and turned my steps back to your decrees.” Or again in verse 61, “Though the ropes of the wicked were wrapped around me, I did not forget your instruction.“

But not only does this inner contentment in God free us from the allure of sinful temptations, but its also changes our entire outlook on life, as our psalmist writes in verse 64, “Lord, the earth is filled with your faithful love; teach me your statutes.” Of course, this world is polluted, even overrun, by sin everywhere we turn, such that even the stoutest of hearts might be shaken with fear, but when our hearts are completely secure in God, then we may have that rest which Jesus promised His disciples. Then, we may have confidence that sin is not the end of the story, that evil will not win the day, because we know that where sin abounds grace abounds even more, that where the darkness seems to consume, there the light of God’s grace and love can still shine through. And this hopeful confidence energizes the desire to live in faithful obedience. But more than that, it also empowers us to live in authentic community with others. As our psalmist puts it in verse 63, “I am a friend to all who fear you, to those who keep your precepts.” In other words, when we our hearts are completely whole in God, then we are set free to love others without the need to receive anything in return. We can love others for their sake and nor for our own, because we are complete in the love of Christ. This is the essential foundation for Christian community, that we love each other even as Christ loves us, and we can only do this when are completely satisfied and wholly loved in Christ by God.

Only that life which is lived in willing and fervent obedience to God’s Word can experience genuine human flourishing to the fullest degree, and this kind of obedience can only come from a heart that is perfectly content and satisfied in God and Him alone. As our psalmist writes in verse 58, “I have sought your favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise.” This is no works based attempt to merit God’s grace. Rather, it is the reflection of a heart that understands and trusts in the promise of God. It is the perspective of a soul that is perfectly at rest in the good news of the Gospel, that pursues faithful obedience to God and His Word from the wholeness that is only available by His grace. It is by grace because Christ has already completely fulfilled God’s law; He lived a life of perfect obedience to the Father. The good news of the gospel is that He has taken our disobedience upon himself, and in a glorious exchange, He has given us His obedient righteousness. And this is why He says, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11.28-30)

For further study:
Introduction
Psalm 119.1-8
Psalm 119.9-16
Psalm 119.17-24
Psalm 119.25-32
Psalm 119.33-40
Psalm 119.41-48
Psalm 119.49-56

3 Comments | tags: Brotherly Love, Community, Contentment, Faith, Glorify, Grace, Hope, John Piper, Obedience, Phillip Powers, Psalm 119, Relationships, Satisfied, Spiritual Formation, Westminster Shorter Catechism, Yahweh | posted in Bible Exposition, Psalm 119, Spiritual Formation

10/13/2021

On Psalm 119.49-56 (Zayin)

By Phillip Powers

⁴⁹Remember your word to your servant;
you have given me hope through it.
⁵⁰This is my comfort in my affliction:
Your promise has given me life.
⁵¹The arrogant constantly ridicule me,
but I do not turn away from your instruction.
⁵²Lord, I remember your judgments from long ago
and find comfort.
⁵³Fury seizes me because of the wicked
who reject your instruction.
⁵⁴Your statutes are the theme of my song
during my earthly life.
⁵⁵Lord, I remember your name in the night,
and I obey your instruction.
⁵⁶This is my practice:
I obey your precepts.

Zayin (ז) is the seventh letter of the Hebrew alphabet; accordingly, this is now the seventh stanza of Psalm 119. In this stanza, our psalmist begins to reflect on the relationship between hope and perseverance in the face of intense grief. This is a topic that I have written on recently here, but the main point is that the Christian hope is grounded in the promises of God’s Word. As our psalmist writes, “Remember your word to your servant; you have given me hope through it.” The God of the Bible is eternal, without beginning or end, and so, He always remembers His Word. And not only does He remember His Word, He always keeps it. He is a God of His Word, because His Word is the revelation of Himself. Therefore, His Word is certain and sure, and this is why Christians should be people of unconquerable hope.

In the New Testament, hope is one of a triad of primary virtues that distinguish the followers of Christ. As the scriptures so poetically remind us, “Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love—but the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13.13). Of course, hope is one of the most powerful emotions in all the human experience, and it is hope, along with faith and love, that is the primary source of motivation and strength in the Christian life. For our psalmist, it is his comfort in affliction (verse 50), his courage in the face of ridicule (verse 51), his zeal in the face of sinfulness (verse 53), and his joy in the regular responsibilities of life (verse 54). This hope, a hope that is firmly grounded the promises of God’s Word by faith, gives our psalmist the strength to persevere in obedience no matter what obstacles or difficulties may come against him(verses 55-56).

However, in trusting in His promises, we are not simply left to some kind of blind faith. In many ways the story of the Bible is a record of promises that have been kept. As our psalmist puts it, “Lord, I remember your judgments from long ago and find comfort” (verse 52). The Word of God is the evidence that God keeps His promises. In his the two book set that surveys of the Bible’s message, Mark Dever describes the Old and New Testaments as “Promises Made” and “Promises Kept” respectively. And the gospel writers, in particular, are at great pains to demonstrate that “these things happened so that the Scriptures would be fulfilled.” (John 19.36, among others) This is the unanimous affirmation of the Bible’s authors, that “whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that we may have hope through endurance and through the encouragement from the Scriptures.” (Romans 15.4)

This is the point, namely that our hope is not in vain, because we know beyond any shadow of doubt that God keeps His Word in every detail. In fact, He has already kept it by sending His Son incarnate to die on the cross for sin and rise again. This is why the author of Hebrews writes, “Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.” (Hebrews 11.1) When it is all said and done, Christians are people of hope, and our hope cannot be extinguished no matter what difficulties or hardships may come our way. “We wait for the blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.” (Titus 2.13) While we wait, let us learn from our the commitment of our psalmist, “This is my practice: I obey your precepts.” (verse 56).

For further study:
Introduction/Overview
Psalm 119.1-8
Psalm 119.9-16
Psalm 119.17-24
Psalm 119.25-32
Psalm 119.33-40
Psalm 119.41-48

4 Comments | tags: Evidence, Faith, Hope, Jesus Christ, Obedience, Perseverance, Phillip Powers, Promise, Promises Kept, Promises Made, Psalm 119, Zayin | posted in Bible Exposition, Psalm 119, Spiritual Formation

10/04/2021

On Psalm 119.41-48 (Waw)

By Phillip Powers

⁴¹Let your faithful love come to me, Lord,
your salvation, as you promised.
⁴²Then I can answer the one who taunts me,
for I trust in your word.
⁴³Never take the word of truth from my mouth,
for I hope in your judgments.
⁴⁴I will always obey your instruction,
forever and ever.
⁴⁵I will walk freely in an open place
because I study your precepts.
⁴⁶I will speak of your decrees before kings
and not be ashamed.
⁴⁷I delight in your commands,
which I love.
⁴⁸I will lift up my hands to your commands,
which I love,
and will meditate on your statutes.

The sixth stanza of Psalm 119 (ו/waw – though modern Hebrew pronounces it vav) begins with, “Let your faithful love come to me, Lord, your salvation, as you promised.” Literally translated, it reads “according to Your word.” (NASB). Here we learn a fundamental truth for living the Christian life, namely that the primary way in which we receive and experience the love of God is through the Word of God. It is in, by, and through His Word that He communicates His love to us, and it is in, by, and through the Spirit working through the Word that we receive that love. In other words, our communion with God is always by the Spirit through the Word, and outside of the Word of God, there is no other way to know Him.

Experientialism and emotionalism have taken the place of word-centered formation when it comes to how we understand and experience growth as disciples of Christ. Simply put, there is a lot of craziness out there that flies under the banner of Christian spirituality, a lot of amorphous mystical speculations that are passed off as piety and devotion. What Christians need most in their spiritual life is to return to those classic word-centered spiritual disciplines that have been the staple of the spiritual life for God’s people going all the way back to the time when this psalm was written. It is only upon the firm foundation of God’s Word that we can come to know and experience the fullness of God’s everlasting love.

When we stand complete and secure upon the love of God through His word, then and only then are we able to step out with courage and obedience. As the psalmist goes on here to say, “Then I can answer the one who taunts me. [Then] I will always obey, [then] I will walk freely, [then] I will speak … before kings.” It is only from a place of safety and wholeness in the love of God that we are then able to walk in faithfulness to its principles and precepts. And when we are secure in His love, we know that even if we fail, even if we stumble, we remain secure in the love of God. This kind of security, this certainty, is more than a feeling or emotion; it is a confident assurance based on the promises that are found in God’s Word.

This is why our psalmist concludes this stanza with his love for the Word of God. “I will delight in your commands which I love. I will lift up my hands to your commands which I love.” These are the distinctive characteristics which identify those who are loved by God, those who are genuinely saved by faith, namely that they find their deepest sense of satisfaction and fulfillment in knowing and doing the Word of God. When we know the love of God in Christ through the Spirit, we will be people of His Word, and if we are not people of His Word, then the danger is that we have not in fact received the everlasting, never ending love of Christ. May we learn from our psalmist and find ourselves complete in God’s love as it comes to us through His everlasting and inspired Word.

For further study:
Introduction and Overview
Psalm 119.1-8
Psalm 119.9-16
Psalm 119.17-24
Psalm 119.25-32
Psalm 119.33-40

5 Comments | tags: Assurance, Disicpleship, Emotion, Experience, Love of God, Obedience, Phillip Powers, Psalm 119, Security, Spiritual Disciplines, Spiritual Formtion, Spirituality, Waw, Word-centered | posted in Bible Exposition, Psalm 119, Spiritual Formation

01/01/2020

On Psalm 119:33-40 (He)

By Phillip Powers

³³Teach me, Lord, the meaning of your statutes,
and I will always keep them.
³⁴Help me understand your instruction,
and I will obey it
and follow it with all my heart.
³⁵Help me stay on the path of your commands,
for I take pleasure in it.
³⁶Turn my heart to your decrees
and not to dishonest profit.
³⁷Turn my eyes
from looking at what is worthless;
give me life in your ways.
³⁸Confirm what you said to your servant,
for it produces reverence for you.
³⁹Turn away the disgrace I dread;
indeed, your judgments are good.
⁴⁰How I long for your precepts!
Give me life through your righteousness.

In the the fifth stanza of Psalm 119 ( ה/he – pronounced “hey”), the psalmist expresses his complete dependency upon God for understanding His Word. And so, he prays to God for illumination. “Teach me, Lord, the meaning of your statues, and I will always keep them. Help me to understand your instruction, and I will obey it and follow it with all my heart.” (Verses 33-34) Illumination is simply that work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer by which He opens our minds to understand and apply the Scriptures. And it is this “spiritual” understanding that distinguishes the believer’s reading of Holy Scripture from the nonbeliever.

The reality is that there are secular scholars (historians, linguists, philosophers) who know the history, language, and theology of the Bible better than the average Christian. Their historical reconstructions are more compelling, their literary analyses are more sophisticated, their exposition perhaps even more accurate. However, they do not believe in the one who said, “and yet they testify about me.” (John 5.39) The difference being that they do not have the indwelling Holy Spirit whose specific job is to lead believers into all truth. Therefore, we must conclude that illumination gives us an understanding that is more than merely intellectual. It goes beyond the literary and the historical to the transformational. It is the Spirit who brings the dead words to life, who renews and revives the weary soul.

And so, we must affirm that illumination is not the imparting of new information, as opposed to that which is largely gained simply by being a good reader. Rather, illumination is the creation of a new capacity to receive the inspired Word of God and to be changed by it. As our psalmist goes on to pray, “Turn my heart to your decrees and not to dishonest profit. Turn my eyes from looking at what is worthless; give me life in your ways.” (Verses 36-37) Our psalmist clearly understands that what he needs is more than a mere intellectual reading of Holy Scripture; what he needs, and what we all need, is that Spirit given illumination leading to transformation. “How I long for your precepts! Give me life through your righteousness.” (Verse 40)

It is somewhat appropriate, I think, that I am writing on this on the day in which many Christians will make a “New Years Resolution” to read the Bible more in 2020, perhaps, by starting some kind of Bible reading plan, e.g. the Bible in one year, etc. And, of course, this is a worthy goal to aim for. But there must be a realization that we are not simply reading for information; we are reading for transformation. This does not mean that every reading will be some kind of mountain top spiritual experience. Some, in fact, will be dull drudgery (re: Leviticus). But faithfulness over time, daily dependence upon the Spirit, humbly praying for eyes to see and ears to hear will slowly result in the transformation of our being into the image of Christ. This is why we call it a spiritual discipline, faithful obedience while relying upon the Spirit.

For further study:
Introduction and Overview
Psalm 119.1-8
Psalm 119.9-16
Psalm 119.17-24
Psalm 119.25-32

6 Comments | tags: Bible Reading, Holy Spirit, Illumination, New Years Resolution, Phillip Powers, Psalm 119, Spiritual Disciplines, Transformation | posted in Bible Exposition, Biblical Theology, Hermeneutics, Psalm 119

12/27/2019

On Psalm 119.25-32 (Daleth)

By Phillip Powers

²⁵My life is down in the dust;
give me life through your word.
²⁶I told you about my life,
and you answered me;
teach me your statutes.
²⁷Help me understand
the meaning of your precepts
so that I can meditate on your wonders.
²⁸I am weary from grief;
strengthen me through your word.
²⁹Keep me from the way of deceit
and graciously give me your instruction.
³⁰I have chosen the way of truth;
I have set your ordinances before me.
³¹I cling to your decrees;
Lord, do not put me to shame.
³²I pursue the way of your commands,
for you broaden my understanding.

Well, after taking a short break for the season of Advent, we are back to working our way through Psalm 119. And so, we come to the fourth stanza (daleth/ד), where our psalmist turns his attention to the turmoil of human existence. “My life is down in the dust; give me life through your word.” (verse 25) “I am weary from grief; strengthen me through your word.” (verse 28) This may not seem like a very positive outlook on life, especially when it is compared with the first three stanzas, but it is a brutally honest confession about the reality of the struggle. We live in a world that is stained, polluted, even controlled by sin, a world that is absolutely hostile to the ways of God and His word. And so it is understandable that those who try to live according to God’s Word will inevitably suffer pain and difficulty, whether directly or indirectly. As the Apostle Paul said, “In fact, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” (2 Timothy 3.12)

Pain, heartache, suffering, loss; these are staples of the human experience in this already but not yet phase of God’s kingdom. And the temptation that we all will eventually face is to simply give up, to stop trying, to abandon the ways of God and His Word. Because, on the surface, there doesn’t seem to be a difference between our experience and that of the non-believer. But our psalmist understands that in the midst of this chaos, there is only one place to turn for stability and perspective, namely to God’s Word. “I cling to your decrees; Lord, do not put me to shame. I pursue the way of your commands, for you broaden my understanding.” (Verses 31-32) In fact, our psalmist even prays, “Keep me from the way of deceit and graciously give me your instruction.” (Verse 29) “Help me to understand the meaning of your precepts so that I can meditate on your wonders.” (Verse 27)

And so when we face inexplicable suffering in this life, what can we do? Well, our psalmist gives us two answers. First, we should be honest about our pain. As He says, “I told you about my life, and you answered me; teach me your statutes.” (Verse 26) In prayer, we can be honest with God about the depth of our sufferings, the difficulty of our heartaches; we open them up to Him so that He can comfort us with the gracious compassion of His promises. But not only must we be honest with God, but we must be honest with each other in the body of Christ. We need not suffer alone, as the Scriptures tell us, “Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.” (Romans 12.15) Our psalmist is doing just that in the writing of this Psalm, as it would be shared with the gathered assembly. We must learn to share our deepest and most painful heartaches with the community of God’s people, so that they can be the means of His comfort in our lives.

And secondly, we must resolve anew to stand firm on the ways of God which are given in His word. “I have chosen the way of truth; I have set your ordinances before me.” (Verse 30). The reality is that there will be times when obeying the Word of God will be the absolute last thing we want to do. We may not understand why God has commanded us in this way, or we may simply not feel like keeping it at that given moment. However, this is where faith steps in, because we trust that God is fundamentally good and all of His commands are good, even when we can’t see it. This is what comes across most vividly in this stanza, the psalmist’s faith even in the face of difficulty and doubt. And here again, we simply cannot do this alone. When we are hurting, the temptation is to withdraw and isolate our selves, but this is when we need the support and encouragement of the people of God the most, which is why we are told, “And let us watch out for one another to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.” (Hebrews 10.24-25)

But our psalmist is clear, that in the midst of the chaos and turmoil and heartache of this world, the only footing, the only foundation, the only security that we have available to us is to be found in the Word of God, because it forces us to set our faith, our hope on something, or I should say someone, other than ourselves, namely the one true and living God.

For further study:
Introduction and Overview
Psalm 119.1-8
Psalm 119.9-16
Psalm 119.17-24

Comments Off on On Psalm 119.25-32 (Daleth) | tags: Community, Daleth, Endurance, Grief, Heartache, Hope, Phillip Powers, Prayer, Psalm 119, Psalms, Sorrow, Strength | posted in Bible Exposition, Psalm 119, Spiritual Formation

11/17/2019

On Psalm 119.17-24 (Gimel)

By Phillip Powers

¹⁷Deal generously with your servant
so that I might live;
then I will keep your word.
¹⁸Open my eyes so that I may contemplate
wondrous things from your instruction.
¹⁹I am a resident alien on earth;
do not hide your commands from me.
²⁰I am continually overcome
with longing for your judgments.
²¹You rebuke the arrogant,
the ones under a curse,
who wander from your commands.
²²Take insult and contempt away from me,
for I have kept your decrees.
²³Though princes sit together speaking against me,
your servant will think about your statutes;
²⁴your decrees are my delight
and my counselors.

In the third stanza, ג (gimel), our psalmist begins with what seems to be a condition to his obedience. Verse 17 reads, “Deal generously with your servant so that I might live; then I will keep your word.” However, we must not read this is a quid pro quo request. Our psalmist is not basing his obedience on the condition of God’s grace. He is not saying, “if you do this for me, then I’ll do this for you.” The footnotes in the NET Bible state that the cohortative verbal forms in this line indicate purpose or result. In other words, our psalmist is requesting the empowerment of God’s grace so that he will be able to keep God’s Word. This understanding is confirmed in verse 18, where we read, “Open my eyes so that I may contemplate wondrous things from your instruction.”

This is a much needed corrective in the contemporary understanding of the role of obedience in the Christian life, that the empowerment of God’s grace precedes all our effort to obey. Grace results in obedience, and not the other way around, because that would be legalism. In other words, what our psalmist is requesting is exactly what we have been given in the New Covenant. In Ezekiel’s description of the New Covenant (36.24-30), we read, “I will put my place my Spirit within you and cause you to follow my statues and carefully observe my ordinances” (verse 27). And the Apostle Peter confirms, “His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness” (2 Peter 1.3).

And why is this gracious empowerment necessary? Well, our psalmist gives us the answer in verse 19, “I am a resident alien on earth.” The word is variously rendered as “foreigner”, “sojourner”, “stranger.” In other words, our psalmist understands that this world is not his native home, that his values, convictions, and principles are of another reality altogether. As he says, “I am continually overcome with longing for your judgments.” However, he also understands that while we live “on earth”, it is so easy to become distracted, confused, and misdirected in our lives, which is why we need the constant favor of God’s empowering grace to regularly reorient our perspectives. As our psalmist understands, “you rebuke the arrogant, the ones under a curse, who wander from your commands” (verse 21).

Of course, our psalmist knows that walking to the beat of God’s drum will necessarily result in misunderstandings, in ridicule, scorn, and contempt. One person’s obedience must necessarily expose someone else’s disobedience, and when that happens, we can automatically expect to face opposition. But our psalmist knows the source of his strength, “Your decrees are my delight and my counselors” (verse 24), and so he prays, “Take insult and contempt away from me, for I have kept your decrees” (verse 22). The psalmist understands that the one who has so graciously empowered his obedience will also graciously protect and sustain him through any circumstance.

This should be the perspective of every follower of Jesus. We are strangers living in a foreign land; we do believe, speak, feel, and behave according to another reality. We are “continually overcome with longing for [His] judgments.” And as long as we live in this already/not yet season, we can trust that our God will empower us for obedience by His grace, even while He sustains us to perfection in glory.

For further study:
Introduction/Overview
Psalm 119.1-8
Psalm 119.9-16

8 Comments | tags: Christian Life, Grace, Meditation, New Covenant, Obedience, Phillip Powers, Psalm 119, Spiritual Formation | posted in Bible Exposition, Psalm 119, Spiritual Formation

10/30/2019

On Psalm 119.9-16 (Beth)

By Phillip Powers

⁹How can a young man keep his way pure?
By keeping your word.
¹⁰I have sought you with all my heart;
don’t let me wander from your commands.
¹¹I have treasured your word in my heart
so that I may not sin against you.
¹²Lord, may you be blessed;
teach me your statutes.
¹³With my lips I proclaim
all the judgments from your mouth.
¹⁴I rejoice in the way revealed by your decrees
as much as in all riches.
¹⁵I will meditate on your precepts
and think about your ways.
¹⁶I will delight in your statutes;
I will not forget your word. (CSB)

The second stanza of Psalm 119, ב (beth), begins with a verse that has probably been drilled into the mind of every young man who has ever struggled with his thought life. But clearly these verses have application beyond that one application. In the wisdom literature, the word “young man” (verse 9) is metaphor for anyone who is naive, inexperienced, ignorant, or unlearned. And so, here in this stanza, the psalmist is reflecting on how the Word of God trains us in the way of purity. Of course, the basic assumption here is that a “young man” would want to keep his way “pure”, that this is understood as something that is both desirous and beneficial.

Now, purity here is simply another way of saying holy, and it is God’s clear expectation that His people will be holy, even as He is holy. (c.f. Leviticus 11.44-45, Matthew 5.48, 1 Peter 1.16). As it pertains to God, holiness refers to His divine otherness, that He is set apart, unique, and wholly different from His creation. However, it is much more than that; it also implies His moral rectitude, His absolute sinlessness, the unassailable perfections of His character. And we are told to be holy, even as He is holy. So, as it pertains to us, as believers in Jesus, it refers to the distinction of our behavior, values, and attitudes over and against the world. As James writes, “Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: … to keep oneself unstained from the world.” (James 1.27)

And, how can we keep ourselves unstained from the world? Answer, “By keeping your Word.” But, the “keeping” that our psalmist has in mind here is much more than a rote dutiful obedience. No, it is to be sought with all the heart (verse 10), treasured in the heart (verse 11), and proclaimed with the lips (verse 13). It is something to be rejoiced in (verse 14), meditated on (verse 15), and delighted in (verse 16). And this is both a timely and a timeless affirmation, that the standards for living a holy life which are commanded in God’s Word are good and glorious and to be joyously embraced rather than begrudgingly accepted.

It is no secret that the current cultural climate is becoming more and more hostile to these standards, that the commands of God are increasingly seen as outdated, bigoted, prejudicial, and simply unfair. But, our psalmist understands that the ways of God as He has prescribed them in His Word are good, and they are meant for our satisfaction and enjoyment. And the way that we learn to enjoy God’s ways is not simply by a begrudging reluctant external obedience. No, we must relish in them internally by pouring over them in meditation, treasuring them in our hearts, and rejoicing gladly in them. And so, may we pray with the Psalmist, “ Lord, may you be blessed; teach me your statutes.”

For further study:
Introduction/Overview
Psalm 119.1-8

9 Comments | tags: Holiness, Meditation, Phillip Powers, Psalm 119, Psalms, Sanctification, Spiritual Formation | posted in Bible Exposition, Psalm 119, Spiritual Formation

10/21/2019

On Psalm 119.1-8 (Aleph)

By Phillip Powers

Aleph
¹How happy are those whose way is blameless,
who walk according to the Lord’s instruction!
²Happy are those who keep his decrees
and seek him with all their heart.
³They do nothing wrong;
they walk in his ways.
⁴You have commanded that your precepts
be diligently kept.
⁵If only my ways were committed
to keeping your statutes!
⁶Then I would not be ashamed
when I think about all your commands.
⁷I will praise you with an upright heart
when I learn your righteous judgments.
⁸I will keep your statutes;
never abandon me. (CSB)

ℵ (aleph) is the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet, and therefore, it is the first stanza of Psalm 119. And when we read the first two verses, we are immediately confronted by the simple truth that obedience to the Word of God is the only way to experience God’s blessing. The CSB (see above) renders the verb as “happy”, whereas the majority of modern translations (NET, ESV, NASB, NIV) render it as “blessed”. Interestingly, the NLT renders this word as “joyful”, and this perhaps most accurately reflects the psalmists intent. “Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord. Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts.” Nevertheless, no matter which English rendering we prefer, it is clear that something more than pleasing circumstances is being described here.

In the Bible, blessing or joy is something that is experienced more deeply in the human soul than mere surface level happiness. It is that inner sense of complete satisfaction and total contentment, of unwavering peace and ultimate fulfillment. It is nothing less then the ultimate thriving of the human soul as God intended it. And lets be clear, the source of this blessed joy is completely divine. It is not something that we can manufacture or achieve on our own. Our psalmist is clear that the only way into this experience of divine blessing is by obedience to the Word of God. In fact, he goes on to say in these verses that obedience is the only way that we can be set free from the bondage of guilt and shame and bring praise into his abiding presence.

Sadly, obedience is under emphasized in most Protestant versions of spirituality. Because of our Reformation heritage, we are quick to react against anything that smacks of works based salvation. We champion the cause of sola gratia, sola fide, solus Christus, that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. As Paul said in Ephesians, chapter 2, verse 9, “not from works, so that no one can boast.” However, in our haste to affirm the unconditional nature of grace, we have neglected and omitted the role that obedience plays in the Christian life. As Paul went on to say in that very next verse, “ For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.” (Eph. 2.10) The simple truth that the psalmist is affirming in this first stanza of Psalm 119 is that obedience to God’s Word is the only available way into the fullness of divine blessing.

Of course, the reality is that none of us are able to perfectly keep the commands of God. As the Apostle James reminds us in chapter 2, verse 10 of his letter, “For whoever keeps the entire law, and yet stumbles at one point, is guilty of breaking it all.” The Gospel teaches us that we are all sinners, that we are all utterly incapable of obeying God’s Word. And left to ourselves, we can never experience the fullness of God’s blessing. This is why our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ became incarnate. He lived a life of perfect obedience to God’s Word in every way. And because we are united to Him by faith, His perfect obedience has become our obedience, His righteousness has become our righteousness. This is why Paul writes in Ephesians, chapter 1, verse 3, “Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ.”

And it is precisely because His perfect obedience has been graciously reckoned unto us as righteousness that we should value and cultivate the habits of obedience to God’s Word. We should love obedience the way that the psalmist does here, because when we walk in His ways, then we are able to experience the fullness of blessings that are already ours in Christ by the Spirit.

For further study:
Introduction/Overview

10 Comments | tags: Obedience, Phillip Powers, Psalm 119, Psalms, Spiritual Disciplines, Spiritual Formation, Spirituality | posted in Bible Exposition, Biblical Theology, Psalm 119, Spiritual Formation

10/13/2019

On Psalm 119: An Introduction and Overview

By Phillip Powers

megillat-esther-persia-long-view

The Psalms are perhaps the best kept secret of the Old Testament; they are a deep well of food for the weary Christian soul. They are a rich resource for our spirituality, but sadly, more often than not, we neglect this spring of spiritual life in favor of the well worn tracts of the New Testament. However, this is merely a symptom of the larger problem, that being our fundamental neglect of the Old Testament in general, but more on that another time. For the purpose of this post, it is enough to say that most Christians are suffering from a feeble weakened spiritual life due to a basic disregard for the Book of Psalms.

Of course, there isn’t enough time or space here to completely explore the spiritual richness of each and every chapter in this central Old Testament Book, but there is one chapter in particular that demands our attention – Psalm 119. This chapter is a vast ocean of refreshing spiritual water for the dry and weary soul, and yet, so often, we fearfully ignore it simply due to its size. And at first glance it can be overwhelming; there are 176 total verses in this single chapter. However, in spite of its imposing length, there is an artistry about this chapter that is beautiful and majestic. It lifts us out of the despair of our circumstances into the glory and hope that is the Word of God.

From a composition perspective, this chapter is an absolute masterpiece of literary artistry. It is structured in a Hebrew acrostic pattern, which means that each successive stanza begins with the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet. There are twenty-two stanzas, one each for every letter of the Hebrew alphabet, and each stanza contains eight lines, each beginning with the designated Hebrew letter for that stanza. (22 x 8 = 176) However, what is truly masterful is that almost every line contains some synonym for the Word of God. Law, testimonies, ways, precepts, statutes, commandments, judgments/ordinances, Word, promises, etc. The psalmist enumerates the perfections of God’s Word in every line literally from A to Z.

And this is perhaps the most important aspect of this glorious chapter, namely that it is written as poetry, and as such, it is intended not only to speak to our intellect but to stir our affections, to lift our souls, to restore our hope and joy. It is impossible to read this psalm and not be completely awestruck by the authors absolute joy in God’s Word. In other words, for the psalmist, the Word of God is more than a mere resource for right thinking and right doing. No, it is so much more than that. It is the foundation upon which he stands; it is the source of all his hope and joy and comfort and assurance. It is the sustenance and provision for all of his being, all of his spirituality and devotion. The Word of the one true and living God is all that he needs.

However, in spite of all of this magnificent and majestic artistry, this Psalm is still largely neglected and/or completely ignored in the devotions of most Christians and their churches. Whether it is because we find it imposing and off putting due to its length, or simply because we believe it to be redundant and repetitive, we refuse to refresh our souls at this inexhaustible spring of spiritual life. And this is absolutely to our spiritual detriment. We severely need the testimony of this Psalm in both our personal and corporate devotions, especially at a time when the sufficiency of God’s Word is being questioned more and more. Let us turn back once again to the well worn paths of biblical spirituality, and linger long over Psalm 119.

For further study:
Spurgeon, Charles H. The Golden Alphabet: An Exposition of Psalm 119. Revised and Updated. Abbotsford, WI: Aneko Press, 2018.

11 Comments | tags: Church, Devotional, Phillip Powers, Psalm 119, Psalms, Spiritual Disciplines, Spiritual Formation, Spirituality, Word of God | posted in Bible Exposition, Biblical Theology, Psalm 119, Spiritual Formation

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Tag Archives: Psalm 119

On Psalm 119.57-64 (Heth)

On Psalm 119.49-56 (Zayin)

On Psalm 119.41-48 (Waw)

On Psalm 119:33-40 (He)

On Psalm 119.25-32 (Daleth)

On Psalm 119.17-24 (Gimel)

On Psalm 119.9-16 (Beth)

On Psalm 119.1-8 (Aleph)

On Psalm 119: An Introduction and Overview

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