The Beefy Benefits Package of Psalm 119
Psalm 119 stands as one of the giants in Scripture about the priority and power of God’s Word. This song is written as an acrostic or alphabetic psalm based upon each of the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. There are eight couplets (or verses) for each Hebrew letter and each couplet begins with the corresponding Hebrew letter. Only three of the verses (couplets) do not mention a direct reference to God’s Word (v. 84, 121, 122). It is the A to Z of God’s Word.
Here are the amazing benefits of God’s Word in Psalm 119:
It expresses authoritative truth for your life. Twelve different terms are used to describe this authority: law (used 25x and reveals God’s will in command, the first 5 books of Moses or to all of Scripture); testimonies (used 10x and used as a dependable witness); ways (used 7x of God’s characteristic manner of acting); precepts (used 21x of God’s specific or detailed instructions); statutes (used 22x of its binding force); commandments (used 22x to speak of giving orders); judgments or ordinances (used 23x of justice rooted in God’s character); word (used 23x of the fact that God has spoken); word (used 19x about God's trustworthy word); faithfulness (used 1x in v. 90); righteousness (used 1x in v. 40); and name (used 1x in v. 132)
It is totally trustworthy (faithful, righteous, true—v. 86, 138, 140, 151, 160) and doesn’t change with the times (v. 89, 152).
It blesses you when you live by it (v. 1-2).
It helps you avoid shame (v. 6, 80, 116).
It motivates thanksgiving (v.7, 62).
It keeps you pure (v. 9).
It helps you stay away from sin (v. 11, 101, 104).
It will be your counselor (v. 24).
It is a tool to revive your heart (v. 25, 37, 40, 50, 88, 93, 107, 149, 154, 156, 159).
It can strengthen you in grief (v. 28).
It grows your reverence toward God (v. 38).
It provides answers against accusations (v. 42).
It helps you walk in true freedom (v. 45).
It gives you hope (v. 49, 92, 166).
It grants you comfort in affliction (v. 50, 52, 76, 92).
It binds your heart to others who follow God’s Word (v. 63).
It teaches you good discernment (v. 66).
It keeps you from straying away when suffering (v. 67).
It teaches you when you’re suffering (v. 71, 75).
It gladdens others who see you walk by His Word (v. 74).
It helps you deal with false accusations (v. 78, 86).
It makes you wiser than others around you (v 98–100).
It grants you understanding (v. 104, 125, 130).
It provides you guidance for life (v. 105, 130).
It will develop joy in your life (v. 111, 143, 162, 174).
It will give you protection (v. 114).
It assures you of the wicked’s end (v. 119).
It puts fear in your heart of God’s judgments (v. 120).
It teaches you God is righteous and His judgments are upright (v. 137–138, 144).
It teaches you God’s Word is very pure (v. 140).
It teaches you God’s Word is truth (v. 142, 151, 160).
It can rescue you during affliction (v. 153, 170).
It develops your heart to praise God (v. 164, 171, 175).
It brings peace to your life (v. 165).
It stabilizes you during trials (v. 165).
It inspires a singing heart (v. 172).
Is there truly any other form of truth that can come close to comprehensively blessing our lives like this? None that I’m aware of. No wonder God tells us to “let the word of Christ richly dwell within you” (Col. 3:16).
Pastor Jeff