04/10/2025 – Day 284 – Psalm 119 / “Psalm 119 is the thoughtful outcry that rises when real life meets real God.” (“Speaking the Truth”, p. 14. by David Powlinson)
There is just too much here to cover in one day! haha In this read through the Bible in a year program, I have found it useful to write notes of the Word that you want to follow up further after day 365. Previous cycle posts are dated 02/25/2021 and 12/08/2022.
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I have so much here, but I will start with the short summaries and work towards the greater time investments with ever greater spiritual “payback”:
Starting with a concise articulate summary of this Psalm from “The Apologetics Study Bible” footnotes:
“Psalm 119. This is the longest psalm, is a meditation on the word of God in its many forms and functions. The entire psalm is alphabetically arranged (acrostic). The first stanza is labeled alef because each of the eight verses starts with a word that begins with that letter, the first of the alphabet. The second stanza follows with the same arrangement using the second letter of the alphabet, bet; the rest of the psalm follows the same pattern through the alphabet. This scheme certainly aided in memorizing the meditation (a ‘mnemonic’ device); but it also was a way of ordering the thoughts to provide a complete meditation on the word of God — the ‘ABCs’ about the law of God. Commentators have called the composition of psalms of this type ‘learned psalmography’, that is, inspiration combined with intense scholarship and literary skill.”
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And this phrase from the past two cycles caught my eye: “…. and the design of the whole is to show the fervent affection the psalmist (David) had for the word of God, and to stir up the same in others….”
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Note – This is one of the forward notes, I have not heard these two sermons. It is not about the messenger, but Alistair Begg is on my very short list of sermons that I will post without yet listening to!
An Exposition of Psalm 119, Part two – Alistair Begg – Parkside Church
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And, we can go on and on with sublime single verses… Here is one that jumped out at me on this cycle: “Long ago I learned from Your decrees that You have established them forever.”
Check out John Gill’s commentary on this verse; He is my go-to closer guy for single verse commentary. haha:
Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old
Or, “from thy testimonies, I have known of old” F4: by carefully reading the Scriptures which testify of God, his mind an will, and frequently meditating on them, he had learned a long time ago, even from his youth, what follows,
that thou hast founded them for ever;
that the things contained in them are sure and certain, established and eternal truths; the moral law and the precepts of it are eternal, and of perpetual obligation; not one jot or tittle of them shall ever fail; the Gospel, and the truths of it, are everlasting, and shall ever remain; in spite of all the opposition, craft and cunning, fury and force of men, to undermine and root them out; see ( Psalms 119:89 ) .
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Soli Deo Gloria!