This psalm is all about the Word of God. It is unique in several ways. It is the longest of all the psalms; in fact it is the longest chapter in the Bible, with 176 verses. These verses are not the divisions of an editor — they are inherent in the original. There are precisely 22 parts to this psalm, each containing 8 verses. Each verse in part one begins with the Hebrew letter Aleph, each verse in part two begins 1with Beth, each verse in part three begins with Gimel, and so on through all 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

Every verse in the psalm (except 122 and 132) specifically mentions the Word of God by one of the following words: law, testimony, way, precept, statute, commandment, judgment, word. The psalm extols the merits of reading, studying, meditating, and applying the words of Jehovah into our hearts, our lives, our beings.

From this psalm come these familiar praises. “O how I love thy law! It is my meditation all the day” (verse 97). “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them” (verse 165). “Thy testimonies … are my delight and my counsellers” (verse 24). “I shall keep thy law, yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart” (verse 34). How well these expressions fit the mind and attitude of our dear redeemer. How wonderful if these would express our sentiments also.

As the 22 sections of this psalm promoted the Word of God to the Jewish people, it is interesting that an early record says the holy books of the Hebrews were 22 in number. The comment is by Josephus, a Jewish historian who lived in the first century AD. Here is the passage.

“We have … only 22 books, which contain the records of all the past times; which are justly believed to be divine … five belong to Moses, which contain his laws, and the traditions of the origin of mankind till his death … from the death of Moses till the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia … the prophets … wrote down what was done in their times in thirteen books. The remaining four books contain hymns to God, and precepts for the conduct of human life” (Against Apion, I, 8).

BOOKS RECOMBINED

All 39 books of our Old Testament were included in the 22 books Josephus mentions, by combining some books which we now distinguish. The 12 prophets closing the Old Testament were combined into one book of the “Prophets,” the double books of first and second Samuel, Kings and Chronicles were made into one book each. Nehemiah combined with Ezra, Ruth with Judges, and Lamentations with Jeremiah.

A LAMP UNTO OUR FEET

One of the familiar texts of this psalm is verse 105. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Probably this text was in Peter’s mind when he said the “word of prophecy” is “a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts” (2 Peter 1:19). Peter seems to mean that the lamp of prophecy guides the church to the end of the age, when the morning star appears — Christ at his second advent. A morning star is seen only by the watchers, who are awake before the breaking of the new day. In the past, Christians studied prophecy to mark the progress of events toward the end of the age. But now we are here. The lamp which guided us here now shows we have arrived.

In the parable of the wise and foolish virgins there are two elements which relate directly to Psalm 119. (1) Matthew 25:6 says “at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom” — then the virgins rose, and went out to meet him. Psalm 119 says “At midnight I will rise … because of thy righteous judgments” (verses 62, 63).

(2) The parable is all about the lamps the virgins took with them, the wise taking sufficient oil, the foolish being less careful. These lamps represent the Word of God, and Psalms 119:105 identifies this symbol. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”

Therefore Psalm 119 has special meaning to us today. It encourages us to study the Word of God, to see by its light the unfolding truth — to anoint our eyes with eyesalve. In the light of this lamp, we have been richly blessed. The meat in due season has greatly strengthened us.

— Adapted from a study by I. A. Joseph, India

Download PDF