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Psalm 119 begins with ‘blessing’. – how may we be blessed, and how may we share these blessings with others?

This longest Psalm speaks of God’s all sufficient word. It is a masterpiece of design, as it reveals the beauty and blessings of God’s Word.

It has an unmistakable theme – the Word of God – and features the dynamic supernatural power of the Word of God – the sufficiency of God’s Word – and how the Word enables us to grow, and handle life’s afflictions.

The Psalms are Hebrew poetry – poetry deals with feelings, rather than information. In our Bible, and in our faith, we require both feelings and didactic content. Poetry can bring one into that area of wonder - that helps us to worship. The Psalms is the Jewish Praise Book.

As a rule, when God speaks in prose, He is communicating His thoughts from His mind to the mind of the reader, but when God speaks in poetry He is communicating His heart to the reader’s heart.

The supernatural effect on the life of the believer flows from the Word of God.

Everything we need to live our Christian lives, to glorify God, and honour Jesus Christ, is to be found in this book. The Bible directs us into the ways of God and can govern our life at every point.

This is a most unusual piece of writing – each verse in each of these 22 sections begins with the same letter. Verses 1 to 8 begin with ‘Aleph’.

Verse 1 – Blessed are those who walk according to the law of the Lord. This is not always easy – it is never easy. It is something we battle with during our entire Christian lives – but there is authority in this opening verse

The first verse sets the theme – and what follows develops this glorious theme – this goal which God sets before us.

If people who on their first coming to faith in Jesus Christ were presented with these aims and goals, what a difference it could make. Perhaps fewer would fall by the wayside, and wander and disappear.

Here we have in a different form of words what Jesus said – Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these other things will follow.

Verse 2 – Blessed are those who keep His statutes or testimonies – and seek Him with all their heart. There is repetition here – emphasising and underlining – making sure that we get the message. “The lesson has not been taught until the pupil learns.” God knows that children need to be told things time and time again – and then reminded.

In these verses we read – walk – seek – keep – consider – obey – learn.

These are motivational and inspirational words – helping us be disciples. Blessing is a consequence of obedience, as well as a mark of grace.

Verse 3 – They do nothing wrong – they walk in His ways. Again, it is not easy – but neither is it complicated. Walking – is simply taking one step at a time in a way whereby we do not fall – nor go astray – but make progress.

Verse 4 – You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed – which emphasises precision and detail. The writer realised that what GOD has said – He meant. This is a serious Book – not to be taken lightly.

We are not to be selective in what we are going to obey and what we are going to overlook. God does not give us that choice.

We have no choice – perhaps that is something else people who come to believe in Jesus need to be told very early on. That may not be all that welcome and all that popular – but it is necessary. We find out God’s ways gradually. There is no point in travelling fast if you are on the wrong road!

Our governments today are bent on making laws – new laws – more laws – different laws. The problem is keeping them.

GOD says – Keep the ones I have given you – ten very simple words.

Verse 5 – Here we are beginning to read of PURE PRAYER. We go up and down. We want to obey God, and yet we know we do not obey God – such honesty and openness. Paul found that – he writes about it in Romans Chapter 7. It is the experience of every disciple of Jesus Christ.

Sin will do all it can to prevent and keep us from obeying Jesus and His Word.

‘Statutes’ has the root meaning of ‘being engraved’ – ‘chiselled in stone’ – permanent, and never changing.

Verse 6 – We can read part of the Bible and see where we have fallen short of what God expects – this is the experience of us all.

We need to know that – not so that we can continue being disobedient – but so that we can examine our ways – our words – our lives – and correct and adjust – and bring things into line with God’s holy word.

Sin does bring shame – and Jesus can deal with sin and all the consequences of sin. ‘Commandments’ conveys that sense of the sheer sovereignty of God’s Word.

Scripture has the right to order us and command us.

Verse 7 – The Psalmist desires to praise God – pouring out his worship from an upright heart – which will be acceptable to God who has called him.

There is nothing cold and clinical and dry and formal about all this. It is really inspiring and uplifting and at times even exciting.

From Prayer to Praise is not a long journey.

Verse 8 – I will obey. GOD, I have made a decision. The hardest part for some is just getting round to making that decision.

What kind of life do I want to live? This Psalm will help us.

This is seldom an emotional matter – it is usually a calm resolve – a choice – but an important choice – a significant decision.

“I will praise” – is followed by – “I will keep”!

Do not utterly forsake me – what a request – what a prayer – he is aware of the possibility, and there is almost a trembling at the thought.

His success is not going to be fixed solely upon his determination – but upon dependence – his depending upon GOD.

The words of Jesus encourage and sustain us as we travel along the road of discipleship – “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

“Lord God – let me take time today to worship You – not just to read the Bible and pray – but to worship You – and to praise You and thank You for all the blessings You pour out through Jesus Christ. And as I worship hear me when I take time and make time to pray for others – interceding for those in dire straits – Lord God, I worship You – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.” Amen.

"Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life" from Tom Kelley

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