Psalm 119 is wedged in the middle of the Bible like the most delicious part of a sandwich. And it makes sense, too, because the whole Psalm is a giant love letter to Scripture. I like that God operates this way—dropping affection for the Word right in the middle of the Word.
It’s a Psalm that’s long but rich in repetition, making it perhaps most easily studied by going on a “theme hunt,” piling up similar treasures and examining them closely. From what I can tell, each treasure shares a similar concept: God’s Word is good for us.
The Psalmist was completely convinced of this, obsessing over God’s Word for a staggering 176 verses, all neatly divided into 22 stanzas that correspond with the Hebrew alphabet, like a club sandwich that just won’t quit. The structure is important because it made the longest Psalm more manageable for the original audience (who didn’t have the luxury of owning a copy of the text) to tuck the words away in their minds where it was easily accessible anytime they needed to remember the goodness of God’s Word.
If these original hearers were anything like the Psalmist, they needed to remember this in just about every circumstance—when battling sin (v. 9, 61, 115), when experiencing shame (v. 6, 31, 39, 46, 80), when suffering (v. 50, 75, 84, 92, 107), when attacked (v. 23, 69, 95), when mocked (v. 42, 51), when overwhelmed by sorrow (v. 28), when tempted to wander (v. 37, 176).
Perhaps the structure is also a reminder that God’s Word is a constant presence from A to Z, from beginning to end. After all, John teaches us in his gospel “in the beginning was the Word,” and he teaches us in Revelation that the Word will return again, ushering in his kingdom and making all things new.
We long for that day, and so did the Psalmist, citing over and over again his longing for the salvation promised within God’s Word (v. 123, 136, 139, 174). It’s the praise and plea of one who is determined to follow the Lord and yet shakes as he steps, who longs to see His kingdom come and yet laments all the clear proof that it has not yet come in full.
The psalmist’s love for God’s promises and his longing for them to be fulfilled is reminiscent of a tormented lover who is miles away from his beloved, who thinks of her often and in detail, and who longs to be together without restriction. He grieves over those who do not follow God’s law (v. 53, 126) and he writhes under the pain of personal affliction, finding comfort for both in the stability of God’s Word. It is the one place in the world where double-mindedness cannot reign (v. 113).
These are just a few of the common themes one might collect in Psalm 119, but among all the sharp, serious themes, there are two important themes that we must not miss: delight and awe.
The psalmist seems to find God’s word to be good not merely in a responsible way, like salad, but in an exciting, delicious way, like dessert. He says, “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (v. 103). He says, “I rejoice at your word like one who finds great spoil” (v. 162) and “I meditate on your wondrous works.” He proclaims, “Oh how I love your law!” and “my heart stands in awe of your words” (v. 161). His heart and his mind are captivated by God’s commands, genuinely enjoying them, feasting on them like a bountiful meal and considering them like a delightful puzzle. He knows these commands offer life (v. 77, 93, 144), and he experiences genuine delight because of them (v. 14, 16, 24, 47, 70, 77, 92, 143, 174).
As all the themes weave together over the course of the psalm, we witness the psalmist’s emotions and experiences rise and fall with delight and despair, and yet God’s Word remains steadfast, being mentioned in nearly all of the 176 verses no matter what emotion or experience each verse may contain.
This is why Psalm 119 is a lifeline not only for the psalmist and for the original hearers but for us today: No matter the high or the low, God’s Word is our steadfast anchor.
Whatever emotion or experience we endure, may God’s Word be our anchor. May it be a delicious and awe-inspiring answer for any craving. May it be a steading force for each step as we walk in longing, delighted faith, until the Word Himself returns and brings the fullness of salvation.
