WEDNESDAY 19th
Psalm 119 (Verses in devotion)
A quick glance through this Psalm, soon uncovers several different words or phrases used to describe the Word of God. Initially to those who would have read this psalm, it would have been looking back to the commandments that God had given to his people the Children of Israel which we see within the first five books, Genesis through to Deuteronomy. Today the phrase the Word of God covers both the Old Testament and the New Testament as found in our Scriptures today. And just as the first five books would have been instructive and important to the Children of Israel so the whole Scripture is or should be to us today.
Today we will look at some of the various descriptions used for the Word of God.
In the ESV I use daily I have gone through the psalm and underlined every word that is used with reference to the Word of God, and they total up as follows: (with an example)
Commands or commandments – 23 (119:10 ‘With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!’)
Word(s) – 29 (119:57 ‘The LORD is my portion; I promise to keep your words.’)
Statutes – 22 (119:33 ‘Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes; and I will keep it to the end.’)
Precepts – 21 (119:56 ‘This blessing has fallen to me, that I have kept your precepts.’)
Law – 24 (119:34 ‘Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart.’)
Rules – 17 (119:102 ‘I do not turn aside from your rules, for you have taught me.’)
Testimonies – 24 (119:125 ‘I am your servant; give me understanding, that I may know your testimonies!’)
If I also include:
Judgments – 2 (119:120 ‘My flesh trembles for fear of you, and I am afraid of your judgments.’)
Promise(s) – 9 (119:38 ‘Confirm to your servant your promise, that you may be feared.’)
Ways – 2 (119:37 ‘Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.’)
That is 173 references in 176 verses! This surely emphasises how important the Word of God should be to us his people!