Psalm 119 is the longest chapter of the Bible, at 176 verses. You could call it God's Word about God's Word.
The psalm utilizes 8 different synonyms for God's Word, and uses those synonyms 178 times in 176 verses. God has something to say here about what he has to say!
With the psalm writer, we rejoice in the benefits of God's Word. How it is true, life-giving, forgiving, life-changing, enlightening, comforting, and more. We pray for God to teach us, so that we become better students of his Word, better practicers, better in meditation and memorization as we take his words to heart.
And we see God's mercy in his Word through Christ. In the final verse of the psalm, after this great exposition about God's Word—how important it is for us to know and believe and live it—we say this:
"I have strayed like a lost sheep. Seek your servant, for I have not forgotten your commands" (Psalm 119:176).
If we have not forgotten God's commands, how can we stray? Because more powerful forces of our sinful nature and pressures from the world convince us they are more reliable than God's Word. Knowing does not always equal doing.
So we stray. We get lost. We don't practice what we preach. After 176 verses praying to God about our deeper commitment to his Word, it all boils down to this: God's commitment to us. It's all worthless unless he seeks us. And he does.
Be glad today that you're not only seeking God's Word as you read this, but even now, God's Word is seeking you.
PRAYER: Dear God, your Word is alive and active. Open my eyes of faith to seek your Word, but more than than—to be glad that in your Word you are seeking me. Amen.
FURTHER MEDITATION: Read the longest chapter of the Bible in one sitting! Turn to Psalm 119. It should take about 20-25 minutes. Focus your attention in two areas: 1) How Psalm 119 describes God's Word. What is it like? It's attributes. 2) How Psalm 119 describes the results of God's Word. What does it do? Its outcomes.
Daron Lindemann
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