A pilgrim and stranger guided day and night by the Law of the Lord

If psalm 117 is the shortest, this is the longest. It is unusual in many respects. It is divided into twenty-two sections, so being commensurate with the Hebrew alphabet. Each section is prefixed with the respective letter of the alphabet, as also is the beginning of each verse in every section. It is thought that this facilitated easier memorising for the Jewish children.

Another peculiar feature is, that apart from two verses all the rest contain a synonym for the Word of God. So there is reference to testimonies, judgments, statutes, precepts, etc. The whole psalm describes devotion to, and persuasion of, the Word of God as containing all the principles of true religion and practice. Without it we have no light to our path, nor lamp for our feet; and by it, as with the book of Proverbs, there is given divine wisdom for conducting ourselves in all circumstances of life. One has written of v. 174, “Religion will decay or flourish as it (the Law) is our duty or delight.”

Pastor Jeff O’ Neil

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Psalm 119:169-176

Tau ת the twenty-second part

¹⁶⁹O let my earnest pray’r and cry
Come near before thee, LORD:
Give understanding unto me,
According to thy word.

¹⁷⁰Let my request before thee come:
After thy word me free.
¹⁷¹My lips shall utter praise, when thou
Hast taught thy laws to me.

¹⁷²My tongue of thy most blessed word
Shall speak, and it confess;
Because all thy commandements
Are perfect righteousness.

¹⁷³Let thy strong hand make help to me:
Thy precepts are my choice.
¹⁷⁴I long’d for thy salvation, LORD,
And in thy law rejoice.

¹⁷⁵O let my soul live, and it shall
Give praises unto thee;
And let thy judgments gracious
Be helpful unto me.

¹⁷⁶I, like a lost sheep, went astray;
Thy servant seek, and find:
For thy commands I suffer’d not
To slip out of my mind.