BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO…

Passage: Psalms 119:1-16

Key verse: 2

NIV

Psalm 119[a]

א Aleph

1 Blessed are those whose ways are blameless,(A)
    who walk(B) according to the law of the Lord.(C)
2 Blessed(D) are those who keep his statutes(E)
    and seek him(F) with all their heart—(G)
3 they do no wrong(H)
    but follow his ways.(I)
4 You have laid down precepts(J)
    that are to be fully obeyed.(K)
5 Oh, that my ways were steadfast
    in obeying your decrees!(L)
6 Then I would not be put to shame(M)
    when I consider all your commands.(N)
7 I will praise you with an upright heart
    as I learn your righteous laws.(O)
8 I will obey your decrees;
    do not utterly forsake me.(P)

ב Beth

9 How can a young person stay on the path of purity?(Q)
    By living according to your word.(R)
10 I seek you with all my heart;(S)
    do not let me stray from your commands.(T)
11 I have hidden your word in my heart(U)
    that I might not sin(V) against you.
12 Praise be(W) to you, Lord;
    teach me(X) your decrees.(Y)
13 With my lips I recount
    all the laws that come from your mouth.(Z)
14 I rejoice in following your statutes(AA)
    as one rejoices in great riches.
15 I meditate on your precepts(AB)
    and consider your ways.
16 I delight(AC) in your decrees;
    I will not neglect your word.

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Footnotes
  1. Psalm 119:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the stanzas of which begin with successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet; moreover, the verses of each stanza begin with the same letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Your Word Is a Lamp to My Feet

Aleph

119 [a] Blessed are those whose (A)way is blameless,
    who (B)walk in the law of the Lord!
2 Blessed are those who (C)keep his (D)testimonies,
    who (E)seek him with their whole heart,
3 who also (F)do no wrong,
    but walk in his ways!
4 You have commanded your (G)precepts
    to be kept diligently.
5 Oh that my ways may (H)be steadfast
    in keeping your statutes!
6 (I)Then I shall not be put to shame,
    having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.
7 I will praise you with an upright heart,
    when I learn (J)your righteous rules.[b]
8 I will keep your statutes;
    (K)do not utterly forsake me!

Beth

9 How can (L)a young man keep his way pure?
    By guarding it according to your word.
10 (M)With my whole heart I seek you;
    let me not (N)wander from your commandments!
11 I have (O)stored up your word in my heart,
    that I might not sin against you.
12 Blessed are you, O Lord;
    (P)teach me your statutes!
13 With my lips I (Q)declare
    all the rules[c] of your mouth.
14 In the way of your testimonies I (R)delight
    as much as in all (S)riches.
15 I will (T)meditate on your precepts
    and fix my eyes on your (U)ways.
16 I will (V)delight in your statutes;
    I will not forget your word.

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Footnotes
  1. Psalm 119:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem of twenty-two stanzas, following the letters of the Hebrew alphabet; within a stanza, each verse begins with the same Hebrew letter
  2. Psalm 119:7 Or your just and righteous decrees; also verses 62, 106, 160, 164
  3. Psalm 119:13 Or all the just decrees
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 119

Psalm 119 is the longest psalm (and chapter) in the Bible. It’s all about the word of God and the character of God. The author repeatedly uses 8 Hebrew words translated into English in the NIV as follows, with their definitions:

Law: instruction

Laws: what the Judge rules to be right

Statute: what God testifies is his will

Precept: what God appoints to be done

Decree: what the Lawgiver lays down

Command: what God commands

Word: what God speaks

Promise: what God will faithfully bring to pass

Psalm 119 is an acrostic poem and prayer. The psalm has 8 verses all beginning with the same letter, through the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet (like going from A to Z in English). For example, the first 8 verses would all begin with the letter A and the last 8 verses with the letter Z. Try to praise God for his word or character with every English letter: All your words are true…Zeal for your promises delights me. It’s a powerful way to prayerfully meditate on God and his word.

(1-8) Psalm 119 begins, like Psalm 1, speaking of who is blessed. They are blameless and walk according to the LORD’s law. They keep his statutes (what God testifies is his will) and seek him with all their heart. They avoid doing wrong, but rather follow God’s ways. The LORD has laid down precepts (covenant regulations) to be fully obeyed. See the psalmist’s prayer (5)! He wants to live unashamed, praising and obeying God with an upright heart.

(9-16) How can anyone live a pure life in this chaotic, sin sick world? By living according to God’s word. Seek God with all your heart (2,1

). Hide his word in your heart. Praise God. Learn his decrees. Recite God’s word. Rejoice in pursuing truth as great riches. Meditate on, delight in, and don’t neglect God’s word. Those who do these things are indeed blessed.

Prayer: Father, thank you for your holy word. May I seek you with all my heart, and may I rejoice and delight in your life-giving words, as if I won a lottery. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

One Word: Seek God wholeheartedly; delight in his precious word