Psalms 119:1-176

Psalms 107:150

Gordon Churchyard

The Word of God

Psalms 119

Jesus said, "If you love me you will obey me" (John 14:15).

The Story of Psalms 119

Solomon was king of Israel nearly 1000 years Before Christ came to the earth (B.C.). Solomon built the house of God that was in Jerusalem. We call it "the *temple". About 600 B.C. a nation called Babylon fought the *Jews. A nation is a country with a government. Babylon was 800 kilometres east of Jerusalem. The Babylonians won the fight and they took many *Jews to Babylon. We call this "the *exile". The Babylonians also destroyed the *temple.

After the *exile many *Jews went back to their own country. About 500 B.C. they built the *temple again. Then they made the Book of Psalms to sing in the new *temple. Some were old psalms by David, Moses and Isaiah. Other psalms were new like Psalms 1; Psalms 119 was probably one of these new psalms. It is a very special psalm. There are 176 verses (or parts) in it. Some people think that 176 different people wrote one verse each. Other people think that Ezra wrote all Psalms 119. Ezra was a *Jewish leader about 450 B.C.

There are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet. The *Jews spoke Hebrew, so they wrote Psalms 119 in the Hebrew language. The first letter of the Hebrew alphabet is aleph. Verses 1-8 all begin with aleph. Beth is the second letter. Verses 9-16 all begin with beth. Verses 17-24 all begin with the 3rd letter and so on. So, there are 22 times 8, or 176 verses in the psalm. We think that they did this to make it easier for them to remember the psalm. It was probably a psalm that *Jewish leaders had to remember. We have not made the verses start with the right letter in this translation. We have put the psalm into 22 groups with 8 verses in each group.

There are also 8 special words in the psalm. To the *Jews these 8 words were important. They described what God told them to do. They are also important for Christians, because they tell them the ways that God speaks to them. The most important way is through the Bible. Christians call the Bible "The Word of God". Psalms 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible. You will probably find that you can study it more easily in groups of 8 verses.

Here are the 8 special words:

1. word (dabar in Hebrew): it means things like the 10 commandments in Exodus chapter 20. These were the 10 things that God told his people to do or not to do.

2. saying (imrah): this is another way to say word.

3. statutes (chuqqim): these are the rules that the *Jews made early in their history. We translate it *laws in Psalms 119. "History" means the story of what happened.

4. judgments (mishpatim): a later word for statutes. We translate it "rules" in Psalms 119.

5. law (torah): this means the first 5 books of the Bible. Later it included other books like Isaiah and Jeremiah. We translate it "*teaching" in Psalms 119.

6. *commands (mitsvat): what someone with authority tells you to do.

7. precepts (piqqudim): these give us help when we want to know what to do. We translate it "*guidelines" in Psalms 119.

8. testimonies (eduth): these are the things that God tells us to do as *Jews or Christians. We translate it "*instructions" in Psalms 119.

There are other important words in Psalms 119. They include way and path; *heart and follow.

Way and path both mean the same thing in the psalm. They mean: what we do in our lives. Our way can be good or bad. If we obey Psalms 119, our way will be good. Jesus said, "I am the way" (John 14:6). If we obey Jesus, our way will be good. In Acts 9:2, "in the way" is another name for "being a Christian".

*heart does not mean the same thing each time it comes:

• "a clean *heart" means that God has forgiven us

• "in my *heart" means "in my mind"

• "all my/their *heart" means "all that I/they can do in the body or mind"

Your *heart in the psalms often means all of you! When God *forgives us, he gives our *sin to Jesus. He takes it away. Our *sin is the bad things that we do.

Follow in verses 4, 14, 15, 56, 63, 87, 100, 133, 168 and 173 means "obey".

Psalms 119

ALEPH

v1 The people that make no mistakes in the way are very happy.
They obey the *teaching of the *LORD.

v2 The people that keep to his *instructions are very happy.
They look for him with all their *heart.

v3 Also, they do nothing that is wrong.
They walk in his ways.

v4 You have made *guidelines for me.
I must follow them all.

v5 I want to make sure
that my ways obey your *laws.

v6 Then I will not be ashamed
when I remember all your *commands.

v7 I will *praise you with a clean *heart
when I learn your *righteous rules.

v8 I will obey your *laws.
Do not ever stop giving me help.

BETH

v9 How can a young man keep his path clean?
He must obey your words.

v10 I have looked for you with all my *heart.
Do not let me forget your *commands.

v11 I have hidden your *sayings in my *heart
so that I do not *sin against you.

v12 *LORD, you are *blessed!
Teach me your *laws.

v13 My lips repeat all the *commands of your mouth.

v14 I am happier following the way by your *instructions
than having a lot of money.

v15 I want to think about your *guidelines
and follow your paths.

v16 I am very happy with your *laws.
I will not forget your word.

GIMEL

v17 Be kind to your servant.
Then I will live and obey your word.

v18 Open my eyes
and I will see *wonderful things in your *teaching.

v19 I am a stranger in the earth.
Do not hide your *commands from me.

v20 I love to obey your rules so much
that I have no interest in other things.

v21 You are angry with the people who think that they are important.
Bad things will happen to them
when they walk away from your *commands.

v22 Some people say bad and *unkind things about me
because I keep to your *instructions.
Take me away from those people.

v23 *Princes sit down and make plans against me.
But your servant thinks only about your *laws.

v24 Yes! Your *instructions make me really happy.
They are like people that tell me what to do.

DALETH

v25 I am lying on the ground.
Give me the life that your word promises to me.

v26 I told you about my ways and you answered me.
Teach me your *laws.

v27 Make me to understand what your *guidelines mean.
Then I will always think about the *wonderful things that you do.

v28 My very great *sadness has made me tired.
Make me strong again as your word promises.

v29 Take the false way from me.
Be kind to me in your *teaching.

v30 I have chosen the right way.
I will not forget your rules.

v31 I will keep to your *instructions, *LORD.
Do not make me ashamed.

v32 I will run in the way of your *commands
because you give help to my *heart.

HE

v33 *LORD, give me help to understand your *laws,
then I will always obey them.

v34 Explain your *teaching to me, then I will always obey it.
I will do it with all my *heart.

v35 Make me to walk in the path where your *orders send me.
Do that because it will give me much pleasure.

v36 Turn my *heart to your *instructions
and not to wanting *riches.

v37 Turn my eyes away from looking at things that have no value.
Give me the life that is in your word.

v38 Do for your servant the things that your *sayings promise.
This will make him be afraid of you.

v39 I am afraid of being ashamed.
Do not let it happen, because your rules are good.

v40 I really want your *guidelines.
Keep me alive as you are *righteous.

VAV

v41 *LORD, I want your kind love to come to me
and I want your *sayings to make me safe.

v42 Then I will have something to say to the people that laugh at me.
They laugh at me because I *trust in your word.

v43 Do not take a true word away from my mouth,
because I put my hope in your rules.

v44 I will always obey your *teaching,
I will never stop.

v45 I will be free to walk anywhere
because I look for your *guidelines.

v46 I will talk about your *instructions before kings.
I will not be ashamed.

v47 I love your *commands
and I am very happy with them.

v48 I lift up my hands to your *commands, which I love.
I am always thinking about your *laws.

ZAYIN

v49 Remember your word to your servant.
You made me put my hope in it.

v50 Your *sayings *comfort me when I am sad.
They comfort me because they give me life.

v51 *Proud people laugh at me all the time,
but I do not turn away from your *teaching.

v52 *LORD, I remember the rules that you made long ago.
They make me feel better.

v53 I get very angry
when *godless people turn away from your *teaching.

v54 Your *laws are my songs
in the house where I live.

v55 *LORD, in the night I will remember your name.
I will keep your *teaching.

v56 I do this
because I follow your *guidelines.

HETH

v57 *LORD, you are everything to me.
I promise to obey your words.

v58 I ask you, with all my *heart,
to *have *mercy on me as you have promised.

v59 I have thought about my ways,
and my feet are going back to follow your *instructions.

v60 I will hurry to obey your *commands
and I will not be slow.

v61 People who do not know God are all round me.
They tie me up but still I do not forget your *teaching.

v62 I get up in the middle of the night to *praise you
because your rules are *righteous.

v63 I am a friend of everyone that is afraid of you.
And I am a friend of those who follow your *guidelines.

v64 *LORD, the earth is full of your kind love.
Teach me your *laws.

TETH

v65 You do good things for your servant, *LORD,
as your word says.

v66 Teach me. Then I will choose and know what is right.
I will do that because I *trust your *commands.

v67 Before I was in trouble with you I made mistakes.
But now I keep to your *sayings.

v68 You are good and you do good things.
Teach me your *laws.

v69 *Proud men have told me lots of lies,
but your *guidelines are of great value to me.

v70 #Their *heart is fat and they are *stupid;
but I love your *teaching.

v71 My trouble was good for me.
It made me learn your *laws.

v72 *Teaching from your mouth is better for me
than a lot of *silver and gold.

#This is the *heart of the *proud men in verse 69. It means that they cannot think clearly.

JODH

v73 Your hands*created me. And they made me what I am.
Help me to understand and learn your *commands.

v74 The people that are afraid of you will be happy.
They will be happy when they see me.
This is because I am *trusting in your word.

v75 *LORD, I know that your rules are *righteous.
You were right when you sent me trouble.

v76 Now your kind love makes me feel better.
You promised this to your servant in your *sayings.

v77 Send your love to me and I will live!
Your *teaching makes me really happy.

v78 *Proud men will be ashamed
because they say lies about me without any reason.

v79 The people that are afraid of you will turn to me again.
They understand your *instructions.

v80 My *heart will make no mistakes about your *laws.
I will not be ashamed.

KAPH

v81 I feel weak while I wait for you to save me.
My hope is in your word.

v82 My eyes are closing while I look for your *sayings.
I say, "When will you *comfort me?"

v83 I am like #a *wineskin in smoke
but I will not forget your *guidelines.

v84 The life of your servant is not very long.
When will you make the people that *persecute me obey your rules?

v85 *Proud people have made *traps for me.
Your *teaching says that they must not do this.

v86 All your *commands are true.
But people still *persecute me with lies. Give me help!

v87 People on earth almost destroyed me,
but I did not stop following your *guidelines.

v88 Your kind love gives me life.
I will obey your *instructions.

# We are not sure what this means.

LAMED

v89 *LORD, your word will always rule in the *heavens.

v90 Your *truth will continue from one century to the next.
You have fixed the earth and it will remain.

v91 #They remain today as your rules say they must.
They are all your servants.

v92 If your *teaching had not made me happy
then my great *sadness would have destroyed me.

v93 I will never forget your *guidelines
because in them you give me life.

v94 I am yours, save me!
Do it because I have looked for your *guidelines.

v95 The *godless wait to destroy me,
but I am studying your *instructions.

v96 I see that all that is good on earth will finish.
But your *commands have no end.

#"they" probably means the earth and the stars in the *heavens (skies).

MEM

v97 I love your *teaching very much.
I think about it all day long.

v98 Your *commands teach me more than my enemies.
Your *commands are always with me.

v99 I understand more than all my teachers
because I think about your *commands.

v100 I understand more than the old people
because I follow your *guidelines.

v101 I do not let my feet walk in any *evil path
because I obey your word.

v102 I do not turn away from your rules,
because you teach me.

v103 Your *sayings are like *honey to me.
They are like something that tastes good.

v104 Your *guidelines give me help to understand things,
so I hate every wrong path.

NUN

v105 Your word is a *lamp to my foot
and a light to my path.

v106 I have really promised to keep your *righteous rules
and I will do it.

v107 People have hurt me very much.
Give me the life that your word promises.

v108 *LORD, I pray that you will be happy with what I say.
And I pray that you will teach me your rules.

v109 I am always in danger,
but I never forget your *teaching.

v110 *Wicked people have made a *trap for me,
but I do not go away from your *guidelines.

v111 Your *instructions will always be with me
and they make my *heart very happy.

v112 I will make my *heart obey your *instructions always, to the end.

SAMEKH

v113 I hate the people that do not believe you.
But I love your *teaching.

v114 You are my secret place where I can hide.
I put my hope in your word.

v115 Go away from me, you bad people!
I will obey my God's *commands.

v116 Give me help and life, as your word promises.
And do not make me ashamed, because I hope in you.

v117 Give me help and I will be safe.
I will always obey your *laws.

v118 You turn away from people that do not follow your *laws.
This is because they speak lies.
And they are not honest.

v119 You destroy all the bad people in the world as *rubbish.
For this reason I love your *instructions.

v120 Am afraid of you and it makes my body *shiver.
I am afraid of your rules.

AYIN

v121 I was *righteous and I obeyed the rules.
Do not give me to my *oppressors.

v122 Make sure that good things happen to your servant.
Do not let *proud people become my *oppressors.

v123 My eyes have stopped seeing that you are saving me.
They do not see your *righteous *sayings.

v124 Do with your servant what your kind love suggests.
Teach me your *laws.

v125 I am your servant. Explain your *instructions to me
so that I understand them.

v126 It is time for the *LORD to do something.
People have not obeyed your *teaching.

v127-128 I hate every wrong path because:
• I love your *commands more than gold, *pure gold
• I think that all your *guidelines are right

PE

v129 I obey your *instructions
because they are *wonderful.

v130 When I read your words they bring light.
They help people that do not know enough to understand things.

v131 My mouth is wide open as I *breathe.
This is because I am so *eager for your *commands.

v132 Turn to me and have *mercy on me.
Your rules say that you will do this.
You will do this to people that love your name.

v133 Make my feet follow your *sayings.
Do not let *sin rule over me.

v134 Make me free from *oppressors
and I will follow your *guidelines.

v135 Show a kind face to your servant
and teach me your *laws.

v136 Streams of water come from my eyes
because people do not obey your *teaching.

TSADHE

v137 *LORD, you are *righteous
and your rules are good.

v138 The *instructions that you gave are very fair.
And we can *trust in them.

v139 I am so *eager that it makes me feel weak.
But my enemies do not listen to your words.

v140 We have found that your *sayings are true.
Your servant loves them.

v141 I am not important and people do not like me.
But I will not forget your *guidelines.

v142 You are always *righteous and fair.
Your *teachings are true.

v143 An enemy brought me trouble,
but your *commands make me happy.

v144 Your *instructions are always fair.
Make me understand them and find life.

KOPH

v145 I cried with all my *heart. "Answer me, *LORD".
"I will obey your *laws", I cried.

v146 "Save me
and I will keep to your *instructions."

v147 I woke up before dawn and cried to you for help.
I want all that you promised in your word.

v148 I stayed up all night
and thought about your *sayings.

v149 Listen to my voice, because you are loving and kind.
*LORD, keep me alive as your rules promise me.

v150 The people that *persecute me are coming near.
They want to do something very bad to me.
They are far away from your *teaching.

v151 *LORD, you are near to me.
All your *commands are true.

v152 I have known about your *instructions for a long time.
And I have known that you made them to continue always.

RESH

v153 Look at my trouble!
Save me because I do not forget your *teaching.

v154 Fight my fight for me and *redeem me.
Keep me alive as your *sayings promise me.

v155 *Godless people are far away from being safe.
They do not look for your *laws.

v156 *LORD, your love is great,
because your rules keep me alive.

v157 Many enemies *persecute me
but I do not go away from your *instructions.

v158 I see people doing such bad things that I hate them.
But, I do not stop obeying your *sayings.

v159 See how I love your *guidelines, *LORD.
Keep me alive through your kind love.

v160 All your words are true.
All your *righteous rules will continue always.

SHIN

v161 *Princes *persecute me for no good reason.
But it is your word that really makes my *heart afraid.

v162 I am very happy with your *sayings.
I am like someone that finds great riches.

v163 I do not like *lies, I hate them.
Your *teaching is what I love.

v164 I *praise you 7 times every day
because of your *righteous rules.

v165 People that love your *teaching have a lot of *peace.
Nothing will make them fall down.

v166 *LORD, I am waiting for you to save me
while I obey your *commands.

v167 I will keep to your *instructions
because I love them so much.

v168 I follow your *guidelines and *instructions
because you see all that I do.

TAV

v169 I am calling to you for help, *LORD.
I want to understand your word.

v170 Hear what I pray and have *mercy on me.
Save me, as your *sayings promise me.

v171 My lips will pour out *praise
because you are *teaching me your *laws.

v172 My *tongue will sing your *sayings
because all your *commands are *righteous.

v173 I want your hand to come to my help
because I chose to follow your *guidelines.

v174 *LORD, I want you to save me.
Your *teaching makes me very happy.

v175 Give me life so that I can *praise you.
May your rules give me help.

v176 I have become like a lost sheep.
Look for your servant,
because I have not forgotten your *commands.

Something to do

1. Find which 8 verse groups have all 8 special words in them. (See The Story of Psalms 119.)

2. Learn to say some of the verses without looking at the words. Try verses 11, 33, 97, 105 and any other verses that you like.

3. Find the verses that talk about

(a) being very happy;

(b) what the *psalmist did in the night;

(c) *comfort;

(d) people that *persecute me.

4. Find all the verses with "*heart" in them and decide what each means. Look in The Story of Psalms 119 for help.

Hebrew ~ the language that the Jews spoke; they wrote the Psalms in Hebrew.
temple ~ a place where people meet to worship God.
Jew ~ a person who is born from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their children; a person who has the faith of the Jews, called Judaism.
faith ~ belief in someone or something; in the Psalms, belief in God.
exile ~ away from your own country.
Jewish ~ a word that describes a Jew or anything to do with a Jew.
Jew ~ a person who is born from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their children; a person who has the faith of the Jews, called Judaism.
faith ~ belief in someone or something; in the Psalms, belief in God.
laws ~ the rules in a country. In Psalm 78 the rules in the first 5 books of the Bible.
teaching ~ (in Psalm 119) part of the first 5 books of the bible.
command ~ tell someone to do something.
guideline ~ rules; they help us when we do not know what to do.
instruction ~ something that God or someone else tells us to do.
heart ~ (in Hebrew poems), "heart" means "mind", the part of us that thinks.
heart ~ part of the body. Jews believed that you thought in your heart.
poem ~ using words in a special (often very beautiful) way.
Jew ~ a person who is born from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their children; a person who has the faith of the Jews, called Judaism.
faith ~ belief in someone or something; in the Psalms, belief in God.
forgive ~ take away the results of sin. (But look in the notes on Psalm 85:2.)
sin ~ not obeying God; or what you do when you do not obey God.
sin ~ not obeying God; or what you do when you do not obey God.
Lord ~ a name for God; it means he has authority, or "master"; It is the word "Adonai" in Hebrew. Look also at LORD below.
LORD ~ a special name for God that his people use. It is the covenant name of God. In Hebrew it is Yahweh or Jehovah. Look after Psalm 25 in Book 1 of the Psalms of David for more about the names of God.
lord ~ someone with authority.
LORD ~ the covenant name for God (in a covenant you agree with someone).
Hebrew ~ the language that the Jews spoke; they wrote the Psalms in Hebrew.
covenant ~ two people have agreed what each should do (here, God and his people). Look in Psalm 120 about the covenant.
Yahweh ~ the covenant name for God. Most Bibles translate it LORD with 4 capital letters. It means something like "I am" or "always alive".
Jehovah ~ how some languages say Yahweh, one of the names of God in Hebrew.
praise ~ to say how great someone is; or, words that say how great someone is.
righteous ~ very good (only God is really righteous). God says that the people who love and obey him are righteous. Sometimes we say they are "the righteous", meaning "righteous people". Look after Psalm 5 in Book 1 of the Psalms of David for more about the word "righteous".
sayings ~ words that God has said.
blessed ~ someone that God has said or done good things to.
wonderful ~ great and surprising.
unkind ~ the opposite of kind.
prince ~ son of a king.
sadness ~ to feel very sad.
order ~ these words tell someone what they must do.
riches ~ a lot of money and other things of value.
trust ~ believe that someone (usually God in the psalms) will be kind to you.'comfort me ~ make me strong and/or happier; say kind things to me and give me help.'proud people ~ proud people think that they are good and clever. But they may not be.
godless ~ people that do not obey God, and that fight against him.
mercy ~ being kind when you do not have to be kind.
stupid ~ opposite of clever.
teaching ~ (in Psalm 119) part of the first 5 books of the bible.
silver ~a metal of great value, like gold.
create ~ make.
wineskin ~ a wineskin is like a bottle. People made them from animal skins. People store wine in wineskins.
wine ~ a drink with alcohol in it. People make it from grapes.
grapes ~ the fruit of a plant called the vine. People use them to make drink that has alcohol in it. The drink is wine.'persecute me ~ do bad things to me because of what I believe.
trap ~ thing that you catch animals or birds in.
heavens ~ the skies (with sun, moon and stars) or the home of God.
truth ~ words that are true.
evil ~ very, very bad.
honey ~ a special sugar made by insects called bees.
lamp ~ light that you can carry with you.
wicked ~ very, very bad.
rubbish ~ what people throw away.
shiver ~ feel very, very cold.
oppressors ~ people that hurt me. They can hurt me because they are stronger than me.'proud people ~ proud people think that they are good and clever. But they may not be.
pure ~ very, very clean.
breathe ~ air going through our mouths.
eager ~ want very much for something to happen; wanting to do something very much.'redeem me ~ buy me back from the enemy.
godless ~ people that do not obey God, and that fight against him.
lies ~ words that are not true.
peace ~ when we are friends with God and with other people; or when we have no trouble in our minds; when there is no war and everybody is happy.
tongue ~ the part of our mouth that we talk with.
psalmist ~ the person that wrote a psalm (or psalms).