It was not easy reading, but it was worth the nuggets of gold to be found by taking it slowly and digesting it, literally, one verse at a time. Commentary on psalms 119 by matthew henry blue letter bible. The equivalent alphabet in the new testament, which is written in greek, would be alpha and omega see revelation 1. Psalm 119 is a famous example, written with 8 verses for each of the hebrew consonants in order, so verses 18 each have a first word beginning with. Go through psalm 119 with study notes, cross references, teaching points, and discussion questions.
Apr 19, 2015 so, well explore psalm 11 now and i think well be encouraged with davids resolve, which we could summarize in this statement. Free bible commentary on the book of psalms in easy english. The author had deep union with god and deep understanding of his word. Let your trust in the lord remove your fear of evil. Sep 07, 2014 psalm 119 is a massive alphabetic acrostic, in which its 176 verses are divided into stanzas of eight verses, each of which begins with a successive letter of the hebrew alphabet. Psalms 119 commentary matthew henry commentary on the. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading psalm 119. A devotional commentary on psalm 119 by david chapman.
The psalms are directed at yahweh as listener and are intended to express the full range of human emotion for various individual and group settings, such as praise, thanksgiving, petition, and lament. Book notes barnes book notes jamieson, fausset, and brown book notes. As the writer begins his prayer, note the requests he make of god as well as his testimonies about god. The book of psalms in modern protestant bibles includes 150 poetic compositions meant to be sung or spoken by gods people. There has been much discussion through history of whether psalm 117 or. In this verse the psalmist testifies that the divine law was his schoolmaster and guide in leading a holy life. Eight hebrew words are used to refer to gods word in psalm 119. No entry exists in forerunner commentary for psalms 119. When we form an idea of a blessedly holy man psalms 119.
After the exile many jews went back to their own country. Psalm 119 is found in book five of the psalms 107150. The commandment of the lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The many various ways he referred to gods written revelation shows us how much he knew, loved, and respected gods word. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Jun 25, 2018 psalm 119 is a psalm or song written by god to summarize the power and purpose of his word. The author of psalm 119 is unknown, but most scholars agree that it was written by david, ezra, or daniel. Apr 23, 20 psalm 119 shows us that the word of god should have top priority in our lives.
More modern commentators sometimes conclude that it is postexilic, coming from the days of nehemiah or ezra. Psalm 119 bible commentary matthew henry concise christianity. The word of god or download in r tf format psalm 1204. This phraseology appears in psalm 119 several times. Psalm 119 is a famous example, written with 8 verses for each of the hebrew consonants in order, so verses 18 each have a first word beginning with aleph and verses 916 each have a first word beginning with beth, and so on. Psalms 107150 in one file or download in r tf format. My usual practice when writing the commentary for a biblical passage is to treat each verse or phrase individuallyalbeit with an introduction to help the reader appreciate the context. This is an incredibly rich book, covering nuggets of truth in each and every verse in psalm 119 there is a different numbering system in eastern theology, thus the title reference to ps.
The pain may occur because we are being formed and prepared for what lies ahead. The collected psalms comprise the largest book in the bible and the most frequently quoted old testament book in the new testament. The writer desires gods favor, that he may praise him for his truth, confesses that he has erred, but, in the midst of all his wanderings and adversities, professes an abiding attachment to the revealed word of god, the theme of such repeated eulogies, and the recognized source of such great and. The hebrew alphabet, acrostic psalms, picture letters. Psalms 119 commentary commentary critical and explanatory. If someone were to have a divided heart, that person would have his or her focus and attention split between gods law and something else. He thus, by his own example, prescribes the same rule to us all. The more we love the law of god, the more watchful we shall be, lest vain thoughts draw us from what we love. It is generally allowed, that david composed this highly instructive psalm. If we understand that old testament laws have application under the new covenant, then we should also understand that psalm 119. Thomas manton, a prolific puritan, wrote a threevolume work on psalm 119, with each.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet daily bible reading series book 6. Sep 01, 2017 just as psalm 119 is the longest chapter of the bible, two psalms just before, psalm 117, is the shortest chapter of all. Where needed, i include verses that the lectionary skipped. The word of god is a heart affecting book, and when we begin to sing its praises it. Psalm 119 is remarkable for how often it refers to gods written. He not only read the book of the law, but digested. As the heart glows with love to holiness, we long to have a personal interest in it. To doubt of our own wisdom and strength, and to depend upon god, proves the purpose of. To what do the various musical terms in the book of psalms refe. Containing 176 verses, psalm 119 is the longest single chapter in the bible. It is much longer than any of them more than twice as long as any of them. Here the author of psalm 119 uses, for the first time, a phrase referring to the written revelation of god. Christophers bible material is psalm 119 the great psalm of bible delight. Psalm 119, the first eight verses of which is the appointed psalm for this.
The changes are rung upon the wordsway undefiled in the way. Psalm 119 is the 119th psalm of the book of psalms, beginning in english in the king james version. The law of the lord happy are those whose lives are faultless,who live according to the law of the lord. A devotional commentary on psalm 119 kindle edition. And the psalmist resolves to keep gods law, in a constant course of obedience, without backsliding. Biblical commentary bible study psalm 119 exegesis. But writing the commentary for this passage was a challenge due to the length of. Luther and hilary, and other excellent men, think that here a compendium of the whole of theology is briefly set forth.
What i am finding in bridges is that it is about how the christian experiences the word of god in about 176 ways. While the primary purpose of the book is to stimulate bible delight in teachers and hearers of gods word, the book would be ideal guide to tackling a preaching or teaching series on psalm 119. Murphy, in a commentary on the book of psalms, 1875. Commentary for psalms 119 the general scope and design of this psalm is to magnify the divine law, and make it honourable. It is divided into twentytwo parts or stanzas, denoted by the twentytwo letters of the hebrew alphabet. Would we make progress in keeping gods commands, we must be separate from evildoers. The bible warns of the dreadful chastisement or judgment of the word of god being taken from us amos 8. The pardoning mercy of god in christ, is the only source of a sinners happiness. Even though the writer of psalm 119 is unconfirmed, some of the verses below give credibility to david being the author of psalm 119 because of similarity in language to the davidic psalms. Chapter 119 this is a psalm by itself, like none of the rest. This is a unique book because cunningham takes each hebrew letter. In other words, pain does not always mean that we are being punished. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. Acrostic psalms we can learn the alephbet by examining various biblical passages which are written as acrostics alphabetically ordered verses and each first word commencing with each hebrew letter of the alphabet in turn, from 1 through to 22.
Best commentaries and books on psalms logos bible software. The format of psalm 119 is an alphabetic acrostic, meaning that the first letters of each. There has been much discussion through history of whether psalm 117 or 118. In the verses following he lists at least three things that come from this life of obedience. The golden alphabet this book title has minor damage on the backs of these books from the printer not letting this book title dry before packing it. It is not making long prayers that christ censurers, but making them for a pretence, which intimates that they are in themselves good and commendable. The author apparently wrote it while under some kind of. The book of psalms is in the third section of the hebrew bible, the khetuvim, and a book of the christian old testament. The word of god is a heart affecting book, and when we begin to. Thematically, the psalms cover a wide spectrum of topics, ranging from heavenly worship to earthly war. It is known as a wisdom psalm, meaning it gives instruction about gods will and righteous living. Thus, verses 18 all begin with the first letter of the hebrew alphabet, aleph. Solomon was king of israel nearly years before christ came to the earth. Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies.
Teach me thy statutes, not the mere words, but the way of applying them to myself. Each stanza contains eight verses, and the first letter of each verse is that which gives name to the stanza. The second phrase, who walk in the law of the l ord, defines what is meant by the first phrase, undefiled in the way. The commandment is a lamp kept burning with the oil of the spirit, as a light to direct us in the choice of our way, and the steps we take in that way. Just as psalm 119 is the longest chapter of the bible, two psalms just before, psalm 117, is the shortest chapter of all.
Psalms 119 commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. Happy are those who follow his commands,who obey him with all their heart. A good man carries his bible with him, if not in his hands, yet in his head and in his heart. I have always understood that psalm 119 is about the word of god. It is often associated with the pentateuch, the first five books of the hebrew scriptures, which include history and poetry in addition to law.
It stands as the giant among the psalms it is the longest psalm and the longest chapter in the bible176 verses. The best of the best for psalm 119 the cripplegate. Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently. According to the pattern recorded in psalm 119, this should be the response of every christian to the word of god. Longer than all but three of pauls epistles we have a book within a book, by the author of the book about the book of books. I have often been wont to call this book not inappropriately, an anatomy of all parts of the soul for there is not an. Since the book of psalms is the longest book in the bible, it shows us the priority of praise and worship to god.
There are ten words by which divine revelation is called in this psalm, and each expresses what god expects from us, and what we may expect from him. Thus we may make a chain out of the opening verses of the three first octaves of this psalm. We can learn from this that god inflicts pain not merely because we sin. Jesus said, if you love me you will obey me john 14. Those that make gods promises their portion, may with humble boldness make them their plea. O how love i thy law i it is my meditation all the day. Psalm 119 shows us that the word of god should have top priority in our lives. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet daily bible reading series book 6 kindle edition by bateman, deborah h download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. To be undefiled in the way is to walk in the law of the lord. He finds the essence of a verse and shows the truth of it from many other scriptures using illustrations where appropriate. Beginning with verse 17, psalm 119 becomes a prayer.
As far as our views, desires, and affections agree with what is here expressed, they come from the influences of the holy spirit, and no further. Since this is a psalm glorifying god and his word, it refers to scripture over and over again. The ruin of the young is either living by no rule at all, or choosing false rules. Then they made the book of psalms to sing in the new temple. Psalm 119 is a call by the lord to each of us to unleash his word into our lives today. We want to help you study the bible, obey the bible, and teach the bible to others. Psalm 119 is an alphabetical acrostic poemorganized in 22 stanzas according to the 22 letters of the hebrew alphabet from aleph through tav. Why are there hebrew characters every 8 verses in psalm 119. Psalm 117 represents the middle out of 1189, in the bible. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law. Since the book of psalms is the longest book in the bible, it shows us the. Psalm 119 the greatness and glory of gods word this long psalm deserves a long introduction. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the lord. Nov 12, 2006 2 throughout the book of psalms, only king david refers to himself or is referred to as your servant when addressing hashem.
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