First part of a study of the 119th Psalm, considering its structure, authorship and content

1. PSALM 119 – (1)
Laindon Bible Class - 2nd March 2016

2. Psalm 119 2

3. The structure of the Psalm
• The Psalm consists of 22 stanzas or sections each headed by a letter
of the Hebrew alphabet (longest chapter in the Bible; 176 verses about 2,200 words)
• A perfect example of an alphabetical Psalm (see also Psalms 111, 112 & 25 &
34) – an aide memoire?
• Each stanza consists of 8 verses and commences the first of those
verses with the appropriate letter
• There are ten words used to describe God’s word, namely: word,
saying, testimonies, way, judgements, precepts, commandments,
law, statutes and faithfulness
• Possible connection with the 10 commandments or words written
by God (Deuteronomy 4:13)
Psalm 119 3

4. Psalm 119 4

5. Psalm 119 5
Word cloud – NKJV

6. 10 words used to describe God’s word
• ‘Word’ (dabar) expression of God’s
mind and will 23
• ‘Saying’ (imrah) an oral promise
translated word or speech 19
• ‘Testimonies’ (eduth) an eternal
affirmation 23
• ‘Way’ (derek) prescribed lines of
conduct 13
• ‘Judgements’ (mishpatim) judicial
decisions or sentences 23
• ‘Precepts’ (piqqudim) entrusted or
deposited with us as a charge 21
• ‘Commandments’ (mitzvoth) directions
issued with paternal authority 22
• ‘Law’ (torah) the whole of God’s law
and practical teaching 25
• ‘Statutes’ (chuqqim) engraved
ordinances or enactments 21
• ‘Faithfulness’ (emunah) the constancy
of God’s law 4
Psalm 119 6

7. Appearance of the 10 words
• Total number of appearances is 194 times in 176 verses (Psalm is
approximately 2200 words, so just about 1 in every 11 words)
• One of these words appears in every verse of the Psalm except verse
122 (and possibly 90 & 132 also)
• Verses 1-3 are an introduction, then the rest of the Psalm is in effect a
prayer or supplication to God (except verse 115 which addresses evildoers)
• There are strong links to the Book of Deuteronomy (eg Deuteronomy 6:1-9
cf Psalm 119:1-2 & also Deuteronomy 5:1)
• This Psalm may have been carried with its writer as a constant
reminder of the importance of God’s word (perhaps to be committed to memory)
Psalm 119 7

8. Who was the author?
• There have been many suggestions (including Ezra, David, Hezekiah, Jeremiah,
Daniel, Nehemiah and an unknown post-exilic Levite)
• We are firmly of the view that it was David (is it messianic?)
• When and why David?:
When he was a young man (:9-11), knew better than his teachers (:99-100)
Perhaps when he was living in Saul’s court (:19 & :141)
Contrast with his life as a shepherd, maybe distracted by court life (:67 & :71)
He was suffering affliction and persecution (:22, :39 & :50 etc)
His enemies were powerful and influential men (:23, :51 & :85-87)
He valued God’s word above wealth and riches (:14, :72 & :127)
A reference to his relationship with Jonathan? (:63 & :74)
He was exercised by the wickedness around him (:53, :136 & :158)
He remembered that he was God’s anointed (:38 & 49)
Psalm 119 8

9. David’s meditations and thoughts
• The influence of Deuteronomy (a key part of the scriptures then available to David)
– to be written out by God’s king (Deuteronomy 17:18-20)
• David recognised the need for total devotion (:1-2 – the whole heart viz unity
and completeness)
• He also recognised the need to learn God’s laws (see Deuteronomy 5:1 cf
:10, :11, :34, :69 etc) – learn = literally an ‘ox goad’
• The great lesson of Deuteronomy: “…man doth not live by bread
only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the
Lord doth man live.” 8:3
• David reflected this in his Psalm: “O how love I thy law! it is my
meditation all the day.” :97
Psalm 119 9

10. An intriguing puzzle
• Do the Hebrew letters have any additional significance?
• In some cases perhaps yes:
Letter 9 teth (goodness) — :65, :66, :68 & :71
Letter 15 samech (protect, support) — :116, :117
Letter 16 ain (eye) — :123
Letter 17 pe (mouth) — :130, :131
Letter 18 tzade (righteousness) — :137, :138, :142, :144
Letter 19 qoph (ear/hearing) — :145, :146, :147, :149
• But if that was the intention, why not all?
• And why do the 10 words appear in all verses except one? (or three)
Psalm 119 10

11. Next week (God willing)
Psalm 119 11