“Blessed are those who keep his testimonies,
who seek him with their whole heart””
Psalm 119:2
Psalm 119 exists to lead you into the blessing of knowing and walking with God through His Word! That’s why it’s in your Bible! It’s also why I’ve issued this challenge for you to join me in reading your way through Psalm 119 during the month of January (See the devotional guide below for more info.)
But there is one thing I’d like you to consider. If all you do is read through this Psalm quickly, because you’re in a hurry to get done, you’ll get very little out of it. It’s not designed to be read quickly. It’s designed to be taken slowly as you meditate your way through each statement, thinking about what it means and how it applies to your life. That’s why I suggest taking one, eight verse section per day and giving it your prayerful attention for 15 minutes or so. It is in the slow savoring of these words that the sweetness of this Psalm is revealed.
Perhaps you’ve noticed how this Psalm is organized. There are 22 sections of eight verses each. Each section represents one letter of the Hebrew alphabet, Aleph (Hebrew ‘A’) in vv 1-8; Beth (B) in vv 9-16, Gimel (G) in vv 17-24, etc. It’s the Hebrew version of the ABC’s. Psalm 119 is an acrostic poem. That means each verse in each section begins with the same Hebrew letter – Aleph in vv1-8, Beth in vv 9-16, and so on through the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet
There is poetry here. But it is poetry with a purpose! And its purpose is to help you fall in love with the beauty and blessing of God’s Word. But getting to that blessing does not happen through a casual reading. Again, it is meant to be meditated upon, thought deeply about, and prayed back to God. It is my hope that you will join me in this quest to establish a new habit of meditating on God’s word in a way that will benefit your soul and enrich your walk with Christ in the new year. This morning we’ll take a look at how that works in vv 1-8.
How will you engage in God’s word this year?
Pastor Scott
Delighting in God’s Word (January 2023)
A Daily Devotional for the New Year in Psalm 119
The Goal. As we start this new year, I am eager to see our hearts and habits grow in delight over God’s Word. Psalm 119 provides a great pattern for this. Through twenty-two sections, as it follows the Hebrew alphabet, it helps us reflect on the goodness of God in the giving of His Word.
The Plan. For each week in January, I’ve listed five readings that will guide you in meditating through this magnificent Psalm. I would encourage you to take the time to read each section slowly, a verse at a time, pausing between each verse to think about what it says and how it applies to your life. What is this verse encouraging you to do? What attitude should you have toward God and His word? What does God promise will happen as you let His word shape your heart and your mind? As you read and think about each verse, let those thoughts lead to prayer. What should you ask God to do based on this statement from His word? When you finish, thank God for speaking through His word. You might even jot down a thought you want to carry with you through the day, or perhaps even memorize one of the verses to carry in your heart.
The Challenge. So I invite you to join with me in this month long journey through Psalm 119, Monday through Friday (or whatever days work best for you) following the schedule printed below. My hope is that, by taking a few minutes each day to meditate on God’s word, we will be drawn closer to Him in faith and to one another as we learn to delight together in His faithful promises.
Week 1 Theme
Mon Jan 2 – Psa 119:1-8 The blessing promised to those who keep His word
Tue Jan 3 – Psa 119:9-16 The power of His word to keep those who delight in it
Wed Jan 4 – Psa 119:17-24 The wonderful things God reveals as we meditate on His word.
Thu Jan 5 – Psa 119:25-32 The life and help God gives as we cling to His word
Fri Jan 6 – Psa 119:33-40 The guidance we receive as we are taught by God’s word
Week 2
Mon Jan 9 – Psa 119:41-48 The salvation and hope that come through God’s word
Tue Jan 10 – Psa 119:49-56 The comfort that comes through God’s word
Wed Jan 11 – Psa 119:57-64 The faithfulness of God found in the grace of His word
Thu Jan 12 – Psa 119:65-72 The faithfulness of God’s word in times of affliction
Fri Jan 13 – Psa 119:73-80 The mercy of God found in holding fast to His word.
Week 3
Mon Jan 16 – Psa 119:81-88 The help of God’s word in facing persecution
Tue Jan 17 – Psa 119:89-96 The eternal perfection of God’s word
Wed Jan 18 – Psa 119:97-104 The goodness of God’s word in giving wisdom for living
Thu Jan 19 – Psa 119:105-112 The power of God’s word as a light to light our path through life
Fri Jan 20 – Psa 119:113-120 The power of God’s word to uphold us and teach us to fear Him
Week 4
Mon Jan 21 – Psa 119:121-128 The help of God’s word in facing a world of oppression and sin
Tue Jan 22 – Psa 119:129-136 The light that shines from God’s word keeps us walking with Him
Wed Jan 23 – Psa 119:137-144 The righteousness of God revealed in His word
Thu Jan 24 – Psa 119:145-152 The benefits that come from obeying God’s word
Fri Jan 25 – Psa 119:153-160 The power of God’s word to give life when life is hard
Week 5
Mon Jan 30 – Psa 119:161-168 The love of God’s word that teaches us to stand in awe of Him
Tue Jan 31 – Psa 119:169-176 The commitment we make to keep delighting in God’s word.