The Book of Psalms is a unique book. Many consider the 119^th Psalm to be one of the most interesting sections in the entire Bible. For one thing, there are more verses (176) in this Psalm than in any other chapter of the Bible. More importantly, though, is the fact that in Psalm 119 almost every verse makes reference to and exalts the word of Jehovah. All of us need to maintain a healthy attitude toward the word of God. A study of Psalm 119 can help us do that.

Psalm 119: How It Describes the Word of God. The "testimonies of God," "statutes," "commands," "law," "judgments" – all of these are synonyms with the "word of the LORD" in this psalm. The Holy Spirit points out the following facts about that word: "Turn away my reproach which I fear: for thy judgments are good" (119:39). "At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments" (119:62). "For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in Heaven" (119:89). "Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful" (119:138). "Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth" (119:142). "Thou art near, O LORD: and all thy commandments are truth" (119:151). "For all thy commandments are righteousness" (119:172). I underlined some of these words to emphasize how Jehovah Himself describes His word.

Psalm 119: Great Blessings and Benefits That Come to Us When We Study God’s Word. Here is the proper order: we study the word (learn), we understand, we believe, we obey, and then we are blessed by the Lord. How can studying the Bible help us? Let us note how Psalm 119 answers that question.

* Studying God's word helps us know how to praise the Lord. "I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments . . . My lips shall utter praise, when thou hast taught me thy statutes" (119:7,171).

Notice that we first learn by studying God's word, then we properly praise the Lord.

* Studying God's word helps us know how to cleanse our path. It is written, "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word" (119:9). When can one cleanse his way? Only by first knowing, then obeying, the word of the living God.

* Studying the Bible helps us fill our hearts with God's word, that we might overcome temptation and avoid sin. "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee" (119:11).

* Studying God's word helps us be prepared to teach others. "With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth" (119:13). Again, it is written, "I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed" (119:46). How can we declare God's judgments to kings or common people if we have not studied and learned them?

* Studying the Bible makes us wiser, for it is as a counsellor to us: "Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors . . . Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies, for they are ever with me" (119:24,98). These verses remind us of 2 Timothy 3:15, wherein it is written, "And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." Do you want to be wise before the God of heaven? Then study His word with a desire to know His will!

* Studying the Bible gives us comfort when we have affliction. "This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me" (119:50). The Book of 1 Thessalonians was written in part to comfort the Christians of Thessalonica: "Wherefore comfort one another with these words" (4:18). Sometimes the word of God can comfort our hearts when the words or actions of men cannot help us at all.

* Studying the word of God helps us understand with whom we ought to have fellowship. "I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts" (119:63).

* Studying the word of the Lord helps us endure afflictions: "Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction" (119:92).

* Studying the word of Jehovah helps us understand life and what is most important in it. "I have more understanding than all my teachers; for thy testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts" (119:99,100).

* Understanding that comes from studying the Bible helps us know what we should love and what we should hate. "Through thy precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way" (119:104). One who does not study the word can never know that the Lord loves righteousness and hates iniquity (Hebrews 1:9), and that He expects us to do the same.

* The Bible is a light from God, so studying it gives us light, that is, it shows us how to live. Even though the whole world lies in wickedness (1 John 5:19), it is possible for us to have light in our lives and in society through the word of God, for it is written, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path . . . the entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple" (119:105,130). When we walk according to the teaching of God's word (light), then we are walking in the light, we have fellowship with others who walk in that light, and the blood of Jesus Christ continues to cleanse us from our sins (1 John 1:7).

* Studying the Bible leads us to salvation: "Salvation is far from the wicked; for they seek not thy statutes" (119:154). Jesus told the Jews, "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life; and they are they which testify of me" (John 5:39).

Psalm 119: A Proper Attitude Towards the Word of God. What kind of attitude should we have toward the word of God, and what should we think of the Bible? Let us examine and imitate the attitude that the psalmist showed toward the law of the Lord:

* Delight in God's law: "I will delight myself in thy statutes; I will not forget thy word" (119:16).

* Desire to know and keep it: "Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end" (119:33). "I opened my mouth, and panted; for I longed for thy commandments" (119:131).

* Trust in it: "So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me; for I trust in thy word" (119:42).

* Love it: "And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved . . . O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day" (119:47, 97).

* Desire to obey it without delay: "I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments" (119:60).

* Rejoice in them: "Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever; for they are the rejoicing of my heart" (119:111).

* Consider it as better than great riches: "Therefore I love thy commandments above gold: yea, above fine gold" (119:127).

Without doubt, the word of God is alive and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12). The word of God has the power to build us up and give us an inheritance among all them that are sanctified (Acts 20:32). But let us not deceive ourselves. That powerful word can help us serve and please the God of heaven only when we diligently study it, reverence it, accept its message, and live by it. May God help each of us to do that!

-- Roger D. Campbell