Psalm 119

I run the way of your commandments, for you enlarge my understanding (Psalm 119:32 NRSV). Yesterday, I took our dog Tiglath-pileser IV (named after the Neo-Assyrian ruler, TP… — May 27, 2012

I cling to your decrees, O LORD; let me not be put to shame (Psalm 119:30 NRSV). "Fly, you fools!"  Our son Nathan exclaimed as he was clinging… — May 21, 2012

I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your ordinances before me. (Psalm 119:30 NRSV). This verse is the 6th of eight in the Dalet section of Psalm… — May 13, 2012

My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word (Psalm 119:28 NRSV). What do you do when you're depressed?  The psalmist writes a poem of… — April 29, 2012

When I told of my ways you answered me; teach me your statutes (Psalm 119:26 NRSV). If questions don't come to mind when we read the Bible, we're… — April 15, 2012

My soul clings to the dust: revive me according to your word (Psalm 119:25 NRSV). Clinging to the dust.  In this verse one hears echoes of the curse on the man… — April 9, 2012

Your decrees are my delight, they are my counselors (Psalm 119:24 NRSV). Once again the psalmist "delights" in the commands of God.  The word "delight" appears ten times in… — March 25, 2012

Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statutes (Psalm 119:23 NRSV). Enemies have gathered together against their common foe.  You.  They are… — March 18, 2012

Take away from me their scorn and contempt for I have kept your precepts (Psalm 119:22 NRSV). The anticedent for "their" here comes from Psalm 119:21, the insolent, accursed… — March 12, 2012

You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones, who wander from your commandments (Psalm 119:21 NRSV). The psalmist is informing YHWH about something that he already knows.  Which is something… — March 4, 2012

My soul is consumed with longing for your ordinances at all times (Psalm 119:20 NRSV). This is my favorite verse in Psalm 119, and one of my favorites… — February 27, 2012

I live as an alien in the land; do not hide your commandments from me (Psalm 119:19 NRSV). The first half of this verse could be translated as "Alien… — February 19, 2012

Open my eyes, so that I may behold wondrous things out of your law (Psalm 119:18 NRSV). How would God feel about answering this prayer? The psalmist's chief concern… — February 12, 2012

Deal bountifully with your servant, so that I may live and observe your word (Psalm 119:17 NRSV). In this verse, Psalm 119 moves into the Gimel section, where each of the eight verses begins… — February 5, 2012

I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word (Psa. 119:16 NRSV). More delighting in God's statutes.  In verse 14, the psalmist delighted  (but it uses a different… — January 22, 2012

I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways (Psa. 119:15 NRSV). Focus.  With fixed eyes, the psalmist is focused on God's precepts and God's… — January 15, 2012

I delight in the way of your decrees as much as in all riches (Psa. 119:14 NRSV). What do you delight in?  While I don't think it's going to happen,… — January 8, 2012

With my lips I declare all the ordinances of your mouth (Psa. 119:13 NRSV). The psalmist uses his lips to declare the ordinances of YHWH's mouth.  From God's mouth, to the psalmist's mouth. … — January 1, 2012