The Power of God’s Word: Responding to It Only Makes Sense

Psalm 119 has long been a helpful chapter of the Bible for me because it teaches me to respond to God’s Word.  Skim through this psalm and you will find many different kinds of responses that only make sense if you believe the previous three posts that God’s Word is powerful . . .

Following is a list of some of the responses of the psalmist.  I have categorized them but there could be some overlap.  (The NASB was used for this study.)

MIND:

look upon (Ps. 119:6)
meditate on (Ps. 119:15, 23, 27, 48, 78, 97, 99, 148)
regard (Ps. 119:15, 117)
remember / not forget (Ps. 119:16, 52, 61, 83, 93, 109, 141, 153, 176)
behold (Ps. 119:18)
place before me (Ps. 119:30)
learn (Ps. 119:7, 71, 73)
know (Ps. 119:79, 125, 152)
consider (Ps. 119:95)

HEART:

treasure (Ps. 119:11)
rejoice in/at (Ps. 119:14,162)
delight in (Ps. 119:16, 24, 35, 47, 70, 77, 92, 143, 174)
cling to (Ps. 119:31)
trust in (Ps. 119:42)
wait for (Ps. 119:43, 74, 81, 114, 147)
seek (Ps. 119:45)
love (Ps. 119:47-48, 97, 113, 119, 127, 140, 159, 163, 165, 167)
lift up my hands to … shows that we honor or exalt it (Ps. 119:48)
hope (Ps. 119:49)
believe in (Ps. 119:66)
incline to (Ps. 119:36, 112)
fear (Ps. 119:120)
esteem right (Ps. 119:128)
stand in awe of (Ps. 119:161
praise (Ps. 119:164, 171, 175)

WILL:

run the way of (Ps. 119:32)
not turn aside from (Ps. 119:51, 102, 157)
turn my feet to (Ps. 119:59)
not forsake (Ps. 119:87)
not go astray from (Ps. 119:110)
choose (Ps. 119:30, 173)

MOUTH:

tell of (Ps. 119:13)
give thanks (Ps. 119:7, 62)
praise (Ps. 119:164, 171, 175)
sing of (Ps. 119:172)

ACTION:

walk in (Ps. 119:1, 35)
observe (Ps. 119:2, 22, 33, 34, 56, 69, 100, 115, 129, 145)
keep (Ps. 119:4-5, 8, 17, 34, 44, 55, 57, 60, 63, 67, 88, 101, 106, 134, 146, 167-168)
incline heart to perform (Ps. 119:36)
do (Ps. 119:166)

Observations:

• Notice how the whole of our being responds to God’s Word when we get its importance and power.

• Notice how many times meditating on and remembering or not forgetting occur in comparison to others under the mind.  If we don’t keep the Word ever before us, we will find it too easy to forget its benefits and lose out on its power in our lives.

• Notice how delighting in and loving occur many more times than the other responses of the heart.  If we don’t delight in or love His Word, we will undoubtedly not find ourselves responding in the other ways.

• Notice the large number of occurrences of observing and keeping under action.  Both of those words signify watching over or guarding much like they would have kept watch over a vineyard or flock respectively.  We must be constant in our obedience, consistently giving heed to it. We can’t let ourselves get off guard.  According to Psalm 119:34, we must be externally and internally vigilant about obeying God’s Word.

Give me understanding, that I may observe Your law And keep it with all my heart. (Ps. 119:34)