Skimming through Psalm 119, we find many different kinds of responses to God’s Word that make sense only if we grasp these truths:
Respond to God’s Word with Our Whole Being
The psalmist understood the importance and power of Scripture. He therefore responded with the whole of his being as seen in the following references.
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)
When we truly grasp the significance of God’s Word, we respond both internally and externally.
Observations about Responding to God’s Word based on Psalm 119
Look above under the list of how the psalmist responded in ways associated with his mind. He referenced meditating on and remembering (not forgetting) the most. — 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.
Under the list of heart responses, delighting in and loving it occur many more times. — If we don’t delight in or love His Word, we will undoubtedly fail to respond in the other ways, like trusting and obeying it.
Notice the large number of occurrences under the action list of observing and keeping. Both of those words signify watching over or guarding much like they would have kept watch over a vineyard or flock. — If we don’t consistently trust God to use His Word, we will likely let down our guard and not reap the benefits of His Word.