Thoughts on Psalm 119

Thoughts on Psalm 119 by Steven Koster

Many people make resolutions at the beginning of the calendar year. Whether these intentions to improve ourselves are physical or spiritual, we see the new year as an opportunity for a new start.

Maybe you’re committing to spiritual growth this year.
Perhaps your goals include more regular worship service attendance
Perhaps you long for a deeper prayer life
Your goal may be a greater commitment to daily Scripture reading.

If any of these purposes speak to your new resolutions, the Psalms are a great place to start, as they give voice to a wide range of emotions we can take to God.

I often find that the Psalms have already articulated the things I want to say, whether I’m happy, sad, angry or experiencing a wide range of other emotions.

Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible. As a result, we might be tempted to avoid reading it. The sheer length is intimidating—in addition, it contains detailed structure and challenging themes that prevent our use of it as lite reading to satisfy a ponderous requirement.

Yet throughout history, God’s people have found Psalm 119 to be a truly inspiring and edifying word from God. Throughout its 176 verses, the psalm passionately calls God’s people to be deeply engaged with God’s Word, the Bible.

The psalmist teaches us that we meet God himself in his Word. And as we come to know God more, our desire to love and serve him grows.

May we resolve at the threshold of 2020 to invest ourselves in the amazing Word of God so it can mold and shape us into believers who reflect more clearly the Holy One we profess to love and claim to follow.