Remembering God's Word

The seventh section of Psalm 119 is entitled zayin, the seventh letter in the Hebrew alphabet. The theme of this section and prayer is remembering.  The first word in the first line is the Hebrew word, zekar, which means to remember, to recall, to recite, to meditate, to record. It has action built into it similar to the Hebrew word shema, which means to hear and obey. The Hebrew name Zechariah is from the word zekar. This is one of the most important words in the Old Testament for God’s covenant people.

All of the feasts of Israel were given to the nation so that they would not forget the mighty deeds of God and their covenant with Him. The feasts were celebrations to help them to remember and to recite the blessings and curses of the covenant; to help them remain faithful to God. Remembering brought the past into the present in order to move into the future in relationship with God.

When the word “remember” is applied to God, as it is in the first line of this section, 119:49 – 56, it is similar to praying the promises of God. God does not forget, especially His own word. When you, like the psalmist, pray, “Remember your word to your servant, in which you have made me hope.” it is a reminder to you of what God has said to you. As you pray God’s word, you record God’s word in your memory. This is the key to Scripture memorization and meditation, praying your memory verses.

The blessings of this are listed in the rest of this section. You are strengthened to keep moving forward through difficulties, “This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promises gives me life.” The word “comfort” is the Hebrew word nawkham, which literally means to breath deeply. It means to be consoled, to be strengthened in a time of great distress. God’s word comforts by reminding you of His presence with you and His plans for you.

The third line in this section talks about the lie of the world, the flesh, and the devil to mislead and to misguide God’s people. The struggle you have is not with flesh and blood, not with people, but with spiritual powers of wickedness and evil identified by the phrase, the world, the flesh, and the devil. This phrase is found in Ephesians 2:1, “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience; among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath.” But God’s word cuts through the lie and shines brightly with the truth!

Singing God’s word is mentioned in 119:54, “Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my sojourning.” Singing is the way you learn. You probably learned the alphabet with the song. Many have learned the books of the Bible with a song. Scripture songs are musical prayers. God gave us music for this purpose. He loves it when we sing His word in prayer to Him. And you learn the truth of God’s word more and more, His word becomes more and more interwoven into the fabric of your life. Next time you are faced with temptation, sing your way through it with a Scripture song!

Today, pray your memory verse for the day. It you don’t have one, memorize one from this section on remembering, and then pray it throughout the day.

Praying the Promises of God and Your Promises Too

The sixth section of Psalm 119 is about promises; praying the promises of God and your promises, too, 119:41 – 48. The first line teaches the important truth of praying the promises of God, “Let your steadfast love come to me, O LORD, your salvation according to your promise.” One of the first lessons to learn when learning to pray is to ask God for what He has promised. This lesson is clearly seen in Psalm 2 when the Son, the King, tells of the decree in verse seven, “The LORD said to me, ‘You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth you possession…’” Jesus asked the Father for what He promised. We learn from His example.

The word “steadfast love” is the Hebrew word hesed, which describes faithfulness to the covenant relationship between God and His people Israel. It is covenantal love. It is love that chooses and remains faithful to that choice. This is God’s love. It is conditional; conditioned by the response of the one God loves. The only way to respond to God’s love is to receive Him at His word, to believe Him. As you do, you will respond with a promise in the same way a man and a woman do at their wedding. A covenant marriage is based upon steadfast love, where faithfulness to the vows is the strength of the union. So it is, only more so, with God and the relationship He desires to have with you.

The prayer for what God has promised has a result, verse forty-two, “…then I shall have an answer for him who taunts me, for I trust in your word.” The word “taunt” is the Hebrew word charaph, which means to defy, to blaspheme, to reproach, to condemn, and also means betrothed. Satan is all the above, including betrothed. He comes with a lie in order to wed and enslave and reproduce sin in a person’s life. But praying the promises of God answers his lie with the truth worth waiting for.

The next request is answered with the asking, “And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for my hope is in your rules.” In asking, you receive. Jesus promised this when He said, “Ask, and it will be given to you…” Luke 11:9. When you pray God’s word, the word of truth is in your mouth. The word of faith, of hope, is your request. This is not asking for what you want, it is asking for what God has promised, and then waiting in faith for God’s timing in giving it.

The rest of this section is full of vows, “I will keep your law…I will walk in a wide place…I will also speak of your testimonies before kings…I shall not be put to shame…I will lift up my hands toward your commandments…I will meditate on your statutes.” Why would a person be hesitant to make a promise to God? The answer: “Because I might not be able to keep it.” But if God has given you the promise in His word, then He will do it. His word carries in it the obedience He looks for, if you are willing to trust Him to do it in you, with you, through you, as you, before Him and the watching world around you.

Knowing and praying God’s promises is what it means to learn to pray. But you also must make promises to God and pray your promises. Make sure you shape your vows from God’s word, according to His promises. In a covenant relationship, faith is the strength of the relationship, faith in the promise that began the relationship. Your promise to God grows out of the faith from His word. “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” Romans 10:17. “He who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:24. When you pray the promises of God, it pleases Him. This is what it means to worship the Father in spirit and truth.

Developing An Appetite For God's Word

The fifth section of Psalm 119 is full of requests; eight in all. It also gives one of the most complete lists of words for God’s word. In these eight verses, 119:33 – 40, there are eight different words used for God’s word, each one with a particular meaning describing the beauty and blessing of God’s word.

         In the first verse you find the word “statutes,” khok, which you have already learned to mean engraved. This emphasizes the permanence of God’s word. Then in verse thirty-four you find the word torah, which you have already learned as the instructions of God. The next verse talks about the “commandments” of God. This is the Hebrew word mitzvah, and has built into it the idea of a relationship with responsibility. It is used in the Old Testament to describe the relationship of a father with his son (1 Samuel 17:20), a farmer with his workers (Ruth 2:9), a king with his servants (2 Samuel 21:14), and God with His people (Deuteronomy 5:33).

         The fourth word is “testimonies,” which is the Hebrew word aydooth, from the root word for “witness.” It was a legal word describing a person who repeated an event as true. God’s testimonies are His words, which are true. He bears witness of Himself. The word “testimony” points to what is true, reliable, and real. You can trust the testimonies of God.

         The fifth word in this section for God’s word is the word “ways.” On the surface this may not seem to fit, and yet the ways of God are only known from the words of God. All of the words of God point in a direction and lead to a relationship with God. Jesus Christ is the full revelation of God. He called Himself, “…the way, the truth, and the life.” John 14:6. The Hebrew word for “way” is derek, which is from a root word meaning “foot.” The concept is the path that your feet make when walking in a particular direction, which becomes a foot trail that others will follow. The “way” is a word describing the path that God has laid in His word that leads to a personal relationship with Him.

         The sixth word in this section for God’s word is the word “promise.” It is the Hebrew word emrah, which literally means a spoken word. When God speaks, it is a promise because first He says it, then He does it, but not until He first says it. What God says, He always does, because God is faithful. This word, emrah, emphasizes God’s faithfulness to His own word. He is able to do what He says, which means that you can trust Him.

         The seventh word is the Hebrew word mishpawt, which is translated “rules.” This word is built upon the word “ruler” and has the concept of the edict of a sovereign king. His word is the government. The rules of God communicate His sovereignty and control over everything. He established the universe by His righteous decrees and He rules by His own word. This word gives assurance that God is the ultimate Ruler of everything. He rules with righteous judgments. You can trust Him.

         The eighth word in this section of requests, 119:33 – 40, is the Hebrew word pikqood, “precepts.” This Hebrew word has the meaning of overseeing, ordering or numbering. The Greek equivalent of this word is arithmein, from which we get our English word “arithmetic.” The understanding of “precepts” is that God’s word has order, arrangement, and oversight. His precepts put life in its proper perspective and order. God superintends life according to His word. Following His precepts adds up and equates to a life well ordered.

         Take time to review Psalm 119:33 – 40 and adopt one of the requests as your prayer request for the day with your new understanding of the Hebrew words. As you do, you will be praying God’s word and discovering the rich flavor that is only found in Him. This is what it means to worship the Father in spirit and truth.

Praying Through Difficulties With Wisdom

The fourth section of this great prayer is entitled daleth, Psalm 119:25 – 32. The first line is telling, “My soul clings to the dust…” A modern expression of this could be, “I am really feeling down-in-the-dumps!” Everyone goes through times of discouragement, doubts, and even crushing depression. Feelings are powerful and can mislead and distort. They are not reliable for decision-making, but they are very real.

The rest of verse twenty-five is instructive, “…give me life according to your word!” This is a direct request and is similar to the prayer that Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, “…not my will, but yours be done.” Luke 22:42. When you pray “according to Your word,” you are submitting yourself to God’s will and timing for the answer, rather than dictating to Him how and when He should “give you life.” The New Testament equivalent of this is “In the Name of Jesus, I pray.”

The next verse, 119:26, gives guidance as you pray through difficulties, “When I told of my ways, you answered me; teach me your statutes.” The psalmist remembers a past experience of difficulty and the answer God gave, and then asks for instruction from God’s word. The word “statutes” is the Hebrew word, khok, and has the meaning of engraving into stone. It is also used to describe a tattoo, an engraving under the skin. It communicates permanence rather than something written that can be erased. The stability and permanence of God’s word will hold you and carry you through difficulties, especially when emotions are pushing you around.

The third request is found in the next verse, “Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works.” The word “understanding” is the Hebrew word bayin, which means to cut and separate. It is translated in the Old Testament with words like understanding, discernment, and wisdom. It has to do with being able to distinguish between good and evil so that you can make the right choice.

This is a powerful prayer request because in praying it, you are asking God to shape and mold your thoughts in such a way as to cut and separate the difference between good and evil, right and wrong, in order to make the wise choice. The vow that follows is similar to a request with a result attached to it. Meditating on God’s wondrous works will shape your thoughts to see clearly the difference between good and evil. God is good and He only does what is good.

The next line, “My soul melts for sorrow, strengthen me according to your word.” This is a companion to the opening line and emphasizes the on-going struggle a person has with their emotions trying to call the shots. But God’s word gives strength, if you will ask Him for it. God’s word informs and transforms at the same time so that wise decisions can be made.

A fourth request is seen in the next verse, “Put false ways far from me and graciously teach me your law!” The request for learning is probably not high up on your prayer list, but it is in this prayer. It is the number one request in Psalm 119. As you allow God’s word to share your prayers, this request will become more and more important and valuable to you.

This section ends with a flurry of confessions and a powerful vow. The three-fold confession “I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set your rules before me. I cling to your testimonies…” are all declarations of the will informed and transformed by God’s word, not the emotions. These are statements of determination not to stay in the dumps but to rise up and get through them. God does not take you around, over, or under difficulties; He takes you through them with the strength and instruction from His word.

The last line is a vow; “I will run in the way of your commandments, when you enlarge my heart.” This is a powerful vow of faith. How different from the way this section began. Praying God’s word will move you from my soul clings to the dust, to I will run in the way of your commandments, if you are willing to allow God’s word to shape your prayers. As you do, you will be learning to worship the Father in spirit and truth.

Abundant Life is Growing Life

The third section of Psalm 119 is entitled gimel, the third letter in the Hebrew alphabet. The theme of these eight verses is seen in the first verse, 119:17, “Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and keep your word.” This request unfolds over the next seven verses. The word “deal bountifully” is the first word in verse seventeen and is the Hebrew word gamal. This word is rich in meaning. It is used to describe being rewarded, bearing fruit, a child being raised up and maturing from breast milk to solid food. AMEN!

This request describes the spiritual growth that God desires for us to have, but He wants us to want it first, which is a sign of it. One of the ways of God is that He wants you to ask Him for what He wants to give you. Jesus taught this in the Sermon on the Mount when He said, “…your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” Matthew 6:8.

Another thing to notice with this request is that it has a purpose clause attached to it, “…that I may live and keep your word.” Some will call this a result clause. It is a request with a result. God loves these kinds of requests because they are not just asking for things He wants to give, but things that will accomplish His will. This is like the little boy who asked his father for $20, so that he could go to the store to buy a Mother’s Day gift!

Another way to pray this verse is to pray, “Lord, according to Your word, there is only one way for me to live and keep you word, and that is if You grant me spiritual growth and fruitfulness. And so, grant me spiritual growth and fruitfulness, so that I can live and keep Your word!”

The next request is an echo of the first, “Open my eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of you law.” As God gives you spiritual growth, your eyes are opened to more and more of His eternal truth. His word becomes more and more amazing. The word “law” is the Hebrew word torah, and means instructions. God’s word reveals His instructions for living in such a way that you learn to love Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength and your neighbor as yourself. Jesus said this was the first and greatest commandment and the second was like it. He said that all of the Law and the Prophets rests upon these two. The next two verses are a confession of the need for the eye-opening request, “I am a sojourner on the earth, hide not your commandments from me. My soul is consumed with longing for your just decrees at all times.”

The next three verses introduces an important understanding in spiritual growth; the opposition to it. As you learn to pray from God’s word, you will learn how to identify the enemies of God and how to pray against them. In these verses, the opposition is identified as those who are insolent, accursed, who wander away from God’s word, the scornful, those full of contempt, and the powerful who take advantage of God’s people. These words and others like them will come up again and again in this psalm.

These enemies fall into one of three categories, the world, the flesh, the devil. They are not people; they are powers, spiritual powers bent on stealing, killing, and destroying everything that God has done and loves, which include you. Prayer is a mighty weapon that defeats them, if you learn how to wield it.

This section ends with a beautiful statement describing the wonderful result of asking for more light, “Your testimonies are my delight, they are my counselors.” The word “delight” is a delightful word. It is the Hebrew word shahshooah, which means pleasing, delightful, pleasurable. This is everything that God’s word is to Himself. He delights in His own word and will. Imagine how different it would have been if Adam and Eve would have seen the pleasing and delightfulness of the counsel from God’s word rather than turning to a tree for wisdom.

God loves it when you ask Him for spiritual growth and fruitfulness with an ever-increasing eye-opening joy in His word. It pleases Him, which is what it means to worship the Father in spirit and truth.