And because of the repetitious nature of Psalm 119, rather than giving an exposition on every verse of the psalm, I thought it would be more appropriate to provide you with characteristics of the psalm, followed by observations of the psalmist's declarations that he makes throughout the psalm, and then conclude by providing you with several relevant applications as it relates to our own personal life. So on the handout before you, you will see that these three points will serve as our intended flight path over this lengthy portion of God's word. So that being said, without further delay, let me, in my first point, give you several detailed characteristics of this psalm, Psalm 119. And the first characteristic that I have listed under our first heading is its length, its length. As you can tell by a quick glance over the psalm, this psalm consists of 176 verses, which make it the longest psalm among the book of Psalms, as well as the longest chapter, as we might call it, in our Bibles. To put it in an illustrative point of declaration, Psalm 119 is the Mount Everest of all the Psalms. It is the Pacific Ocean or the Nile River of all the divided chapters in our Bibles. One of the particular features about Psalm 119 that makes it unique is its length. Another interesting characteristic about this psalm is its arrangement. That's point number two, it's arrangement. As you quickly skim over the psalm with your eyes, you will notice that this psalm consists of different segmented groups that begin with various titles that can be a little difficult to pronounce and a little perplexing as to what they mean. This is because Psalm 119 is an acrostic with each section or stanza of the psalm corresponding to a letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Said another way, each section consists of eight lines and each section parallels the successive letters that are found in the Hebrew alphabet. For example, verses one through eight begins with the Hebrew letter Aleph, the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Verses nine through six begins with the Hebrew letter Beth, the second letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Verses 17 through 24 begins with the Hebrew letter Gemel, which is the third letter of the alphabet. Which means, children help me out, if there are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet, how many sections does Psalm 119 have? You guessed it, 22. In Psalm 119, there are 22 sections that correspond to the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. This is the second notable characteristic of the Psalm. Turning now to the third notable characteristic of Psalm 119, you will notice that at the beginning of this psalm, there is no title or human author attributed to like some of the other psalms have. As you know, some psalms have a title that says something similar to a Psalm of Asaph or to the chief musician, a Psalm of David. This psalm, however, does not give us any tangible indication regarding who penned this psalm, which means we cannot dogmatically say who wrote this psalm from a human perspective. Some Bible students have attributed the psalm to Moses. Other Bible students have attributed the psalm to a priest or Levite who served in the Second Temple after the Babylonian captivity. One Bible commentator that I referenced is of the persuasion that it could have been the prophet Jeremiah. The majority of people are persuaded that it is very likely that the Psalm was written by David because it is very similar to what David says in Psalm 19 about the law of the Lord, the way in which God reveals himself. If we really wanted to argue about it, I would say that it is not worth arguing about. If Almighty God did not provide us with such details for some reason, I think it's not worth spending hours speculating. And furthermore, the primary focus of our reading of God's word should not be on the human author, but on the heavenly author. I say that this psalm was inspired and preserved for us by the Holy Spirit, and that's good enough for me. I want to know what the infinite God is trying to teach me through this psalm more than whose finite fingers wrote it. So it's important that we look above who wrote this psalm from a human perspective and see the heavenly author. This then brings us to the fourth characteristic of the psalm, which is its theme, its theme. The theme of Psalm 119 is God's word. And by God's word, I mean God's written revelation, that which we call scripture. From beginning to end, Psalm 119 is about God's communicative word as opposed to God's natural revelation. So on one hand, God can and does reveal things about himself through what he has created in the universe. But we also find in scripture that God has chosen to reveal truth about himself through his written word. And this is what Psalm 119 is all about. Psalm 119 is about the psalmist's admiration of God's written word. As you work your way through the psalm, you're going to find that there are eight different terms referring to God's written word. This is another noteworthy detail about the psalm. Throughout the psalm, God's word is referred to as God's law, God's testimonies, God's precepts, God's statutes, God's commands, God's judgments, God's ordinances, and obviously God's word. So summarizing the facts just for a moment, there are 22 sections consisting of eight lines in each section that paralleled the Hebrew alphabet And within the sections consisting of eight lines, you will find eight different synonymous terms referring to scripture. They all mean the same thing. They're just said in a different way. And I say how well ordered God is to provide his people with a song, a song of worship that is neatly arranged. How illustrative that language and music consists of words that derive from an alphabet. See, love that for a moment. This Psalm is about God's written communication to the world, to man. Words come from letters in an alphabet, which convey meaning as you put that alphabet together in words. How interesting that the longest psalm in the psaltery and the longest chapter in our Bible is about scripture. Perhaps, perhaps God's trying to teach us something. This is just my speculation, but I'm of the opinion that God wants us to learn through the psalm's length, arrangement, and theme that his word should be of the utmost importance in the lives of his children. His word should be preeminent. When God speaks, we should listen. That's what this psalm is about. So there we have point number one, the characteristics of the psalm. Having considered the length of the psalm, the arrangement of the psalm, the author of the psalm, and the theme of the psalm, turning to the second main point of our study, I want to now zoom in on the psalmist's declaration about God's word. Under the second heading, I want you to notice what the psalmist says about God's word in a general sense, as well as a personal sense. So looking first to the general descriptive sense, let me give you the nine descriptive words the psalmist uses to depict what God's word is like. The psalmist says, point number one, under the general declarations of God's word, that God's word is righteous. God's word is righteous. That is, it is just. It is consistent with God's person, namely with God's holiness. Verse 62, as I read these verses, I will pause just for a moment so you can find them and follow along if you so please. Verse 62, at midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments. Verse 106, I have sworn and I will perform it that I will keep thy righteous judgments. Verse 138, thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful. Verse 160, thy word is true from the beginning and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth forever. What is God's word like? How would we describe it? Well, first and foremost, God's word is righteous. And then second, we see God's word is right. It is right, meaning it is true. It is faithful. Verse 75, I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me. Point number one, God's word is right. Point number two, righteous. Point number two, God's word is right. Point number three, God's word is faithful. The Hebrew word behind the English word faithful is the word firm. God says what he means and he means what he says. God's words do not change over time. God's word is faithful, verse 86. All thy commandments are faithful. They persecute me wrongfully, help thou me. Verse 138, thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful. So help me out, let's go through the list. Number one, God's word is righteous. Number two, God's word is right. Number three, God's word is faithful. Number four, God's word is eternal. God's word is eternal. That means it does not change. It remains the same as the days, weeks, months, years, decades, and centuries go on. Verse 89. Forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven. Verse 152. Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them forever. Verse 160, thy word is true from the beginning, and every one of thy righteous judgment endureth forever. God's word is eternal. Next point, point number five, God's word is broad, broad. Verse 96, I have seen an end of all perfection, but thy commandment is exceeding broad. Broad meaning to roam in every direction. This means that God's word is sufficient for all people at all times, in all ages. God's word is timeless. It transcends time and culture. God's word is true in the United States and God's word is true in China. God's word is true in Russia and God's word is true in Peru. It is broad. God's word was true in 1776. God's word is true in 2025. It relates to all people at all times. This is similar to what Paul says in 2 Timothy chapter three. All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable unto many different things. It's profitable to teach you, it's profitable to correct you, it's profitable to encourage you, to inspire you. God's Word is broad. Number six, God's Word is wonderful. It's wonderful. The word wonderful derives from a Hebrew word which means miracle. God's Word is miraculous. Only God could compile this book. Verse 129. Thy testimonies are wonderful, therefore doth my soul keep them. Are you with me thus far? Let's review. Number one, God's Word is righteous. God's Word is right. God's Word is faithful. God's Word is eternal. God's Word is broad. God's Word is wonderful. God's Word is upright. That's number seven. It's upright. It's fair. Verse 137, righteous are thou, O Lord, and upright are thy judgments. And then number eight, God's word is pure. This word pure is the word refined. It's without any falsehood. Verse 140, thy word is very pure, therefore thy servant loveth it. And then number nine, God's word is true. It is the source of what is certain. Verse 142, thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth. Verse 151, thou art nearer, O Lord, and all thy commandments are truth. Verse 160, thy word is true from the beginning, and every one of thy righteous judgments endure forever. Do you have the nine points? God's Word is righteous, God's Word is right, God's Word is faithful, God's Word is eternal, God's Word is broad, God's Word is wonderful, God's Word is upright, God's Word is pure, and God's Word is true. Throughout the Psalm, we find nine general descriptions of the Word. And then, scattered throughout the psalm, we find ways in which God's word relates to the psalmist in a personal and practical way. So we might say the nine descriptive words are more theological in nature, they are describing God's word as it stands, but now turning to the psalmist's relationship with the word, we see his hunger and thirst for God's word in a very experiential sense, okay? I came up with 11 different sub-themes that show us the kind of relationship the psalmist had with God's written word. And for sake of time, rather than quoting every verse that could go under each category, I'll just provide you with a few repetitious statements that correspond with each one. I want you to notice first the psalmist's inward love for God's word. This is point number one under the psalmist's personal relationship with the word of God. Notice his inward love for it. And notice under this point the mentioning of seeking God through his word with the whole heart. Notice the repetitious statements that allude to God's word being his love and his delight. Verse two. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies and that seek him with the whole heart, the inward man. Verse 10, with my whole heart have I sought thee. Oh, let me not wander from thy commandments. Verse 24, thy testimonies also are my delight and my counselors. Verse 47, I will delight myself in thy commandments which I have loved. Verse 77, let thy tender mercies come unto me that I may live for thy law is my delight. Verse 97, oh how love I thy law, it is my meditation all the day. Throughout the psalm we find statements that demonstrate that the psalmist had a passionate hunger and thirst for God's written word. He did not simply like God's word in a take it or leave it manner, no. The psalmist genuinely adored it. God's word was an enjoyment to him. It was the joy and the rejoicing of his heart. There's nothing casual going on with his relationship with God through the word. He loved God's Word. Notice also, number two, the psalmist's desire to obey God's Word, his desire to obey God's Word. The psalmist begins by generally declaring that God's blessings derive from obeying God's Word, that's verse one through verse four, and then continues by emphasizing that he himself wants to live in such a way. Notice verse five, oh, that my ways, he said, my ways were directed to keep thy statutes. Verse eight, I will keep thy statutes, oh, forsake me not utterly. Verse 57, thou art my portion, oh Lord, I have said that I would keep thy words. Verse 60, I made haste and delayed not to keep thy commandments. Verse 112, I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes all way even unto the end. Verse 168, I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies for all my ways are before thee. The emphasis of the psalmist's relationship to the word of God, listen, does not conclude in his hearing of God's word. It does not conclude in his knowing of God's Word. The emphasis of the psalmist's relationship with God's Word concludes in his personal obedience to God's Word. Nothing short. of obeying what God has said through his written revelation. That's point number two, the psalmist's desire to obey God's word. We find that as a theme that repeats throughout this lengthy psalm. And then I want you to notice number three, the particular prayers that are concentrated on God's word. Notice the psalmist's prayers that relate to God's revelation. This whole psalm is a psalm of prayer. It's filled with utterances to God revolving around God's word. As I've just mentioned, the psalmist's prayers are concentrated on knowing and obeying God's word. Verse 12. Blessed art thou, O Lord, teach me thy statutes. Verse 18. Open thou mine eyes. that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. Verse 27, make me to understand the way of thy precepts, so shall I talk of thy wondrous works. Verse 28, my soul melteth for heaviness, strengthen thou me according unto thy word. Verse 116, uphold me according unto thy word that I may live. Verse 135, make thy face to shine upon thy servant and teach me thy statutes. He's like the friend at midnight, knocking and seeking and asking the author of the word to teach him his word. He's praying for illumination. He's praying for spiritual wisdom. He knows God's word, but he's longing to know more. He's not content with status quo Christianity. He's like the Apostle Paul in Philippians chapter three, that I may know him and the power of his resurrection. So we see the psalmist prayers that relate to God's word. And then notice fourth, the psalmist longing to be holy by means of God's word. The psalmist understands that God sanctifies others through the means of God's written word. Verse 9, you know it. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word. Verse 11, you know it. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Verse 29, remove from me the way of lying and grant me thy law graciously. Verse 101, I have refrained my feet from every evil way that I might keep thy word. I don't want to go the world's way. I want to go the word's way. Thus the psalmist longing to be more like his savior Jesus Christ, to be more and more separated from the ungodly things of this life. He longs to be pure in heart and holy before God and man. And then notice fifth, the psalmist's commitment to meditate upon God's word. The psalmist's commitment to meditate. To meditate means to think about. It is not the emptying of the mind, but the filling of the mind with the truths of God's word. Throughout the psalm, the psalmist says over and over and over again that God's word is his constant meditation. Verse 16. I will delight myself in thy statutes. I will not forget thy word. Well, how is this going to be done? In what way is he not going to forget? By hiding it in his heart, verse 11, and meditating upon it, verse 15. I will meditate in thy precepts and have respect unto thy ways. Verse 78. Let the proud be ashamed, for they dealt perversely with me without a cause, but I will meditate in thy precepts. Verse 97, oh, how love I thy law, it is my meditation all the day. Verse 99, I have more understanding than all my teachers, for thy testimonies are my meditation. Verse 148, when you can't sleep at night, here's a good song for you. Mine eyes prevent the night watches that I might meditate in thy word. Matthew Henry says, quote, what we love, we love to think about. The psalmist loves the word. We've established that already. And because he loves the word, it was his practice to constantly think of God's word. He was exercising himself in Romans 12, 1 and 2, before Romans 12, 1 and 2 already existed. Renewing his mind with that which is wholly just and good. Notice 6. The psalmist resolved to know God through His Word. The psalmist resolved to know God through His Word. And specifically, I want you to notice the conscious choices that the psalmist makes to know God through the Word. Notice the I will statements. Verse 32, I will run the way of thy commandments when thou shalt enlarge mine heart. Verse 93, I will never forget thy precepts. Verse 95, I will consider thy testimonies. What does this teach us? This teaches us that the psalmist is a man who's determined. He's a man who is constantly making choices throughout his day. He knows that knowing God through his word is not going to happen passively, but actively. The psalmist knows that others cannot walk with God for him. So what does he do? He says, in so many words, by God's grace, here's what I'm determined to do. I don't care what others around me are doing. I cannot even change their persecuting ways against me, but by God's grace, I can walk the way of his commandments. I can know God through His Word. I can meditate in His precepts. I can live by His testimonies. I will delight myself in God's commands and so on and so forth. The psalmist has a resolve to know God through His Word. And then seventh, notice the psalmist's habit of speaking God's Word. His habit of speaking God's Word. Verse 13, with my lips have I declared all thy judgments, all the judgments of thy mouth. Verse 27, make me to understand the way of thy precepts, so shall I talk of thy wondrous works. Remember what Jesus says, out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks and the life lives. So the psalmist is filling his heart with the word so that it might just naturally pour out of his life. And one of the ways it pours out of his life is through his mouth. It is said of John Bunyan that if you were to, in a sense, cut him anywhere, if you were to talk to him about anything, he would bleed Bible. Ask him about a subject and Bible would just bleed out of him. That's how we ought to be. Berean believers, knowing the word, considering it often. I mean, it's too good not to share. We talk about great deals at Walmart, 40% off per gallon at Circle K. the sports game, this news headline that we just saw on the news channel, but what about God's word? Let me tell you what I just read this week. Let me show you this truth that I've come to understand and how precious it is to me. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks, we share God's word with others through evangelizing, through discipling, through encouraging the brotherhood by provoking unto love and good works. We see the psalmist had a habit of speaking, declaring God's word. Notice the psalmist's affection for God's word during times of affection. The psalmist's affection for God's word during times of affliction. Verse 50, this is my comfort in my affliction, for thy word hath quickened me. Verse 92, unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in my affliction. Psalm 107, I am afflicted very much. Where can we turn? He says, quicken me, O Lord, according to thy word. I've said this before, I'll say it again. I truly believe the second most mentioned theme in scripture, outside of the gospel, outside of the subject of salvation. That's the principle theme of scripture from Genesis to Revelation. I think the second theme following the gospel is the theme of suffering or affliction. Think about it and trace it out sometime. Man that is born of woman, Job says, is of short days and full of trouble. There it is. Welcome to life. So in life, as we endure darkness and affliction, where can we turn for hope and encouragement and light? The Word. The Word. Notice 9. The psalmist's treasuring of God's Word over earthly treasure. He treasures God's Word over earthly treasure. This is an amazing point. Verse 14. I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies as much as in all riches. Verse 72, the law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver. Okay, this guy's a fanatic. Verse 127, therefore I love thy commandments above gold, yea, above fine gold. His house is burning down, he can only take one thing with him as he escapes. There's a pile of gold in the corner and then there's his Bible. He says, I'm going for my Bible. Wow. He treasures God's word more than earthly treasures. Notice 10th, the psalmist request for spiritual liveliness or revival through God's word. His request for spiritual liveliness or revival. Verse 25, my soul cleaveth unto the dust, quicken thou me according to thy word. Verse 107, I am afflicted very much, quicken me, O Lord, according to thy word. Verse 154, plead my cause and deliver me, quicken me according to thy word. Verse 156, great are thy tender mercies, O Lord, quicken me according to thy judgments. What is the prayer? The prayer is that he might be made spiritually alive in the Lord Jesus Christ. His desire is that he would not become a lukewarm believer. Because a lukewarm believer is one whom Christ says he will spew out of his mouth. The psalmist wants to be on fire for the Lord. And guess what Jeremiah describes the word. It is as a fire. He wants to be alive. He wants to be usable. He wants to spread wildfire in his community for the sake of God's glory. And then notice 11, the psalmist's dependence on God's word for guidance. His dependence on God's word for guidance. You know these verses, you love them. Verse 35, make me to go in the path of thy commandments for therein do I delight. Verse 105, thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Now, cultural context, in 2025, we have big lamps that can shine a mile down the road. That's not the Bible context. Bible context, lamps, you light oil lamps. In a dark night, you can only see one step ahead of you. You're trusting in the next step. That's what God's word does for us. provides us counsel and guidance, verse 133, order my steps in thy word. Just as Israel was guided by a pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire, so we really, in a very practical way, are guided by the truths of scripture. The Holy Spirit speaks to his people through the truths of God's word. And this brings us then to the third and final point, of our observation of Psalm 119, which is the application of the psalm. Having considered the psalm's unique characteristics, as well as the declarations that the author of the psalm affirms to be true about God's word, let me conclude by asking you two simple questions, two questions of applications. Number one, how is your relationship with the word of God? How is your relationship with the word of God? Now we're turning away from the psalmist to you. Remember, God's word is a mirror. So we've looked at it from the perspective of the psalmist, but now I'm pointing it to you. How is your relationship with this book? What is your attitude toward the written word of God? Do you have a take it or leave it attitude? Do you read God's Word daily? Do you meditate on its truths frequently? Are you smitten when you go days without seeking God through His Word? Do you turn to it for counsel and guidance? And if not, why not? Think about this for a moment. It is probable that the author of the psalm did not have a complete copy of the Old Testament, let alone a complete Bible like we do, and yet he longed for it so earnestly. That's a sharp rebuke. How many copies of God's word do we have? Many. So the application is obvious. If the psalmist has a limited knowledge and limited resources in seeking God through the word, how much more should we seek after God as possessors of the complete word of God? I fear that most people today, including sincere Christian people, take God's word for granted. I fear that most professing Christians only have a lukewarm, casual relationship with God's Word. This ought not so to be. Oh, we're quick to read devotional books that quote the Bible. We're eager to listen to podcasts and sermons that expound the word of God. All that is helpful in its place, but many will not prioritize time in their schedule to read, meditate, and study the word as it is. Sermons and podcasts and devotionals are supplements to our reading. They're not substitutes. We need to get alone with God through his word and listen to his spirit. We have time for TV, we have time for phones, we have time for fun, but no time for the word. We have time to go to the doctor, time to go to the pharmacist, we have time to go to the mechanic, we have time to exercise our physical bodies, but no time for the word. Come on, why? If this psalm teaches us one foundational truth, it teaches us that you and I cannot have a healthy relationship with God if we do not expose our eyes, our ears, our mind, our heart, and our soul to the truths of God's word. It's impossible, listen, it is impossible to be a healthy, fervent Christian while disregarding God's book. It's impossible. Your relationship with God is directly related to your relationship with God's word. You cannot dissect these two truths. And anyone who thinks that that can be, that you can be a strong Christian but not know the book and not be in the book, you're deceived. You're just deceived. Another biblical illustration, just study the person of Stephen. a man filled with power, a man filled with faith, a man filled with the Holy Spirit, and we find a man filled with Bible. Bible's just pouring out of him. He knew his God. So my first question to you is, how is your relationship with the Word of God? Do you have a living, ongoing relationship with the Word of God? And then my second question to you is, how is your relationship with the God of the Word? The God of the Word. And by this I mean the Lord Jesus Christ who is the incarnate Word. We have in God's written Word, God's inspired Word, in Jesus Christ we have the incarnate Word. Jesus Christ is the person that the written Word is all about. So my question to you is, do you know Jesus Christ, the subject of the written word? Do you, take the attributes of the psalm, do you love Christ? Do you love him more than silver and gold? Do you love him more than any other person in this world? Is Christ your guide in life? Does your heart stand in awe of the Lord Jesus Christ? Is He the one your soul longs after? Is He the one you turn to in those night watches when you cannot sleep? You see, to abide in Christ is to abide in His Word, and to abide in His Word is to abide in Christ. So how is your relationship with the Word of God? And how is your relationship with the God of the Word, Jesus Christ? Listen, the Christian faith is a Word-centered faith. Your relationship with the Word of God reveals your walk with the God of the Word. To walk with Christ is to walk in accordance to His written Word, for the written Word is His voice. My sheep hear my voice, and they follow me. Where can we hear His voice? Right here. Do you want to hear the audible voice of God? Read the Bible out loud. Get into God's Word and God's Word will get into you. This book will keep you from sin. Sin will keep you from this book. The Word. is to be central in our life, central in our marriage, central in our family, central in our church. God's Word is to be central in our worship. We teach the Word. We sing about the truths of God's Word. We pray the Word so that we might go from this place and be doers of the Word. It's all about the truths of God's Word. We worship God, how? John 4, 24, in spirit, from the heart, and according to truth. There it is.