A Tapestry of Covenant
Introduction
As one might easily conclude, even after a brief reading of just a couple of verses, Psalm 119 carries a resounding refrain that rings steady—the Word of God. This psalm is a song of love, devotion, dependence, and desire for God’s Word. It is a song we all aspire to sing as blessed saints who form the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. None who have been born again can read Psalm 119 without finding both encouragement and rebuke for the psalmist’s passionate affection for the Scriptures described in its verses.
Poetry In Motion
“Oh, that I knew how all thy lights combine, And the configurations of their glory! Seeing not only how each verse doth shine, But all the constellations of the story.” George Herbert, “The Holy Scriptures”
The language of Psalm 119 is like the language of poetry. The diversity of words used in this psalm portrays beauty, power, and deep affection, much like a poem. This variety serves to captivate the reader’s interest and attention. The numerous descriptions of the Word of God throughout the psalm reveal the profound impression and influence it has upon the blessed saint.
Let your steadfast love come to me, O LORD, your salvation according to your promise! Psalm 119:41
This rich tapestry of language in Psalm 119 is woven together with eight distinct titles for the Word of God, each offering a unique perspective on its nature and role in the life of the blessed saint.
The Eight Titles of Psalm 119
In Psalm 119, eight distinct titles for the Word of God are highlighted. Each title provides a unique perspective on the nature of Scripture and its role in the life of the believer. These titles include: Instruction, Testimony, Precept, Statute, Commandment, Judgment, Word, and Promise. Together, they reflect the multifaceted beauty and depth of God’s Word.
Instruction/Law
In the very opening verses of the chapter, the psalmist speaks about the way of those who are blameless and walk in the law of the Lord:
“Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD.” (Psalm 119:1)
Later in the chapter, the psalmist uses the word again in verse 97:
“Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.” (Psalm 119:97)
And again in verse 165:
“Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.” (Psalm 119:165)
This word, law, is the most frequently used term for God’s law in the chapter. The law, or Torah, refers to God’s complete teaching or guidance, often encompassing the first five books of the Bible. It points to the totality of God’s revelation, given to guide His people in every aspect of life.
Testimony
The second title the psalmist employs to describe the law is found in verse 14:
In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches. Psalm 119:14
It appears again in verses 88 and 129:
Give me life according to your testimonies! Psalm 119:88 Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them. Psalm 119:129
Testimonies is a term that highlights God’s covenantal witness to His people. Its use serves to remind us of God’s faithfulness while, conversely, calling us to remain faithful in return. The “testimony” often refers to the covenant itself, such as the Ten Commandments, which stand as a witness against sin and a call to obedience.
Precept
Building upon the themes of God’s faithfulness and covenantal witness found in His testimonies, the psalmist also highlights the personal and detailed nature of God’s guidance through His precepts.
Consider these verses:
You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently. Psalm 119:4
I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. Psalm 119:15
And I shall walk in a wide place, for I have sought your precepts. Psalm 119:45
Let your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts. Psalm 119:173
The word “precept” reflects God’s careful instructions and His personal care for His people. It carries the idea of God paying attention to the details of our lives, providing guidance that shows His love and concern.
Statutes
Further, and conversely, we see the psalmist’s own love and concern for God’s Word through the use of the fourth title, statute (or statutes, as it is more frequently used). The psalmist highlights the unchanging nature of these commands in verses like:
Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes! Psalm 119:5
I incline my heart to perform your statutes forever, to the end. Psalm 119:112
These references, among others, emphasize the binding and unshakable foundation of God’s Word. Statutes remind us of the enduring nature of God’s commands, firmly established to guide His people in every season of life.
Commandments
The enduring nature of God’s firmly established guide for His people in every season of life is evident in the psalmist’s continual references to commandments. The blessed saint’s:
Eyes fixed on all your commandments. Psalm 119:6
With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! Psalm 119:10
Commandments are the psalmist’s affection and delight, described as more precious than fine gold:
For I find my delight in your commandments, which I love. Psalm 119:47
Therefore I love your commandments above gold, above fine gold. Psalm 119:127
The word commandment highlights God’s authority to declare what ought to be done. His commandments are not mere suggestions—they are His sovereign instructions for living in a way that pleases Him.
Judgment
The psalmist knows that God not only sees the lives of His people but that their lives sit under the judgments of God, based on how they follow His commandments. The psalmist often describes God’s judgment as righteous rules:
I will praise you with an upright heart, when I learn your righteous rules. Psalm 119:7
With my lips I declare all the rules of your mouth. Psalm 119:13
At midnight I rise to praise you, because of your righteous rules. Psalm 119:62
The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever. Psalm 119:160
Righteous rules paint the picture of a judge’s decision. God’s judgments are His righteous rulings, showing us what is right and wrong and reminding us of His perfect justice.
Word
This holiness, which the psalmist knows God requires, is why he looks to the law as a guardian. This is seen in verse 9 with the use of word:
How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. Psalm 119:9
I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word. Psalm 119:16
Forever, O LORD, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. Psalm 119:89
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105
Word is an incredibly broad term that refers to God’s spoken Word. It also encompasses all of God’s revealed truth, reminding us that His promises, commands, and decrees are trustworthy and true.
Promise
Lastly, we see the final title the psalmist uses for God’s law in this chapter. It appears in verse 11:
I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:11
The word the psalmist uses here is not the broad term we see in verse 9. Our English translations do not fully capture the nuance of the Hebrew word used in this context. Verse 38 provides interpretive insight:
Confirm to your servant your promise, that you may be feared. Psalm 119:38
This clarifies that the well-known Psalm 119:11 specifically refers to God’s promises. Additional verses, such as 50 and 140, further illustrate this:
This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life. Psalm 119:50
Your promise is well tried, and your servant loves it. Psalm 119:140
This word points to the spoken promises of God. It reminds us that what God says is not only true but also full of hope and assurance for His people.
The Tying Word for Eight Titles
All these titles are bound together by a single unifying theme: Covenant. The Psalmist understands the covenantal relationship between God and His people. This is evident in both the name of God and its frequent use throughout Psalm 119—the LORD (Yahweh). The covenantal name of God underscores His faithfulness, promises, and commitment to His people, serving as the foundation for all these titles. The psalmist’s devotion to God’s Word is rooted in this profound relationship of covenant love and obedience.
Consider Psalm 119:1, which opens with the covenant name of God, immediately grounding the psalm in God’s relationship with His people:
Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD.
By using the name LORD (Yahweh), the psalmist signals the covenant relationship that frames the entire psalm, demonstrating that obedience to God’s Word is a response to His steadfast love and faithfulness.
Walking in the Light
Wandering through the psalmist’s reflections on delight in the Word of God serves to challenge us. Too often, our lives as Christians are shaped by many other things—money, possessions, status, relationships, and pleasures. However, the Blessed Saint of Psalm 119 is shaped by the instructions, commandments, and promises of God. Like the Psalmist, we are called to faithfulness, obedience, and love for God.
The Scriptures are the means for walking in the light. May we, too, be like the Blessed Saint of Psalm 119, who finds delight in the Word of God and allows it to be a guiding light for every step in life. William Gurnall underscores this truth:
The Word of God stands between the saints and all danger.
Conclusion
The eight titles for God’s law in Psalm 119 are a kaleidoscope of beauty that reveal the nature of Scripture. Each word provides a different perspective on how the Word of God instructs, guides, encourages, and corrects the people of God. The tapestry of words woven in Psalm 119 to illustrate the beauty of God’s Word is soaked in the dye of grace and love. These words of grace are given to guide the blessed saint into a fruitful life of honoring God, ultimately filling every inch of life with the glory of God. May we meditate on these terms and grow in our love for God’s Word and in obedience to the One who graciously gave these words to us—God.