Blessed are those whose ways are blameless,
who walk according to the law of the Lord.
Blessed are those who keep his statutes
and seek him with all their heart—
they do no wrong
but follow his ways.
You have laid down precepts
that are to be fully obeyed.
Oh, that my ways were steadfast
in obeying your decrees!
Then I would not be put to shame
when I consider all your commands.
I will praise you with an upright heart
as I learn your righteous laws.
I will obey your decrees;
do not utterly forsake me.
How can a young person stay on the path of purity?
By living according to your word.
I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands.
I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.
Praise be to you, Lord;
teach me your decrees.
With my lips I recount
all the laws that come from your mouth.
I rejoice in following your statutes
as one rejoices in great riches.
I meditate on your precepts
and consider your ways.
I delight in your decrees;
I will not neglect your word.
The author of Psalm 119, the longest of the Psalms, instructs us as he mediates on the word of God. The Word was a source of strength and wisdom as well as patience and hope in the midst of tribulations. The word of God is our fountain of life. We should drink of it every day for it helps us to grow in obedience and righteousness.
The Psalmist has composed his thoughts into an acrostic, that is, in Hebrew, each stanza begins with a different letter of the Hebrew alphabet and each of the 8 verses that follow begins with the same letter. The intent of this is to convey a sense of completeness. God’s wisdom is complete. The words He speaks to us are truth. We cannot add to or subtract from them without disrupting His perfection.
Therefore, the Psalmist calls on the reader to obey God as the means to achieving peace and satisfaction in life. He rejoices that those who wholeheartedly obey the Lord receive blessings. He advises that we seek righteousness and purity for the Word of God commands us to do so. Therefore if a person desires to live a life that is good, holy, healthy and pleasing to God, he or she must seek His wisdom in His word. This certainly goes against the way of the world. Many if not most people do not like to obey God even if they believe in Him. The world instead seeks satisfaction, fulfillment, and rewards in things that are temporal and, usually, sinful. This is idolatry and those who worship a god who is not our God will find themselves in eternal suffering if not temporal. That is why we who are called as sons of God must present to them the gospel of salvation in Christ Jesus alone.