Psalm 119

What’s Happening?

Psalm 119 stands out for its length—but it also harmonizes with the entire Psalter, emphasizing the book’s core idea in every line. The book of Psalms opens by proclaiming that those who delight in God are happy and blessed, while those who reject him die in their wickedness (Psalm 1). God reveals what he is like so that his creation might imitate him, walking the righteous path that leads to life—the very life God possesses, full of flourishing, goodness, and joy. The writer of Psalm 119 longs to share in that life.

He declares that the life and flourishing he desires is inseparable from knowing God’s words (Psalm 119:1-2, 40, 50, 77). The connection between God’s word and creation’s life stretches back to the very beginning. There, God spoke to the formless world, breathing life into the entire cosmos (Genesis 1:1-26). And the revelation of God’s words and actions still sustains all creation (Psalm 119:89-91). To turn away from it would be to cut himself off from life itself (Psalm 119:92-96).

Because God’s revelation is linked to God’s life, the psalmist’s deepest desire is to know and reflect God’s character (Psalm 119:16, 52,171-172). His hunger for God far surpasses every other craving (Psalm 119:14, 72, 103, 127, 162). But simply knowing about God’s life without being transformed by it would crush him (Psalm 119:5, 10, 116). So he begs God to help him to observe and obey, to faithfully walk in God’s ways (Psalm 119:12, 68, 135, 169). 

His delight in what delights God gives rise to an equal and opposite passion—to hate the things God hates (Psalm 119:53, 126). He likely sings this prayer from exile, surrounded by those who oppose God (Psalm 119:23, 51, 61, 157, 161). He despises the wickedness that oppresses his people (Psalm 119:104, 113, 136). Yet he clings to God, trusting God to give him life in the midst of death (Psalm 119:8, 17, 25,134,143). The psalmist even sees the oppression he suffers as a means of shaping him more into God’s likeness (Psalm 119:67, 71). Ultimately, he trusts that the wicked, as they become less and less like God, will be handed over more and more to death (Psalm 119:78, 149-151, 155).  

The psalmist devotes himself to pursuing the knowledge of God by any and all means. He names God’s revelation in many forms: words, laws, commands, wonders, righteous decrees, ways, and statutes. Each aspect matters—the words God has spoken, his miraculous deeds, his promises to Israel, and the righteous ways he interacts with his people. The psalmist strives to know, treasure, and embody all of it (Psalm 119:9, 11). He meditates on God’s revelation continually, day and night (Psalm 119:15, 48, 55, 148). He speaks and sings of it to himself and others (Psalm 119:54, 147, 164). He lets it rule his life (Psalm 119:30, 44, 57-60, 105-106, 112). His whole existence is oriented toward knowing God and becoming like him because he knows that is the only path to true life.

Where is the Gospel?

Since God is life itself, to become like him is to share in life—goodness, joy, and flourishing. To turn from him is to share in death—wickedness, decay, and futility. Without God’s self-revelation and his transforming work within us, we continue walking in the way of the wicked, drawing closer and closer to death. 

The good news is that God has fully shown us what he is like in the person of Jesus. Jesus is the Word who gave life to creation (John 1:1-4). In Jesus, the life-giving revelation of God took on flesh so that God and his life could be seen and known (John 1:14). Jesus embodies God’s words, actions, and ways. When we see Jesus, we see God (John 8:19, 12:45). Not one detail of God’s glory or nature is missing in Jesus (Hebrews 1:3). In him, the God who is life has revealed himself so that we might share in his life (John 17:3). 

In Jesus, we see true life and flourishing amid death and wickedness. In Jesus, we see God’s mercy, forgiveness, humility, and compassion. In Jesus, we see God’s care for the poor and the outcast, his perfect goodness and infinite wisdom, and his openness to all who come to him. In Jesus, we see God’s contempt for death and all the evil that causes it. On the cross, the God of life dies to reveal the depths of his love. And in the resurrection, his power defeats death. In Jesus’ triumph over the grave, every prayer of the psalmist finds its answer—God is able to raise his people from death and teach them his way of life. 

God revealed himself to us in Jesus so that Jesus could be revealed in us. As the psalmist longed to know and become like God, we long to behold Jesus so that we can become like Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:18; Colossians 3:10). Jesus continually reveals himself to us, shaping us through his words and actions in Scripture, by his Spirit, and through his Church (Philippians 3:20-21; 2 Peter 1:3-4). Now, like the psalmist, we devote ourselves to pursuing the knowledge of Jesus by any and all means (Philippians 3:12-14; 2 Timothy 4:7-8). Even our suffering ultimately serves to make us like Jesus (Romans 8:17-18;1 Peter 2:19-21). And one day, Jesus will return, revealing himself fully to all creation (Acts 1:10-11; Revelation 1:7, 21:1-5). When he does, we will be fully transformed into his image to share in his life forever (Colossians 3:4; 1 John 3:2). 

See for Yourself

I pray that the Holy Spirit will open your eyes to see the God who reveals himself through his words and actions. And may you see Jesus and become like him as he conforms you into his image.