Caring through Psalm 119

An Overview of Psalm 119

  • Psalm 119 is near the middle of the Bible and is longest chapter of the Bible (176 verses).

  • Psalm 119 has been referred to as Proverbs of the Psalms.

  • Psalm 119 is written as an acrostic poem. The parents would teach the Hebrew children the Hebrew alphabet using the acrostic structure of Psalm 119.

  • The writer of Psalm 119 is unknown. One writer possibility is Ezra the priest, writing at the time the temple had been rebuilt. Others think King David, and yet others say Daniel.

  • An overall message of Psalm 119 focuses on the truth of GOD’s WORD. Descriptive words like commands, precepts, laws, ways, decrees, wisdom, rules, appear throughout all of Psalm 119.

  • In his Journal of Biblical Counseling article entitled “Suffering and Psalm 119” David Powlison points out that even more than mentioning descriptions of GOD’s WORD, Powlison points out: “Far and away the most common words (in Psalm 119) are first- and second-person singular pronouns: I, me, my, mine, You, Your, Yours!”

  • Powlison says, ‘Psalm 119 is the most extensive I – to – You conversation in the Bible.” So if you are wondering: “What does it look like to talk to GOD?” Powlison would say, “See Psalm 119.”