Chapter 119

Per MSB this Psalm contains 22 sections of 8 lines each.  The sections are acrostic, and each line of a section begins with the same letter of the Hebrew alphabet.  Other than that, there is no real outline. 

The Hebrew alphabet (excluding final letters) in cursive.

The Hebrew Letters

Section 1, Aleph, Blessed are those who follow the rules.  I will keep your rules.

2021 - Ends with "do not utterly forsake me!". 

2, Beth, Store up the word, meditate on the precepts.  This is all about treasuring God's rules.

2021 - Vs 10, "let me not wander from your commandments."

2021-Ends with "I will not forget your word"

3, Gimel, Delight in God's law in all it's aspects and forms.  A craving for the just decrees of God.

2021-Ends with 24 Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors. [Psa 119:24 ESV]

4, Daleth, Teach me your ways, give me deep understanding.

2021 - Per TCR footnote, it ends with "for you set my heart free".  ESV says 32 I will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart! [Psa 119:32 ESV].  An analogy to the physical?  Help me increase my aerobic capacity so I have stamina to keep running?  How interesting!

2021 - So far, every stanza has been about following the rules, about orthodoxy, about not deviating from the law, about living every second by the law.  There is nothing here about the law evolving with the times.

5, He, I long for your precepts.

2021 - 40 Behold, I long for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life! [Psa 119:40 ESV]

6, Waw, My hope is in your rules.

2021 - 44 I will keep your law continually, forever and ever, [Psa 119:44 ESV]...because it never changes, I keep it forever.  This would not be possible if it changed.

2021-Ends with 48 I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes. [Psa 119:48 ESV]

7, Zayin, Keep the law though it brings derision from the evil, blessings come from keeping the law.

2021 - 51 The insolent utterly deride me, but I do not turn away from your law. [Psa 119:51 ESV].  This theme has shown up a few times in this Psalm.  Is the whole thing about the unchanging law of God being attacked by "forward thinkers".  Is their argument that the law should change with the times, that it should evolve?  And this whole psalm is written to refute that philosophy?

2021 - Ends with 56 This blessing has fallen to me, that I have kept your precepts. [Psa 119:56 ESV]

8, Heth, I work hard to comply with your laws, because I love those laws.

2021 - Ends with 64 The earth, O LORD, is full of your steadfast love; teach me your statutes! [Psa 119:64 ESV]

9, Teth, Writer suffered affliction, and turned to the law.  He was smeared with lies, but still keeps the law.

2021 - I never noticed this little verse before: 71 It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes. [Psa 119:71 ESV]

2021 - Ends with 72 The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces. [Psa 119:72 ESV]

2021 - This chapter is what you read when you are thinking about compromise, when you're thinking well, this is ok these days.  Interesting that the longest chapter in the whole Bible is about the law, the rules, the commandments and the statutes being kept to the letter forever and ever.

10, Yodh, The rules are righteous

2021 - Here is that theme again:  75 I know, O LORD, that your rules are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me. [Psa 119:75 ESV]

2021 - Ends with 80 May my heart be blameless in your statutes, that I may not be put to shame! [Psa 119:80 ESV]

11, Kaph, The writer is persecuted severely, to the point of death.  A plea to God for help, salvation, continued life. 

2021 - This is a plea for help from God against persecution.  The writer is feeling overwhelmed.  These two verses:  84 How long must your servant endure? When will you judge those who persecute me? 85 The insolent have dug pitfalls for me; they do not live according to your law. [Psa 119:84-85 ESV]

2021 - Ends with 88 In your steadfast love give me life, that I may keep the testimonies of your mouth. [Psa 119:88 ESV]

12, Lamedh, The law endures forever.  I love Your precepts, therefore give me life.  There is this continual theme that because the writer is so devoted to all God commands - to all the rules - therefore God should save him.

2021 - Again, the unchanging word: 89 [Lamedh] Forever, O LORD, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. [Psa 119:89 ESV].  Where is there room for change.

2021 - Ends with 96 I have seen a limit to all perfection, but your commandment is exceedingly broad. [Psa 119:96 ESV].  Hmm...what does this one mean?  Ahh, here it is!  96 I have seen a limit to all perfection, but your command is without limit.  [Psa 119:96 CSB]

13, Mem, From the rules comes understanding - more than elders, more than teachers.  Knowledge of the rules helps avoid doing wrong in anything.

2021 - Ends with 104 Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way. [Psa 119:104 ESV]

14, Nun, Though near death, the writer has not and will not forsake God's laws.  He will not break those laws to save himself.

2021 - Ends with 112 I incline my heart to perform your statutes forever, to the end. [Psa 119:112 ESV]

15, Samekh, The rules are against the wicked, against those who try to circumvent them.

2021 - Ends with 120 My flesh trembles for fear of you, and I am afraid of your judgments. [Psa 119:120 ESV]

16, Ayin, The writer is oppressed by someone, and asks God to deal with them, and to deal justly with the writer for his devotion to law.

2021 - Wow.  Look at this one:  126 It is time for the LORD to act, for your law has been broken. [Psa 119:126 ESV].  A prayer I can get behind!

2021 - 128 Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right; I hate every false way. [Psa 119:128 ESV].  If not God's precept, then it is false.

17, Pe, The writer asks God's attention and help.  He sheds tears when other break God's law.

2021 - Ends with 136 My eyes shed streams of tears, because people do not keep your law. [Psa 119:136 ESV]

18, Tsadhe, God's righteous rules endure forever.

2021 - 142 Your righteousness is righteous forever, and your law is true. [Psa 119:142 ESV]  It does not change.  It is the only thing that doesn't!

2021 - 144 Your testimonies are righteous forever; give me understanding that I may live. [Psa 119:144 ESV]

19, Qoph, The writer cries for help  from God, because he keeps God's statutes and laws.  His foes draw near, he asks for help, that he may continually abide by the law of God.

2021 - Ends with 152 Long have I known from your testimonies that you have founded them forever. [Psa 119:152 ESV].  Again, the timelessness of God's perfect laws.

20, Resh, One verse (159) says "Consider how I love your precepts!  Give me life according to your steadfast love.

2021 -Ends with 160 The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever. [Psa 119:160 ESV].  Forever again.  God's rules are perfect, nothing man does can make them wrong.

21, Sin and Shin, Despite persecution from Princes (govt, great men, those in power or authority) the writer holds to the law.

     164 Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous rules. [Psa 119:164 ESV].  Is this where Mohammad copied it from?

2021 - Ends with 168 I keep your precepts and testimonies, for all my ways are before you. [Psa 119:168 ESV]

22, Taw, The very last verse:

     Ends with 176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for I do not forget your commandments. [Psa 119:176 ESV]

     I am a lost sheep, gone astray.  Pray to the Lord that he will come looking, and find us.

2021-Now tell me I am wrong about the parable of the lost sheep being about the saved!

Here are the last verses of each stanza of Psalm 119:

8 I will keep your statutes; do not utterly forsake me! ...

16 I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word. ...

24 Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors. ...

32 I will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart! ...

40 Behold, I long for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life! ...

48 I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes. ...

56 This blessing has fallen to me, that I have kept your precepts. ...

64 The earth, O LORD, is full of your steadfast love; teach me your statutes! ...

72 The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces. ...

80 May my heart be blameless in your statutes, that I may not be put to shame! ...

88 In your steadfast love give me life, that I may keep the testimonies of your mouth. ...

96 I have seen a limit to all perfection, but your commandment is exceedingly broad. ...

104 Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way. ...

112 I incline my heart to perform your statutes forever, to the end. ...

120 My flesh trembles for fear of you, and I am afraid of your judgments. ...

128 Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right; I hate every false way. ...

136 My eyes shed streams of tears, because people do not keep your law. ...

144 Your testimonies are righteous forever; give me understanding that I may live. ...

152 Long have I known from your testimonies that you have founded them forever. ...

160 The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever. ...

168 I keep your precepts and testimonies, for all my ways are before you. ...

176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for I do not forget your commandments. 

[Psa 119:8, 16, 24, 32, 40, 48, 56, 64, 72, 80, 88, 96, 104, 112, 120, 128, 136, 144, 152, 160, 168, 176 ESV]

This chapter is about God's perfect and timeless rules.  That is the whole point of it.  There are many lessons about the benefits of living by these rules, but it is the rules themselves that are the subject of the Psalm.  No way I can put this in FB, but it belongs on the website.

2022 - Just look at that last verse!  Try telling me that the parable of the lost sheep is not about those who are saved but get off the track, wander off in search of greener grass, decide to try it another way.  This verse just confirms it.