Psalm 119 - Author

In studying Psalm 119, a logical question comes to mind. Who is the author? He is not named or identified. If the author were known, would there be additional insight or help from the psalm due to understanding the circumstances of the author's life?

There is a widely held assumption that the author was David. Jewish tradition holds that belief pretty firmly. David clearly loved God and the Word, so the content fits. He is attributed with authoring the largest number of psalms, so statistically speaking, he is a good guess. He did write other psalms of an acrostic nature, so style is not a question. Many of David's psalms clearly identify him as the author; this one does not, but there are other psalms that are also believed to be David's although they do not bear his name. So could David be the author? Possibly.

Another common suggestion is Ezra. As a scribe, he would have been in the right position to be familiar with the Word and have affection for it. As someone involved in promoting revival after Israel's captivity, it is a fitting topic for him. He is traditionally credited with writing Ezra and the Chronicles, so it is not shocking to consider him as a Bible author. His education would likely have qualified him for writing poetry. The support for a later author, perhaps during the captivity, seems to revolve around the wickedness of people mentioned in the psalm, those who opposed the psalmist. These do appear to be God's people rather than the heathen, suggesting the later years of Israel's decline. Certainly, however, the failure of God's people was not limited to this time frame. Could Ezra be the author? Perhaps.

The final two suggestions are entirely my own. I wonder at the possibility that Asaph may have been the author. His identified psalms are 50 and 73-83, so he did author a significant amount of Biblical content. As I read Asaph's psalms, I see a man of great passion. He is a man with great internal depth which he is not afraid to express. He is a man who feels things deeply, something that the author of Psalm 119 does as well. He is also a man of ups and downs. He experiences struggles, but he consistently brings himself back to truth in answer to those struggles. He is a man who talks about his spiritual journey, which is precisely what Psalm 119 records. Based on this passionate heart and transparency, could Asaph be the author? Maybe.

Next, I suggest Heman as a possibility. He is the author of Psalm 88, which describes a desperate man whose life is on the brink of ruin due to his walking away from God. In the psalm, he begs God for help and appears ready to start a new chapter of his life in which he intends to pursue God. Several verses in Psalm 119 would fit this scenario. Verse 8 asks that he not be forsaken utterly, as if he is a man who feels forsaken, and in that context aspires to be blessed like those who keep God's ways. He speaks of reproach (v. 39) and shame (v. 6) in relation to God's commandments, and indicates that perhaps his way has not always been pure (v. 9). I believe there is some likelihood that the psalm is written by a relatively young man (at the beginning) who has never tried to walk in God's ways before, but after personal revival is turning his life around and aspires to do so for the first time. Could this psalm be the sequel to Heman's Psalm 88? Not out of the question.

Finally, it is entirely possible that none of these is the correct answer. It would not be unlike God to use an unknown author, someone who never received public recognition. After all, this spiritual journey is open to anyone, not just to those who are well-known or who experience some position of advantage. Perhaps the psalm is written by an ordinary Jew, someone who early in his life had the awareness to make some thoughtful observations. He saw those who were ahead of him, some of whom had fallen from God's ways and others who had not. As he considered their lives and the consequences of their choices, he aspired early in life to follow God and to walk in the way of blessing. The psalm then is a record of his journey. Could Psalm 119 be written by a common, obscure author? Definitely.

In the end, God did not choose to reveal the author's identity, and it doesn't matter. I believe the anonymity allows any reader to identify with the psalm. If the author were known, it would be easy to distance oneself from the scenario. Someone could day, "After all, I'm not a king or a scribe or a musician." Or, on the other hand, "I've never walked away from God." With no identified author, the psalm is universally relevant.

The truth is that the journey described in Psalm 119 could have happened in any of the scenarios listed above. It could be true of a David, a man after God's own heart, who earnestly seeks God. It could be true of an Ezra, a servant of God who is burdened for the backslidden people around him and resolved that he will remain faithful. It could be true of an Asaph, a man with genuine desire to follow God, but who constantly faces the battle of focusing on truth in times of struggle. It could be true of a Heman, who in spite of past failure, is determined for the first time to follow God. It could be true of an unnamed young man who is making choices that will shape the rest of his life.

God can do a work in any of these lives. He can lead each of these believers through progressive stages of maturity, so that they reach of point of spiritual success and blessing. As with this psalmist, God's work is not limited to the subject himself. As the believer is unashamed of sharing his story and living his testimony before others, observers can be encouraged and challenged in their own lives. It is not perfection, but passion, that inspires others. A heart hungry for God and dedicated to Him is a great tool God uses to promote growth among His people.

"O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day." Psalm 119:97 (NASB)

Psalm 119 - Tav

In contrast to the previous stanza which may have seemed like an appropriate conclusion for this psalm about the psalmist's upward climb in God's ways, this stanza seems at first glance to be a rather odd conclusion. After seeing the growth, success, and victory that this man has experienced, and after observing the tremendous blessing he has enjoyed, the reader comes upon a stanza that nearly gives the impression of all being lost.

Instead of continuing to portray victory, the stanza is filled with expressions of need. There are seven requests beginning with the word let; these are things that the psalmist wants to be true in the future. They may have happened in the past, but the author now prays for God to bring them about again. The first six of these requests fall nicely into three pairs, with each set giving a different prayer focus.

First, the psalmist needs attention from God.

"Let my cry come before You" (v. 169).
"Let my supplication come before You" (v. 170).
He needs God to hear his prayer, which presupposes that he has needs which require prayer. The needs themselves are not surprising; they are the common lot of life. The possible surprise is that the psalmist feels like he needs to ask God to hear him, as if he feels alone and neglected. In spite of the maturity this man has obtained, he still needs God, the only one who can meet his needs, to give attention to his prayers.

Second, the psalmist needs a resolution of praise.

"Let my lips utter praise" (v. 171).
"Let my tongue sing of Your Word" (v. 172).
He has seen how faithful God is. He has seen the blessings of the Word. He has praised and lifted God up in the past. He needs God's help, though, to continue offering that praise. There is in each believer the tendency to forget and to gradually stop doing things that ought to be continued. Without God's prompting, the psalmist knows his potential to neglect the praise that God deserves and to take the blessings for granted.

Third, the psalmist needs deliverance from trouble.

"Let Your hand be ready to help me" (v. 173).
"Let my soul live" (v. 175).
Added to these requests is the prayer of verse 170: "Deliver me." With whatever strength and wisdom this man may have achieved, he is still unable to save himself. He needs God's help and deliverance in the challenging situations of life. His life has not become free of trouble; verse 175 indicates that his very life may be in danger. This man is still human and frail. He needs a divine and powerful God to rescue him.

Fourth, the psalmist needs understanding from the Word.

"Let Your ordinances help me" (v. 175).
He also prays, "Give me understanding" (v. 169). He has learned so much from the Word, yet he still keenly feels his lack of wisdom. He still perhaps wants to lean on his own understanding, and therefore asks God that it would be His ordinances that would provide the help. After all his devotion to the Word and the intimate knowledge it has produced, this man still realizes that he has not learned everything he needs to know. He must continue to look to the Word.

Fifth, the psalmist needs restoration from failure.

"I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek Your servant" (v. 176).
This final verse is perhaps the most shocking request of all. The psalmist has achieved such growth and maturity, such spiritual success and blessing, only for this statement to close out the psalm! He is not immune to temptation. He has fallen. His fall is significant enough that he asks God to seek him and bring him back. He cannot even return to sweet intimacy with God unless God does the work.

Each of the requests may seem unusual from the man whose testimony has been revealed in this passage. Does he not know by now that God hears his cry? Could he possibly forget to praise the God whom he has come to know and appreciate? Could he have forgotten God's faithful deliverance throughout his life? Has he not learned to automatically turn to the Word for answers? How could he have gone astray from the truth to which he has dedicated himself?

These seemingly strange requests indicate spiritual sensitivity. Each is actually a prayer of maturity. This man wisely realizes that he cannot rest on past achievements or success. He knows his journey is never done. He understands there is always room for more growth. He is aware of the constant potential for failure. Because of these realizations, the psalmist remains always dependent on God.

Very importantly, this man continues to remember the Word. "I do not forget Your commandments" (v. 176). He still recalls that they are righteous (v. 172) and still delights in them (v. 174). There is no room for a believer to relax, depending on his history of devotion to the Bible. A man who is content that he pretty much knows all there is to know about the Bible, who fails to refresh himself in its truths, quickly becomes anemic and weak. There can be no coasting through to the end; instead there must be a sustained pushing all the way to the finish line.

Letting the guard down and relaxing the intensity leads to precisely what the psalmist mentions in the final verse: failure. The dependency on God that permeates this stanza is crucial. These prayers for continuation of God's work through the Word form a very appropriate closing for this wonderful psalm.

Psalm 119 - Shin

Although one stanza of the psalm remains, this stanza seems at first glance to be a fitting conclusion for the psalm. The psalmist began the psalm by admiring those who lived according to God's Word, by noting the great blessing that came to them, and by expressing his heart-felt desire to be one of them. In this stanza he notes the achievement of his goal - he has learned to walk faithfully in God's ways. He has also realized the blessings he had sought; he overflows with rejoicing over the blessings of the Word.

There have been many lessons along the way, along with many difficulties and challenges. In some stanzas the psalmist cried out desperately in great affliction and need. At times there seemed to be no answer and no end to his troubles. This stanza, by contrast, is remarkably positive and uplifting in nature. There are very few negative words. The psalmist mentions "falsehood," but only because he hates it (v. 163). He refers to stumbling, but only because he doesn't do it (v. 165). The most negative phrase is the very first one, in which he declares that "princes persecute [him] without cause" (v. 161), but again it is something that does not trouble him.

Instead of acknowledging the negative, the psalmist talks of his success in walking in God's ways. He has learned to obey God faithfully and to live in the right way. "[I] . . . do Your commandments" (v. 166). "My soul keeps Your testimonies" (v. 167). "I keep Your precepts and Your testimonies" (v. 168). "All my ways are before You" (v. 168).

Also on the positive side, the psalmist declares his love for the Word of God. He has come to love and appreciate the Word of God to an extraordinary degree. "My heart stands in awe of Your words" (v. 161). "I rejoice at Your word" (v. 162). "I hate and despise falsehood" (v. 163). "I love Your law" (v. 163). "Seven times a day I praise You" (v. 164). "I love them exceedingly" (v. 167).

This great rejoicing and appreciation is based on the tremendous blessing he has received from the Word. There are a number of specific blessings that he mentions.

First, there is joy in the psalmist's spirit. His relationship with the Word fills him with delight and exuberance. The stanza is filled with statements illustrating that result. His life is sweeter and more uplifting because the Word is such an important part of it.

Second, the Word brings the psalmist peace. He declares that those who love God's law "have great peace" (v. 165). Even when faced with unjust persecution, he remains untroubled (v. 161). The chaos of life does not disturb him.

Third, the Word is a treasure. The psalmist views his discoveries in the Word to be as valuable as if he had just uncovered "great spoil" (v. 161). The value of the Word is so great because it provides true riches to be applied in the areas that really matter.

Fourth, the Word provides the psalmist with truth. This is in contrast with the falsehood that leads to disaster and death (v. 163). The psalmist doesn't need to worry about being led astray because he is led by the dependability of God's "righteous ordinances" (v. 164).

Fifth, the psalmist has stability. He has an anchor to hold him secure and a foundation to keep him upright in the face of whatever storm or attack comes. The psalmist says about those who love God's law that "nothing causes them to stumble" (v. 165).

Sixth, the psalmist anticipates salvation (v. 166). He has a place to turn for refuge and deliverance. He has something that will meet his every need. He is never left without an answer.

With such tremendous blessings, it is no wonder that this man loves the Word. It is no wonder that his words are filled with joy and praise to God. It is no surprise to hear his overflowing admiration for the Word.

Reaching the level that the psalmist reached is not unachievable for any Christian. It is possible. Such maturity does not happen overnight, but it does happen as a believer pursues the Word on a regular basis. Gradually the knowledge of the Word increases. Steadily the ability to walk according to the Word grows.  Progressively the love for the Word compounds. Steadily the blessings brought by the Word multiply. It may be years before one realizes he has reached the goal he has earnestly sought, but the effort of each day contributes to the journey. It will be worth it all to experience the joy and blessings of walking in God's ways.

"Seven times a day I praise You, because of Your righteous ordinances." Psalm 119:164 (NASB)

Psalm 119 - Resh

The words of prayer in this stanza reveal a heart of maturity. The psalmist has developed a deep relationship with God and a strong bond with His Word. He makes some bold statements to reveal this relationship. "I do not forget Your law" (v. 153). "I do not turn aside from Your testimonies" (v. 157). "Consider how I love Your precepts" (v. 159). He also claims to "loathe [the treacherous] because they do not keep" God's Word (v. 158).

These statements are a far cry from the longings expressed in the opening stanza of the psalm. In the beginning the psalmist saw other believers living that way, and he desired it for himself. The first stanza conveys almost a sense of wonder: Could this ever be true of me? Now it is. The psalmist isn't just saying words here in this stanza. He isn't trying to convince himself of his spirituality or impress others with his maturity. He is speaking directly to God, someone that he knows he cannot fool. He is able to declare these statements without shame or fear because God Himself knows they are true of him.

The psalmist makes these statements with a purpose. His prayer shares a request and a reason for making the request. "Look upon my affliction and rescue me, for [because] I do not forget Your law" (v. 153). What is it about this man's relationship with the Word that gives him the boldness to make such a request? How can he feel so free to ask what he does from God?

In part, it is because maturity has taught him what to expect from God. As he has learned what the Word teaches, he has seen God's character revealed. Three times in this stanza, the psalmist asks for revival. In each case he asks for it based on what God's Word says about His character and what He will do. "Revive me," he prays, "according to Your word" (v. 154), "according to Your ordinances" (v. 156), "according to Your lovingkindness" (v. 159). From his knowledge of the Word and of God revealed in the Word, he knows that revival of the righteous is to be expected. He also knows the same response is not expected for the wicked. He knows that "salvation is far from the wicked" (v. 155) because they don't seek God.

Along with knowing what to expect from God, the psalmist is also bold to ask for help because of the relationship he has with God. This is not a man whom God sees as a stranger or a casual acquaintance. He is not a "Sunday morning" Christian or someone who gives lip service only. This is a man who is devoted to God and His Word. Verses already mentioned recount his remembrance of, obedience to, and love for the Word. He esteems God and His Word highly, stating, "Great are Your mercies" (v. 156), and "The sum of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting" (v. 160).

The psalmist is not afraid to give the reasons why God should work on his behalf, nor is he afraid to ask God to act. His prayer may provoke the question, "Does God  intervene in a greater way for faithful and mature Christians than He does for others?" The answer is too complex for human minds to fully comprehend, but the answer seems to be that at least sometimes He does. The answer is not strange when examined from a human comparison; people are more likely to do something significant for their families or close friends than for total strangers. God is not limited to human responses, and He sometimes does amazing things even for those who don't "deserve" them. There does seem to be support, however, for asserting that God does special things for those who have shown themselves to be His friends in a special way.

The emphasis is on the relationship. A mature Christian doesn't earn or deserve God's blessings because of what he does. Christian groups have routinely conducted studies and surveys to find out what makes a successful Christian or some similar goal. This can lead to artificial Christianity, as people will then pray or read or attend or dress or talk to a specified criteria, expecting their actions to automatically produce the desired result. They fail to realize that it is a devoted heart that leads to the desired goal; the actions and behaviors are reflections of that heart rather than checklists of effective steps for reaching that goal.

That devoted heart is what allows the psalmist to pray as he does. He is bold enough to ask what he does because he has the spiritual maturity, based on his knowledge of God's Word, that lets him know what is reasonable to expect from God. He is also bold to ask because he has the intimate relationship with God that gives him a basis for this kind of conversation. He mentions his maturity, and he asks for revival, but he does not require God's response; anything other than a completely submissive spirit would belie the devoted relationship he claims to have.

"Consider how I love Your precepts; revive me, O LORD, according to Your lovingkindness." Psalm 119:159 (NASB)