Psalm 119: Prayer, Meditation, and Trials

Oratio, meditatio, tentatio -these are the principles Martin Luther pulled from Psalm 119 for knowing the Word of God. Prayer, meditation, and trials. I recently had to pick apart this signature psalm for my class, classifying each of the verses into one of the three categories. I thought it might be worth posting...

PRAYER
Verses:
2, 10, 18, 19, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 ,36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 43, 49, 58, 64, 66, 68, 73, 76, 77, 79, 80, 82, 88, 107, 116, 117, 121, 122, 124, 125, 132, 133, 134, 135, 144, 145, 146, 147, 149, 154, 156, 159, 169, 170, 173, 175

10 - With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!

18 - Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.

28 - My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word!

31 - I cling to your testimonies, O LORD; let me not be put to shame!

34 - Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart.

36 - Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!

37 - Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.

124 - Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love, and teach me your statutes.

147 - I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in your word.

Based on the sheer number of verses in each of the boxes, prayer is the predominant Psalm 119-component in understanding God’s Word. In the limited selection above, the Psalmist prays for God’s assistance in understanding, obeying, desiring, and focusing on the Word. He also prays for help and loving “dealings.” It goes without question that I must rely on the Lord for all growth in, change through, and love for His Word. I must diligently seek to cling to Him in absolute dependence. Though the Psalmist loves the Law, he knows it is not sufficient apart from the intervention of Almighty God. I am responsible to lean into the Author and Perfecter of my faith.



MEDITATION
Verses:
6, 7, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 20, 23, 24, 27, 30, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 52, 55, 59, 62, 63, 72, 78, 81, 89, 90, 91, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 99, 109, 111, 112, 114, 120, 128, 148, 162, 167, 171, 172

13 - With my lips I declare all the rules of your mouth.

15 – I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.

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

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

52 - When I think of your rules from of old, I take comfort, O LORD.

93 - I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life.

95 - The wicked lie in wait to destroy me, but I consider your testimonies.

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

162 - I rejoice at your word like one who finds great spoil.

148 - My eyes are awake before the watches of the night,
that I may meditate on your promise.

Meditation, in all of its variations, is the other responsibility the Psalmist pursues in knowing the Word of God. He meditates on it, declares it, fixes his eyes on it, delights in it, remembers it, rejoices in it, and considers it. Meditation is somewhat a matter of practicality. It is difficult to understand the book not read or the sung not heard. God is not limited to this finite quality, but the Psalmist knows he must seek God’s Word. It is to be talked about when sitting and walking and lying down and rising –a sign on your hand, frontlets between your eyes, on the doorposts, and on your gates. The Word of God is best grasped when it permeates my entire life, thoughts and all.



TRIALS
Verses:
3, 5, 8, 9, 28, 42, 50, 51, 53, 54, 61, 65, 67, 69, 70, 71, 75, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 92, 95, 107, 110, 115, 140, 143, 150, 153, 157, 161, 176

28 - My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word!

50 - This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.

54 - Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my sojourning.

71 - It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.

74 - Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice, because I have hoped in your word.

75 – I know, O LORD, that your rules are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.

92 - If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.

140 - Your promise is well tried, and your servant loves it.

143 - Trouble and anguish have found me out, but your commandments are my delight.

153 - Look on my affliction and deliver me, for I do not forget your law.

161 - Princes persecute me without cause, but my heart stands in awe of your words.

Trials are the blessed work of a faithful, loving God. The Psalmist knows they instruct him in the way of Truth. They are his comfort. He also trusts his trials . Over and over again, I have seen these principles manifested in my life. Promises read my entire life become life-giving and precious through the storms of life. And God’s faithfulness to His Word in the storm only increases my faith in and love for that Word. And I have seen my trials be to the praise of my God in the mouths of those who see them. I can only echo the Psalmist in affirming “that in faithfulness [He has] afflicted me” for my good.