Perhaps, the pinnacle of the Hebrews’ appreciation for God’s law is Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible. Here, God’s law is celebrated in verse. The psalm is an acrostic arranged in alphabetical order. Each of its twenty-two paragraphs contain eight verses with the first letter of each line beginning with the same letter of the Hebrew alphabet. 

In the first paragraph of the psalm, each line begins with the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet. In the second paragraph, each line begins with the second letter of the Hebrew alphabet. This poetic rhapsodizing of God’s precepts is repeated throughout the entire psalm until the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet is used to begin each line of the psalm’s final paragraph.

Within this divinely inspired lyrical celebration of God’s statues the Psalmist declares God’s law to be: 1. Filled with wondrous things (v. 18) 2. His delight (vs. 16, 70, 77, 92, 174) 3. Better than silver and gold (v. 72) 4. The truth (vs. 142, 160) 5. A source of great peace (v. 165) 6. Cleansing (v. 9) 7. Strengthening (v. 28) 8. Quickening (vs. 50. 107, 154) 9. Forever settled in Heaven (v. 89) 10. Sweeter than honey (v. 103) 11. A lamp unto his feet and a light unto his path (v. 105) 12. Righteous (v. 123) 13. Light-giving (v. 130), and 14. Pure (v. 140).

In light of such affection for God’s commandments, it is easy to see why the Psalmist: 1. Loved God’s law (vs. 48, 97, 113, 163) 2. Meditated on God’s law (vs. 23, 97, 148) 3. Trusted in God’s law (v. 42) 4. Hoped in God’s law (vs. 74, 81, 114, 147) 5. Rejoiced in God’s law (v. 162) 6. Revered God’s law (v. 117) 7. Learned God’s law (v. 71) 8. Spoke of God’s law (v. 172) 9. Sung of God’s law (v. 54) 10. Kept God’s law (vs. 101, 145) 11. Hid God’s law in his heart (v. 11) 12. Observed God’s law with his whole heart (v. 34), and 13. Stood in awe of God’s law (v. 161).

As we have noted in our previous three devotions, God’s law, contrary to popular opinion, is not inhibiting, but liberating; it is not constricting, but expansive. These profound truths, though little known in our time, are clearly spelled out in this ancient rhythmic song sung in rhapsody of God’s law. For instance, the Psalmist proclaims that he “walks in liberty,” because of his keeping of God’s precepts, and that he finds God’s commandments to be “exceedingly broad” (Psalm 119:45, 96).

Are you walking today in the liberty of obedience to God? Is your life ever-expanding within the broad confines of God’s inspired precepts and perfect will for your life? Or are you imprisoned today within your own self-imposed dungeon of disobedience to God? if so, you won’t be singing with the Psalmist of God’s law; instead, you’ll be singing the spiritual blues.