A Psalm for Broken, Jacked-Up, Completely Messed Up People Like Me,
Living in a Broken, Jacked-Up, Completely Messed Up World Like This
It’s the longest chapter in the Bible.
There is disagreement about who wrote it. Several rabbis and many older commentaries and scholars believe David wrote it. In fact, some say David used the psalm as a way of teaching the alphabet to his son, Solomon.
Here’s what they mean. Psalm 119 is actually a Hebrew Acrostic Psalm made up of 176 verses. The psalm is divided into twenty-two sections with eight verses in each section, and every verse in each section starts with a given letter of the 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet.
We teach our kids the alphabet with silly songs like, “A, B, C, D, E, F, G… Tell me what you think of me…” David may have taught Solomon the alphabet using the Hebrew Acrostic that shows up in Psalm 119. If he did, he not only taught Solomon the Hebrew Alphabet, but he gave him the alphabet of a deeply spiritual, Word of God centered, God-saturated, devoted way of life. [1]
There are others who believe that the Psalm was written by Ezra, Daniel or Jeremiah. While we’re not really certain who wrote the psalm, we do know that the theme of the psalm is the Word of God.
Psalm 119 is all about the beauty, necessity, importance and
life-changing power of the Word of God!
Psalm 119 is all about the beauty, necessity, importance and power of God’s Word. The psalm is not just focused on doing what God’s Word says. It’s about actually loving God’s Word. It’s basically a “love song” to the Word of God. The writer of this song doesn’t just love God’s Word, He is crazy-in-love with its author!
The psalm is so focused and centered on the word of God that it gets mentioned 171 times in 176 verses, sometimes referred to as God’s “ways, testimonies, statutes, Word, rules, commands, law, regulations or precepts.”
Psalm 119 is a life-line or life-preserver when you wonder whether or not you’ll keep your head above water. It’s the strong arms, shoulders and back of a great friend when you don’t know whether or not you can keep standing for another day.
Psalm 119 is a strong psalm for people who are feeling really weak.
This week the psalm showed up in my daily Bible Reading Plan.
I’ve often said, “I read the Bible every day not because I’m spiritual, but because I’m desperate.” Some days and weeks I’m more desperate than I am at others. This week was one of those weeks filled with several of those days of not just desperation but despair . Days when I didn’t know if I could keep standing, keep believing, keep hoping?
Then, Psalm 119 shows up.
Author David Powlinson describes the psalm like this:
“Psalm 119 is the thoughtful outcry that rises when real life meets real God.”
—David Powlinson [2]
So, over the past two days, as I walked thru the psalm, I took time to write down what God’s Word is for broken, jacked-up, completely messed up people like me living in a broken, jacked-up, completely messed up world like this.
Maybe you’re like me. Maybe today? Maybe this week, or this month or this year…you wonder whether you can keep standing, keep going, keep believing, trusting or hoping?
Maybe you’re walking thru what David called “the valley of the shadow of death” (Ps 23)? That’s pretty ominous.
Maybe it’s a struggle with your career, your finances, your relationships, your marriage, your family or your physical health?
This psalm is for YOU! It’s for me. Over the next few days we’ll explore…
Twelve Things God’s Word is for Broken, Jacked-Up, Completely Messed Up People Like Me, Living in a Broken, Jacked-Up,
Completely Messed Up World Like This:
1. A STANDARD for my attitudes, actions and life.
In the first two sections of Psalm 119, the author of this amazing psalm indicates that God’s Word is the standard for his attitudes, actions and very life.
5 Oh, that my actions would consistently
reflect your decrees!
6 Then I will not be ashamed
when I compare my life with your commands.
7 As I learn your righteous regulations,
I will thank you by living as I should! —PS 119:5-7 NLT
Don’t miss Verse 6. While we can rationalize all kinds of attitudes, actions and behavior by comparing ourselves with other people. The writer indicates, “I’m not gonna fall for that kind of false comparison. God’s Word is going to be the standard of ‘plumb line’ for my attitudes, actions, character and behavior.”
In Verse 12, he even indicates that he’s going to be pro-active when it comes developing a great attitude, right actions, good behavior and a God-oriented life, by “hiding God’s Word in His heart.”
11 I have hidden your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you. —PS 119:11 NLT
In other words, every day, perhaps even several times every day, this guy is going to take time to…
- read God’s Word,
- listen to God’s Word,
- meditate on God’s Word,
- memorize God’s Word, and, especially,
- apply God’s Word to every area of his life.
God’s Word is going to be his standard.
Not culture.
Not conventional wisdom.
Not personal preferences
This dude isn’t going to compare his attitudes, actions, words, conversations, character or life with anything other than God’s unchanging and enduring Word.
Two Important Questions:
- What’s my standard when it comes to my attitudes, actions, words, character and behavior?
- Am I willing and ready to make God’s Word the measure of every area of my life?
Making God’s Word the standard doesn’t mean you’re perfect or you’ll ever reach perfection. At least not down here.
It does mean that when you come up short, you can be honest and authentic about your flaws, idiosyncrasies, failures and sin knowing that God’s promise is that He will forgive your sin and give you the power by His Word and Holy Spirit to bring every area of your life into alignment with what He has revealed.
So, here’s the first thing God’s Word is for broken, jacked-up, completely messed up people like me, living in a broken, jacked-up, completely messed up world like this:
God’s Word is the STANDARD for my attitudes, actions and life.
Tomorrow, we’ll continue exploring Psalm 119.
But, today, ask yourself the two questions listed above. As Holy Spirit reveals aspects and areas of your life than need an adjustment, don’t fall for cheap comparisons or easy rationalizations. Instead admit where you come up short, and then trust God to forgive, restore and give you the strength to rise to the standard He has given us in His Word.
A Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father:
“Broken, jacked-up and messed up” doesn’t even begin to describe me.
There are so many areas of my life that are out of alignment when it comes to the standard You’ve given in Your Word. Not just a little bit, but a whole lot. Attitudes. Actions. Words spoken. Conversations had. Character fails.
My tendency is to compare my best with someone else’s worst. It makes me feel better about the reality that is me.
My tendency is to rationalize why I thought what I thought, said what I said or did what I did. The truth is I just blew it. I blew right thru and past your commands.
Forgive me.
Forgive me.
Forgive me for every time “I’ve come up short.”
Forgive me for every time I ignored the standard.
Today, “Sanctify me thru Your truth. Your Word is truth” (Jn 17:17).
Penetrate every false comparison.
Tear down every rationalize.
Reveal your truth to me so that I can begin to change from the insight out.
May I realize the reality that Your Word is “alive and powerful” (Heb 4:12). While in my own strength I can’t possibly live up to Your standard, You never said it was about me or my strength.
Today, I bring every attitude, action, conversation and character trait to You and place them under the unchanging standard of Your Word, asking You to transform my life until my life reflects Your righteous decrees.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.
5 Oh, that my actions would consistently
reflect your decrees! —PS 119:5 NLT
[1] https://www.christiantoday.com/article/7.things.you.probably.didnt.know.about.the.longest.psalm.in.the.bible/104361.htm
[2] David Powlinson, Speaking the Truth in Love, p. 14