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This Bible study on Psalm 119:65-72 contains outlines, extensive cross-references, Bible study discussion questions, lessons to learn, and applications.  Visit our inductive Bible studies for more studies on this and other books of the Bible.

Psalm 119:17-24 Inductive Bible Study

Psalm 119:17-24

Beholding and Obeying God’s Word

Summary-God’s gracious gifts are what allow me to live and obey His Word. I need to earnestly seek after the treasures He hides in His Word. My longing for it should be passionate at all times. When I wander from His commandments, it is a sign of arrogance, and He will rebuke me. If I follow His commandments, I do not have to bear the blame I deserve. I should not care what anyone thinks of me, rather, I should focus on His Word. From it, I obtain much delight and wise counsel.

Central Teaching- The more I peer into the depths of God’s Word, the more I will both learn from and long for Him. His counsel is the surest; His opinion the only one that matters.

Key Words- bountifully, behold, longing, rebuke, reproach, meditates, delight, counselors, (word, law, commandments, ordinances, testimonies, statutes)

Key Verse- 18

Ten things this passage says-

  1. Only His bountiful gifts allow me to live and obey Him.
  2. I am His servant.
  3. Without His enabling, His Word would remain a mystery to me.
  4. His Word is full of wonderful things!
  5. I am a stranger on this earth, so communion with my heavenly Father is of upmost importance.
  6. His Word is so vital to my existence that I am crushed with my desire for it at all times, not only intermittently.
  7. Arrogance causes me to disobey God and incur His rebuke.
  8. Obedience to His Word removes the reason for reproach and contempt.
  9. God’s opinion of me is the only one that matters. I should not be distracted by what others think, but should focus on His Word.
  10. I should delight in and follow the wisdom of His Word.

Ten things this passage does NOT say-

  1. I can live and keep His Word without His help.
  2. There is a more important goal for life than obedience to God.
  3. I can figure out God’s Word on my own.
  4. What I learn from God’s Word has no real interest or relevance for me.
  5. This world is my home, and I can get along without knowing God’s laws.
  6. It’s fine to read God’s Word but not really have any desire in my heart for it.
  7. When I wander from God’s commandments I am just a bit misguided, and can’t be blamed.
  8. If I am following God’s Word, there is still reason to be ashamed before other’s accusations.
  9. I can do more for God’s kingdom by winning the favor of those in positions of power.
  10. God’s Word has no place in today’s society, and I do not need to follow it.

What does this passage teach me about God?

He deals bountifully with His servants.

He desires for me to live and keep His Word.

He alone can give understanding regarding His Word.

His Word (and thus He) is wonderful.

He rebukes the arrogant and curses them.

He takes away the reproach and contempt from me.

His testimonies are a delight.

He is the best Counselor.

Questions-

What position does the psalmist claim before God? V17

As a servant, what were his “rights” to ask for? How is this servant’s request different than his “legal” demand? V17

How do we see the psalmist’s humility in this verse? V17

Why does the psalmist need God’s bounty? V17

Why is God’s bountiful grace a requirement for the psalmist to live? V17

What is the point of the psalmist’s life? V17

What does the psalmist mean by his request to “open my eyes”? V18

Why does he want his eyes open? V18

What does he mean by “wonderful things”? V18

How can a “Law” be wonderful? V18

In order to behold wonderful things from His Law, what does the psalmist have to be doing? V18

How is V18 similar to V10? V18

Why are we strangers on this earth? V19

What are some characteristics of strangers? V19

Why would being a stranger have anything to do with the request for Him not to hide His commandments from me? V19

Who DOES He hide His commandments from? V19

How is V19 similar to V11? V19

How strong was the psalmist’s desire for God’s Word? V20

What does it mean that his soul was crushed with longing? V20

How often did the psalmist feel this strong desire? Why is the frequency of this longing important? V20

What does this desire show about the psalmist’s heart? In general, what do our desires show about us? V20

Who does God rebuke? V21

Why is it that those who wander from His commandments are arrogant? V21

Why are those who wander from His commandments cursed? V21

What does it mean to wander from His commandments? V21

Can you think of any examples in the Bible of where disobedience to God led to His rebuking or cursing them? V21

Why would we be reproached or treated with contempt? V22

If we bring this reproach or contempt on ourselves, how can His Word relieve it? V22

If others reproach us or have contempt for us, why would observing His Word take it away? V22

How can verse 21 help us to deal with the kind of people who reproach us for righteousness sake? V22

If we are observing His Word, what are we NOT “observing”? V22

Why is it worse for princes to talk against us than “normal” people? V23

What should our reaction be to this kind of talk? V23

How will that reaction help? V23

What is the heart attitude necessary to keep us from being fearful or upset by this kind of talk? V23

What should our attitude be towards His testimonies? V24

Why is the “also” there? V24

As well as being our delight, what practical help do His testimonies offer in this verse? V24

What does it mean that His testimonies are our “counselors”? V24

Cross References-

Psalm 119:17-

Ps 116:7

7 Be at rest once more, O my soul,

for the LORD has been good to you.

Ps 119:65

Do good to your servant

according to your word, O LORD.

Ps 119:124

124 Deal with your servant according to your love

and teach me your decrees.

Ps 119:132

132 Turn to me and have mercy on me,

as you always do to those who love your name.

John 1:16

16 From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.

2 Cor 9:7-11

7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written: “He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor;

his righteousness endures forever.”  10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

Phil 4:19

19 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Rom 8:2-4

2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, 4 in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.

Eph 2:4-5

 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-it is by grace you have been saved.

Eph 2:10

10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Titus 2:11-12

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,

1 John 2:29

29 If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him.

1 John 5:3-4

3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith.

Psalm 119:18-

Isa 29:10-12

10 For the LORD has poured over you a spirit of deep sleep,

He has shut your eyes, the prophets;

And He has covered your heads, the seers.

11 The entire vision will be to you like the words of a sealed book, which when they give it to the one who is literate, saying, “Please read this,” he will say, “I cannot, for it is sealed.” 12 Then the book will be given to the one who is illiterate, saying, “Please read this.” And he will say, “I cannot read.”

Isa 29:18

18 On that day the deaf will hear words of a book,

And out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see.

Isa 32:3

3 Then the eyes of those who see will not be blinded,

And the ears of those who hear will listen.

Matt 13:13

13 “Th