This Bible study on Psalm 119 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: Inductive Bible Study
Psalm 119:65-72
He is Good, and Does Good
Summary- God’s word is central to His character. He deals with us on that basis. We learn discernment and knowledge through Him. He uses it to draw us closer to Himself through affliction. His actions are a direct outpouring of His character. His word keeps us safe from the lies and attacks of our enemies. It is more valuable to me than all material gain.
Central Teaching- His word reflects His character. He never does anything contrary to it, and it is always for our best.
Key Words- good, affliction, teach, learn
Key Verse- 68
Ten things this passage says-
- God deals with His servants according to His word.
- He teaches us good discernment and knowledge when we believe in His word.
- I used to go astray.
- Affliction helps me to keep God’s word.
- God is good, and does good.
- My heart should focus on God’s word when the arrogant forge lies against me.
- The arrogant are not teachable, but I should be.
- Affliction is good for me.
- Affliction teaches me God’s statutes.
- God’s law should be more valuable to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
Ten things this passage does NOT say-
- God is deceitful—saying one thing and doing another.
- I can have good discernment and knowledge if I don’t believe in God’s word.
- I can learn good discernment and knowledge on my own.
- I always walked according to God’s way.
- God is bad, and His plans for me are harmful.
- When the arrogant lie against me, it should devastate me.
- God’s word really is not helpful to me in the face of attacks by the enemy.
- I do not need to be open and teachable before the Lord.
- Affliction is bad for me, and serves no useful purpose.
- Wealth is the answer to my problems.
What does this passage teach me about God?
He deals graciously with us, according to His character.
His character is exactly as His word displays it.
He teaches me good discernment and knowledge.
He uses affliction to grow my character.
He is good and does good.
His word supersedes the lies of the arrogant.
He desires that His children be teachable.
His law is better than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
Questions-
How has the Lord treated us? V65
What are some ways that His word says He treats us? V65
As His servants, how should we respond to this kind of treatment? V65
How does He teach me good discernment and knowledge? V66
What are some examples of using good discernment? V66
Why do you think good discernment and knowledge are paired here? V66
What is the backbone for having good discernment? V66
What is our natural state of behavior? V67
How should our behavior be changed by affliction? V67
How does affliction help us keep to His word? V67
How do we know that He is good? V68
What has He done that is good in your life? V68
How could this promise affect the way we view circumstances in our lives? V68
What is one danger of Christian life, according to this verse? V69
What kind of lies might arrogant people tell against us? V69
Why do you think it specifies that “arrogant” people are the ones who tell the lies? V69
What should our response be to this kind of persecution? V69
What does it mean “their heart is covered with fat”? V70
How should our response to God’s word be different than these people’s? V70
What are some signs that we are properly delighting in God’s law? V70
What should our attitude be towards affliction? V71
Why is it good for us to be afflicted? V71
How can we learn His statutes through affliction? V71
What should our attitude towards God’s law be, according to this verse? V72
What are some practical ways we can tell whether or not our attitude towards God’s law is correct? V72
Cross References-
Psalm 119:65-
1 Chron 29:14
14 “But who am I and who are my people that we should be able to offer as generously as this? For all things come from You, and from Your hand we have given You.
Ps 13:6
6 I will sing to the LORD,
Because He has dealt bountifully with me.
Ps 16:5-6
5 The LORD is the portion of my inheritance and my cup;
You support my lot.
6 The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places;
Indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me.
Ps 23:5
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You have anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
Ps 116:7
7 Return to your rest, O my soul,
For the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.
Psalm 119:66-
1 Kings 3:9
9 “So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”
1 Kings 3:28
28 When all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had handed down, they feared the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice.
Ps 72:1-2
Give the king Your judgments, O God,
And Your righteousness to the king’s son.
2 May he judge Your people with righteousness
And Your afflicted with justice.
Ps 119:34
34 Give me understanding, that I may observe Your law
And keep it with all my heart.
Prov 2:1-9
My son, if you will receive my words
And treasure my commandments within you,
2 Make your ear attentive to wisdom,
Incline your heart to understanding;
3 For if you cry for discernment,
Lift your voice for understanding;
4 If you seek her as silver
And search for her as for hidden treasures;
5 Then you will discern the fear of the LORD
And discover the knowledge of God.
6 For the LORD gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
He is a shield to those who walk in integrity,
8 Guarding the paths of justice,
And He preserves the way of His godly ones.
9 Then you will discern righteousness and justice
And equity and every good course.
Prov 8:20
20 “I walk in the way of righteousness,
In the midst of the paths of justice,
Isa 11:2-4
2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him,
The spirit of wisdom and understanding,
The spirit of counsel and strength,
The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.
3 And He will delight in the fear of the LORD,
And He will not judge by what His eyes see,
Nor make a decision by what His ears hear;
4 But with righteousness He will judge the poor,
And decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth;
And He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth,
And with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked.
Matt 13:11
11 Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted.
Phil 1:9
9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment,
James 3:13-18
13 Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. 18 And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Ps 119:128
128 Therefore I esteem right all Your precepts concerning everything,
I hate every false way.
Ps 119:160
160 The sum of Your word is truth,
And every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting.
Ps 25:5
5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
For You are the God of my salvation;
For You I wait all the day.
Ps 25:9
9 He leads the humble in justice,
And He teaches the humble His way.
Psalm 119:67-
Deut 32:15
15 “But Jeshurun grew fat and kicked —
You are grown fat, thick, and sleek —
Then he forsook God who made him,
And scorned the Rock of his salvation.
2 Sam 10:19
19 When all the kings, servants of Hadadezer, saw that they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and served them. So the Arameans feared to help the sons of Ammon anymore.
Ps 119:176
176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek Your servant,
For I do not forget Your commandments.
Prov 1:32
32 “For the waywardness of the naive will kill them,
And the complacency of fools will destroy them.
Jer 22:21
21 “I spoke to you in your prosperity;
But you said, “I will not listen!’
This has been your practice from your youth,
That you have not obeyed My voice.
Ps 119:75
75 I know, O LORD, that Your judgments are righteous,
And that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.
Jer 31:18-19
18 “I have surely heard Ephraim grieving,
‘You have chastised me, and I was chastised,
Like an untrained calf;
Bring me back that I may be restored,
For You are the LORD my God.
19’For after I turned back, I repented;
And after I was instructed, I smote on my thigh;
I was ashamed and also humiliated
Because I bore the reproach of my youth.’
Hos 2:6-7
6 “Therefore, behold, I will hedge up her way with thorns,
And I will build a wall against her so that she cannot find her paths.
7 “She will pursue her lovers, but she will not overtake them;
And she will