Psalm 119 and the Word of God

The theme for the new year is the Word of God. What could be more important to the life of a believer than dwelling on God’s Word? To that end, we want to suggest a devotional resource that can be used throughout the year.

Charles Bridges writes on every single verse of Psalm 119 [Banner of Truth edition]. The beauty of this devotion is that it provides 176 readings—enough to sustain reflection across the year but not enough to overwhelm if you miss a few days (or even a hundred!). This also means that you can begin at any point and continue reading steadily throughout the year (in other words, building a habit that lasts a lifetime).

We would suggest reading Psalm 119 in its entirety several times as you work through Bridges’s commentary. This helps you gain a sense of the scope and grandeur of the psalm as a whole, and to see how each verse fits within its larger movement. Because ultimately Bridges would want you to be familiar with the Psalm he so evidently loves. 

By way of example, consider Psalm 119:38

“Confirm to your servant your promise, that you may be feared.” (ESV)

What do we need in the new year? To turn again and again to the Word of Promise. What is this word of promise? It is the Scriptures themselves—particularly the promises woven throughout them: “I will be their God, and they will be my people.” Or the words of Jesus in John 6: “I will never cast out.” Or the declaration of the apostle Paul that “all the promises of God are yes and amen in Christ Jesus.” And on and on it goes.

While the Scriptures principally teach what we are to believe about God and what duty God requires of us (Westminster Shorter Catechism 3), they are also given to strengthen us in the God who makes promises. The psalmist’s prayer in verse 38 is not simply for instruction, but for inward confirmation—for God Himself to establish His word in the soul.

When this prayer is answered, it produces reverential (or filial) fear. As Bridges explains:

And if my assurance be well grounded, it will ever be accompanied with holy fear; the influence will be known by “standing more in awe of God's word” (Verse 161); having a more steady abhorrence of sin, and a dread of “grieving the Holy Spirit of God.” Thus this filial fear produces a holy confidence; while confidence serves to strengthen fear: and their mutual influence quickens devotedness to the work of the Lord.

In other words, being established in God’s word of promise produces reverential fear, which in turn strengthens faith. You might think of it like a flywheel: prayer leads us to the Word of promise; the Word of promise establishes us (helps us stand firm); this produces reverential awe; awe deepens confidence; confidence draws us back to prayer and Scripture again. Through this gracious cycle, we grow in assurance, devotion, and obedience—in this wonderful partnership with the Holy Spirit. In this way, we are assured that we are indeed children of God. Or the Holy Spirit assurances us through the Apostles Paul:

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6 ESV)

That is our prayer for the coming year: that the Word of God—the Word of Promise—would be established in us, so that we would stand in holy awe of our great God in Jesus Christ, may we then approach his throne boldly this new year!