In my own daily times of Scripture reading and prayer, I’ve been meditating on Psalm 119. Psalm 119 is the longest of the Psalms by far with 176 verses. This psalm is an extended reflection on the delight and power of God’s word, structured as an acrostic poem with one stanza for each letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

The psalm offers an expansive catalog of the diverse characteristics of God’s word that is impressive. When I read through Psalm 119, I feel like I am getting a multifaceted look at the word of God that is enlightening, stretching, and encouraging.

In the well-known passage Ephesians 6:10-24, we encounter Paul delineating the armor of God. The only offensive piece of that armor comes last: “and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17b). The Word of God is powerful and a vital piece of our armor in the spiritual conflict we face daily as God’s people. As the writer of Hebrews says, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

Here is a brief list of some of the facets of God’s word outlined within Psalm 119. I’d encourage you to read through the list and, when one statement jumps out at you, to open your Bible to Psalm 119, read that verse, and then meditate on those words for the day. There is so much here in each verse to grow and deepen us with God.

God’s word is:

• to be fully obeyed (4)
• righteous (7, 61, 106, 123, 137, 144, 164, 172)
• a guide for purity of life (9)
• a way to keep from sin (11)
• from the Lord’s mouth (13, 88)
• full of wonderful things (18)
• a delight (24, 35, 70, 77, 143, 162, 174)
• a counselor (24)
• a revelation of God’s wonderful deeds (27)
• a picture of the way of faithfulness (30)
• good (39, 68)
• a revelation of God’s salvation promises (41)
• a bringer of freedom (45)
• a promise to preserve our life (50)
• ancient (52)
• a comforter (52)
• precious (72)
• a pathway away from shame (80)
• completely trustworthy (86, 138)
• eternal (89, 152, 160)
• firm in the heavens (89)
• boundless in its perfection (90)
• what makes us wiser than our enemies and our teachers (98, 99, 100)
• sweet like honey (103)
• a lamp and light for our path (105, 130)
• the joy of our heart (111)
• wonderful (129)
• thoroughly tested (140)
• true (142, 151, 160)
• a bringer of peace (165)
• sustenance (175)