Weekly Bible Study - Psalm 119

Sunday 27 July 2014
17th Sunday in Ordinary Time   

The response following today’s first reading is a mere snippet of the 176 verses comprising Psalm 119, the longest in the Psalter. It is a prayer in praise of “the law.” We might wonder if anyone in their right mind would compose such a paean! Let's enter into the world of this author to see that God’s law is more than restrictive regulation.

Scripture scholars describe Psalm 119 as “a monumental literary piece, a free-flowing

meditation, now sad, now joyous, now peaceful, now passionate.” The author is a sage and mystic who regards God’s law as a covenant relationship, drawing inspiration from the Prophets and Deuteronomy. He sees observance of the law as obedience of the heart, and law as a gift that gladdens the heart. In conversing with God, he gives voice to his feelings about love of true wisdom, fidelity to the word of God, desire to walk blamelessly with the Lord, joy in fulfilling God’s will. Aren’t these our spiritual aspirations as well?

This prayer is regarded as less an ensemble of laws to observe than as the many ways God is present to his people, instructing, revealing, consoling, promising. A tender dialogue between God and his creature, this psalm is brimming with praise-filled language as the author “rejoices, treasures, respects, and delights in” the law. The author knows that God is trustworthy and that it is within the law that one finds the true path that God has set.

The Church Fathers extolled the virtues of this psalm, regarding it as “one of spiritual intimacy and one that proclaims to us that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life.” Let us respond to the invitation this week to place ourselves within the heart and mind of this sage as we ponder and make our own, the many gems and truths of Psalm 119.

Quotations taken from The Psalms: New Catholic Version, Catholic Book Publishing Corp., © 2002, pg. 314


The author, Ms. Barbara Gawle, leads Bible studies at her parish, Incarnation Church of Wethersfield, CT. She is a CBS graduate and the 2012 recipient of the Biblical School's highest award, The Lawrence Boadt Memorial Medal.