The exercises of a God-fearing man as a result of the law written in his heart.
The writer of the psalm is a servant of the Lord (vs. 17); a companion of those who fear the Lord (vs. 63); and a stranger in the land (vs. 19).
He is surrounded by transgressors that grieve his spirit (vs. 158), and enemies that oppress him (vs. 134). Princes speak against him (vs. 23), and persecute him without a cause (vs. 161). The proud hold him in derision (vs. 51), forge lies against him (vs. 69), and dig pits for his overthrow (vs. 85). The wicked lay snares for his feet (vs. 110), and lie in wait for his destruction (vs. 95). He is held in reproach and contempt (vs. 22); in the eyes of the world he is little and despised (vs. 141).
He is tempted by covetousness within, and vanity without (vv. 3637). In the past he had gone astray (vs. 67), and wandered like a lost sheep (vs. 176). He had passed through affliction (vs. 71), and taken his life in his hand (vs. 109). At times he is in heaviness of soul, ready to faint (vv. 28, 81), and finds trouble and anguish.
Nevertheless in all his failures and trials, and through all his changing experiences, the Word of God is the unfailing resource of his soul. It is his delight and his comfort, the subject of his prayers, and the theme of his praise. It is a lamp to his feet, and a light to his path. It is sweeter than honey to his taste; it is more to him than thousands of gold and silver. By it he is restored in soul, strengthened in weakness, and enlightened in his understanding. Through it he cleanses his way, escapes temptation, and answers his opponents.
Thus the great theme of the psalm is the Word of God, cherished in the heart, expressed in the life, and witnessed to with the lips. Under different titles there is a reference to the Word of God in every verse, with the exception of verse 122 and 132.
Prophetically the psalm presents the exercises of the godly in Israel during the days of tribulation that will precede their deliverance from their enemies, by the coming of Christ to reign. Morally the psalm is rich with instruction as to the practical life of the godly in all ages.
The psalm is arranged in twenty-two sections according to the number, and order, of the Hebrew alphabet. Every section consists of eight verses, each verse commencing with the same letter of the alphabet.
It will be noticed that the law, or revelation of God, is referred to under ten different terms having distinct meanings, apparently, as follows:
1. Law (torah) occurs twenty-five times―the law of Moses as a whole.
2. Commandments (mitsrah), occurs twenty-two times―the ten moral laws.
3. Testimonies (edal or eduth), used twenty-three times―the law as bearing witness to God.
4. Precepts (piqqudion), used twenty-one times―the law as a charge upon man.
5. Statute (choq), used on twenty-two occasions―the permanent written law in contrast to a customary law.
6. Judgments (mishpat), used twenty times―that which is ordained by authority.
7. Way (orah), occurs five times―an ordinary path (vv. 9, 15, 101, 104, 128).
8. Way (derek), used thirteen times—a trodden path.
9. Word (dabar, or ‘logos’), used twenty-three times―the matter or substance of what is said.
10. Word (imrah), used nineteen times—the actual saying or speech (vv. 11, 38, 41, 50, 58, 67, 76, 82, 103, 116, 123, 133, 140, 148, 154, 158, 162, 170, 172).