What does Psalm 119:102 mean?
Please see our chapter commentary on Psalm 119; verse-level content coming soon!Psalm 119:97–104 begins each verse with the Hebrew letter mem. In this passage, the psalmist celebrates the wisdom which comes from obeying God and studying His commands. Loyal adherence to the Word of God has led to life and success. This parallels Joshua 1:1–9 and Psalm 1. The same ideas are often expressed in the book of Proverbs (Proverbs 1:7; 3:5–8; 8:34–36).
This song is composed of twenty-two stanzas, each corresponding to a letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Each line in the stanza is an individual verse and each begins with the corresponding letter. The psalmist emphasizes study of God's Word in a variety of circumstances, including persecution, sadness, and rescue. Benefits of taking in the Word include a moral life, joy, wisdom, hope, peace, strength, and freedom. Those who interact with the Word of the Lord should respond with delight, careful study, and obedience.
