Today we’re in Psalm 119, the longest song in the Psalter we call the book of Psalms, with 176 verses.                           

To be honest, knowing that Psalm 119 was coming up in this series nearly gave me a sense of foreboding. Not just because of its length but because of its depth.    

Then, as I took a deep breath and prayed for wisdom, I realized I was NOT going to cover 176 verses in 1 or 2 podcasts. Instead, with the amount of practical application for today’s under-shepherds that is in each of

the passages the 22 successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet represent, I knew this psalm deserved 22 separate Psalms for Shepherds podcasts.

With that in mind, let me welcome you to Part 1 of the Psalms for Shepherds series for Psalm 119. Today, we’re in verses 1 through 8, entitled by the first letter in the Hebrew alphabet, Aleph, which means “Master.”

Let’s dig in and start with a narrated version of Psalm 119, verses 1 through 8...  

1  Blessed are those whose way is blameless [without defect, of good faith, secure, full, whole], 

who walk in the law of the Lord! [or travel in the regulation, teaching, instruction of God’s Word]   

2 Blessed are those who keep his testimonies [a formal written copy of the precepts and stipulations of God’s covenant], who seek him [or inquire or consult with God] with their whole heart [or, by extension, our inner person, the seat of thought and emotion, our conscience, courage, mind, and understanding], 

3 who also do no wrong [or wickedness, evil, injustice], but walk [or follow, travel, or literally fade away] in

his ways [or continually follow God’s path, road, or route]! 

4  [And now the psalmist turns to speak to the Lord directly when he sings:] You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently [observed, guarded, secured]. 

5 Oh that my ways may be steadfast [firm and established] in keeping your statutes! [obeying your decrees of what God says we should do] 

6 Then I shall not be put to shame [disgraced or ashamed], having my eyes fixed on all your commandments [prescriptions or instructions]. 

7 I will praise you [give thanks, extol, make a public confession or an admission, speak of His excellence]; with an upright heart [with honesty and integrity], when I learn your righteous rules [are taught or instructed in the just law, God’s standard, His regulation or prescription]. 

8 I will keep [obey, observe, guard] your statutes [your clear communication of what someone should do]; do not utterly forsake me! [exceedingly abandon, reject or desert me] 

These first 8 verses of Psalm 119 remind us of God’s requirement that to receive His blessings, we must keep His laws, to live with honesty and integrity in all that we do, following His ways in every situation, and to do so not begrudging what He requires, but with praise, commending Who He is, publicly confessing that belief and faith in Him, and speaking of His excellence.  

In other words, our relationship with Him is to be wholehearted.

It means doing more than just reading His Word and checking it off of a to-do list each day, but rather a

method by which we listen for and hear His voice, studying His Word, loving Him more each day, and pleasing Him with a deep, true, complete surrender to Him.

So, fellow under-shepherd, how does this first passage from Psalm 119 apply in your life today? 

How would you rate your dedication to God’s precepts?

How about your integrity? Do you have strong moral principles based on God’s Word? And do you follow them or just talk about them? 

Dear fellow under-shepherd, together let’s commit to following the path our Good, Great, and Chief Shepherd has paved for us.

May we live deeply into our calling as shepherds in the lives of those entrusted to our care directed by the Almighty Himself.