INTRODUCTION:  Psalm 119 is the longest psalm and the longest chapter in the Bible. It contains 176 verses. That is eight verses for every one of the 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet. Many Bible have the Hebrew letters at the beginning of each section of eight verses. The central theme of this psalm is the word of God. At least 173 of the 176 verses mention the Bible by some title or another. Common synonyms for the Bible in the psalm include law, testimonies, ways, precepts, statutes, commandments, judgments, and word (these can all be found in the first nine verse of the psalm).

The evidence for the number twenty-two is not absolute, but there is significant evidence that it refers to the scriptures. The golden candlestick had a design which gave it 22 bowls with knops and flowers (Exodus 25:31-34 [31] And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same. [32] And six branches shall come out of the sides of it; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side: [33] Three bowls made like unto almonds, with a knop and a flower in one branch; and three bowls made like almonds in the other branch, with a knop and a flower: so in the six branches that come out of the candlestick. [34] And in the candlesticks shall be four bowls made like unto almonds, with their knops and their flowers.
See All...). The word of God is our lamp (Psalm 119:105Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
See All...). The Hebrew alphabet has 22 letters. The most common length of chapter in the Bible has 22 verses. The longest chapter in the Bible, Psalm 119, has 176 verses which is 22 times 8.  It is about the word of God.

The psalm does not divide up into sub-themes easily. Its theme is the word of God and every verse points to that word in some way. Sometimes, several verses in a row point to a common topic. At other times, the sub-topics change with each verse. But this is a beautiful psalm that continually points people back to the word of God and its power in our lives. There are also numerous key verses that establish important doctrines about God’s word.

1. WALKING IN THE WORD (Psalm 119:1-8 [1] Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD. [2] Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. [3] They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways. [4] Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently. [5] O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes! [6] Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments. [7] I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments. [8] I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.
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1. The Blessing of Walking in God’s Word (Psalm 119:1-2 [1] Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD. [2] Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.
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2. The Obedience of Walking in God’s Word (Psalm 119:3-4)
3. The Struggle of Walking in God’s Word (Psalm 119:5-6)
4. The Benefits of Walking in God’s Word (Psalm 119:7-8)
1. The praise of the Lord
2. The presence of the Lord
2. CLEANSED BY THE WORD (Psalm 119:9-13)
1. Cleansing the Way of the Young Man (Psalm 119:9)
2. Cleansing Those Who Seek with the Whole Heart (Psalm 119:10)
3. Cleansing through the Hiding of God’s Word in the Heart (Psalm 119:11) – Note: God desires for us to memorize portions of His word and hide them in our hearts (Deuteronomy 6:6-9 [6] And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: [7] And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. [8] And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. [9] And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
   See All...; Job 22:22Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart.
   See All...; Proverbs 7:1-3 [1] My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee. [2] Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye. [3] Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.
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4. Cleansing So That God’s Word Might Be Proclaimed (Psalm 119:12-13)
3. REJOICING IN THE WORD (Psalm 119:14-18)
1. Rejoicing in the Riches of God’s Word (Psalm 119:14)
2. Rejoicing in the Teaching of God’s Word (Psalm 119:15-16)
1. Meditation (Psalm 119:15I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.
   See All...; Psalm 1:2But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
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1. Through meditation we digest the truths of God.  This increases our understanding of God’s way and leads us to the path of wisdom. (Psalm 49:3My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.
   See All...; Psalm 119:98)
2. Through meditation we apply the teachings of scripture to our heart and life.  We are changed to our profit. (Joshua 1:8This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
   See All...; 1 Timothy 4:15Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
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3. Through meditation we are kept from sin and are brought into a position of holiness with God. (Psalm 1:1Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
   See All...; Psalm 19:13-14)
4. Through meditation our work for the Lord will be prosperous and we will accomplish that which He pleases. (Joshua 1:8This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
   See All...; Psalm 1:2-3 [2] But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. [3] And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
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5. Meditation works as an aid to our prayer life. (Psalm 5:1-2 [1] Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation. [2] Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.
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6. Meditation on the things of God strengthens us when we are being attacked by the ungodly. (Psalm 119:23Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.
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7. Through meditation God gives us peace and joy and conquers the melancholy spirit. (Psalm 63:5My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:
   See All...; Psalm 104:33)
2. Delight (Psalm 119:16I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.
   See All...; Jeremiah 15:16Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.
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3. Rejoicing in the Keeping of God’s Word (Psalm 119:17)
4. Rejoicing in the unfolding of God’s Word (Psalm 119:18) – Note: this verse is a wonderful prayer with which to begin any study of the Bible.
4. EXALTATION OF THE WORD (Psalm 119:89-96)
1. Exalted by Its Place in Heaven (Psalm 119:89) 0 the eternity of God’s word
2. Exalted by the Faithfulness of God (Psalm 119:90-91)
3. Exalted by Its Power in Times of Affliction (Psalm 119:92-95)
4. Exalted by the Broadness of Its Truth (Psalm 119:96)
5. LEARNING FROM THE WORD (Psalm 119:97-105)
1. Learning Through Daily Meditation (Psalm 119:97)
2. Learning Beyond All Other Learning (Psalm 119:98-100)
1. Wiser than his enemies (Psalm 119:98)
2. Wiser than his teachers (Psalm 119:99)
3. Wiser than the ancients (Psalm 119:100)
3. Learning That Remains in the Learner (Psalm 119:101-102)
4. Learning That is Sweet to the Soul (Psalm 119:103)
5. Learning That Turns the Soul From Falsehood (Psalm 119:104)
6. Learning That Lightens the Way (Psalm 119:105)
6. LED BY THE WORD (Psalm 119:129-136)
1. Led by the Light of the Word (Psalm 119:129-130)
2. Led by the Love of the Word (Psalm 119:131-132)
3. Led by the Teaching of the Word (Psalm 119:133-135)
4. Led by the Shunning of the Unrighteous (Psalm 119:136)
7. PURIFIED BY THE WORD (Psalm 119:137-140)
1. Pure Words from a Pure God (Psalm 119:137-138)
2. Pure Words Rejected by Men (Psalm 119:139)
3. Pure Words Loved by God’s Servant (Psalm 119:140)

CONCLUSION:  Do you believe in the words of God? Do you read them? Study them? Meditate upon them? Memorize them? Do you make them a part of you? This is the path to full blessing for the believer. See Joshua 1:8This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
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MEMORY VERSES:  Psalm 119:1, 9, 11, 18, 89, 96, 97, 103, 105, 130, 133, 140