PSALM 119 AND THE WORK OF PRAYER: THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE (PART 2)

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Editor’s Note: For the month of October, in the Spirituality & Practice of Faith section we will be enjoying meditations from Fr. Richard Peers SMMS on Psalm 119. We encourage you to read Psalm 119 throughout the month alongside this study.

Psalm 119 can be characterised as a psalm of ‘Tora Piety’ (Bruegemann 1997). It is this focus on tora that is the key to understanding the location of the psalm in the Book of Psalms and provides a key to two further themes of Tora.

Whereas at the beginning of the twentieth century scholarship was engaged in the process of identifying the form and genre of individual psalms, the end of that century and the beginning of this has resulted in scholarship that takes seriously the shape of the biblical book as a whole . The work of James L. Mays (1987) and Gerald H. Wilson (1985) has been particularly important in this area. What they have attempted to show is that the final putting together of the Psalter included the careful placing of the tora psalms, 1, 19 and 119. Psalm 1 in particular sets the tone for the whole Psalter. Its reference to the ‘way’ is significant in a reading of Psalm 119 and its first and final verses.

Canonical scholarship has drawn attention to the relation between tora psalms and the royal or kingly psalms. Psalm 2 (which may originally have begun the Psalter or at least one version of it) establishes the role of the king. By placing Psalm 1 before it, the king is not totally eclipsed but is set in relation to tora, a relation that firmly puts divine tora above anointed kingship. Psalm 19 stands in similar relation to the psalms around it (18, 20 and 21) and Psalm 119 follows the ‘individual thanksgiving’ (probably of the king) of Psalm 118. With its majestic length Psalm 119 also dominates this last section of the Psalter standing as it does at its centre (Creach, 1996 p.102). It shows tora providing the lead into the songs of ascent and the doxological conclusion of the book. Creach describes tora-piety as “the view of tora as a kind of refuge directs a way of depending on Yahweh.” (1996 p.102) He draws attention to the relationship to Psalm 94: 12-13 in seeing tora as ‘a source of comfort, protection and security’ and to Psalm 147: 19-20 at the end of the Psalter.

Jesus said, “I am the Way, the truth and the life.” (Jn14:6). Surely no one familiar with the psalms could have failed to notice that Jesus is declaring himself to be the living Torah. Jim Cotter in his latest ‘unfolding’ of the Psalms uses the phrase, “Follow the way, the truth, the life,” as the refrain for the first section of Psalm 119 (Cotter, 2006 p.352).

The following table shows the places in the psalm where these three self-descriptions of Jesus are used:

Even more significantly the psalm begins and ends with a reference to the ‘way.’ For Christians the final verse reminds us of Jesus’ parable of the lost sheep.

Very obvious to anyone familiar with the Greek version of this psalm, who read or heard the opening of John’s Gospel, would be the resonance of Jesus as Logos, the eternal Word. Linked no doubt to the Hebrew dabar, the word of God, and found in our psalm in the following verses:

9 But how can a youth remain unstained?
by guarding his path according to your Word.

16 Basking with delight in your Statutes,
I never forget your Word.

17 Come make repayment for your servant, 
that I may live according to your Word. 

25 Deep lies my soul in the dust, 
restore life to me, according to your Word. 

28 Despairing my frame sags; 
according to your Word build me up. 

42 Fit answer for those who taunt me, 
that I rely on your Word. 

43 From my mouth do not remove the true Word
in your Judgements lies my hope. 

49 Go not back on the Word you have pledged 
to your servant; 
there lies all my hope. 

50 Good news in my affliction, 
your Word has brought me life. 

65 In fulfilment of your Word, Lord, 
do good to your servant!

67 l went astray before I had answered,
but now I keep your Word. 

74 Joy be theirs, who fear you, 
to see the confidence I have in your Word. 

81 Keeping watch for your aid, my soul languishes, 
yet I trust in your Word. 

82 Keeping watch for the fulfilment of your Word, 
my eyes languish for comfort still delayed. 

89 Lord, the Word you have spoken 
stands ever unchanged as heaven. 

101 Mindfull of your Word, 
I guide my steps clear of every evil path. 

103 More appetizing is your Word; 
than sweetness to my taste. 

105 No lamp like your Word to guide my feet, 
a light on my path. 

107 Nothing, Lord, but affliction;
preserve my life according to your Word.

114 Other defence, other stronghold, have I none; 
in your Word I trust. 

130 Revelation and light 
your Word discloses to the simple. 

133 Rule my path by your Word; 
never let wrongdoing be my master. 

140 Servant of yours, I love your Word,
tested and found true.

147 Toward you at dawn I looked and cried for help;
for your Word I waited.

160 Unchanging truth is your Word's fountain-head, 
your Judgment is just.

161 Vexed by the causeless persecution of the corrupt, 
my heart fears only your Word. 

162 Victors rejoice not more over rich spoils, 
than I in your Word. 

Over the centuries Christians have found many ways to read the psalms and the light of Christ Antiphons or refrains are one way of doing this, as are psalm prayers prayed at the end of whole psalms or sections of psalms – both of these are provided in the Church of England’s Common Worship: Daily Prayer.

An occasional, devotional way of praying this psalm as a Christian is to substitute the name Jesus for each of the synonyms for Torah that are found in the psalm. Here is section 20 amended in this way:

153 Under affliction see me and rescue me,
for I have not forgotten Jesus. 

154 Uphold my cause, and deliver me; 
true to Jesus, grant me life. 

155 Unknown your mercy to the sinner 
who do not study Jesus. 

156 Unnumbered, Lord, are your blessings; 
according to Jesus grant me life.

157 Under all the assaults of my oppressors, 
I keep true to Jesus. 

158 Unhappy I looked at the faithless 
because they did not keep Jesus.

159 Up, Lord, and witness the love I bear Jesus; 
in your kindness preserve my life.

160 Unchanging truth is your Word's fountain-head, 
Jesus is just.

This is, in fact, a suggestion of Patrick Henry Reardon in his commentary on the psalms and Richard Meux Benson, founder of the Cowley Fathers (the Society of Saint John the Evangelist) writes,  “One may pray Psalm 119 as a psalm about Jesus Himself, each of the psalm’s testimonials to the law, the precepts, the commandments etc., referring to Him of whom the Law itself prophecies, and in whom it is fulfilled. Thus every line speaks of Jesus.” (Benson 1901, p. 238).