The Longest Chapter
We will spend all of eternity searching the truths held within the Word of God, and yet never reach the end. There is more to God than the Word has revealed and there is more in the Word than we have yet to discover. If you are not reading the Word every day, then start doing that today.
The problem is we read the Bible like a novel and not the Word of God. Jesus taught us, “…blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” (Luke 11:28).
We find in Holy Scripture truth unbreakable, love unending, hope eternal, grace abounding, mercy undeserved, plans unstoppable, prophecies fulfilled, power immeasurable and peace forevermore.
Scripture supports Scripture. Verses quote from other verses. Truth is expounded upon truth. There are thousands upon thousands of intricate connections between verses across all the Word of God.
The Word is our foundation to stand on and our peace to take hold of. “Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble” (Psalm 119:165).
In this picture below a software program drew the image showing verse references in Scripture. This was put together by Chris Harrison working with Pastor Christoph Römhild. Each line in the arcs is a reference from one verse to another, and the different colors represent the distance between the verses. You can download copies here: https://www.chrisharrison.net/index.php/Visualizations/BibleViz
Across the bottom are the chapters of the Bible, with the length of the bar showing the number of verses in the chapter. You will notice right at the center of the Word of God is the longest chapter, this is Psalm 119 with 176 verses, the longest chapter in verses across all the Word of God.
It is one thing to know a person, and something far different to love them. The same is true with the Word of God. “Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day” (Psalm 119:97).
Psalm 119 has as its main theme the magnificence and totality of the Word of God. The center of God’s Word has the chapter with the longest exhortation about the Word of God. If you want to learn to appreciate the Word of God, meditate and study Psalm 119.
The Lord cannot reveal a new thing until you first have eyes from which you can see. “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law” (Psalm 119:18).
Psalm 119 has twenty-two sections where each section is one of the twenty-two Hebrew letters. Each verse in that section begins with the Hebrew letter for that section. Twenty-two is the number for completeness. Using all of the twenty-two Hebrew letters represents the totality of the Word of God, from Alef to Tav.
The Word is a light to your soul, that you would no longer walk in darkness. “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105 NLT).
Psalm 119 has in each section eight verses. There are also eight words across Psalm 119 to describe the Word, we translate these Hebrew words to: Law, testimonies, promise, precepts, statutes, commandments, judgments, and word.
You can always tell a man or woman immersed in God’s word, because their life will show it. “I rejoice at Your word as one who finds great treasure…” (Psalm 119:162).
Eight is the number of new beginnings. Jesus was resurrected on the eighth day, Sunday, the beginning of a new week. Eight also represents the supernatural, as the natural falls in the seven days of creation, and the eighth day comes after.
The outcome of your life depends upon what you put into it. “Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You” (Psalm 119:11 NASB).
Eight is supernatural and twenty-two is complete, so in Psalm 119 the Word of God is presented as supernatural and complete. Too many Christians have yet to have the supernatural power of the Word living in them. There is so much power in the Word if we would only take hold of it!
Though I read the Word of God a thousand times, yet I keep discovering something new each day. “Open my eyes [to spiritual truth] so that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law.” (Psalm 119:18 AMP).
Child of God, it is my greatest hope that you would become immersed in the Word of God every day. If you pray to the Holy Spirit to reveal the truths of Scripture to you, and in your heart are willing to receive them, your life will become radically changed for the kingdom.
Blessings to you,
Paul Balius
Unless otherwise denoted all Bible translations are NKJV.
If you were here Paul I’d give you such a hug! Thank you for the above. I’ve been in psalm 119 most of thee day and for some reason decided to check my emails. God’s timing never ceases to amaze me. Bless you and again thank you with all my heart
Thank you so much! I think that Psalm 119 has so many treasures, many of which take much time to discover and even more time to grasp. There is so much in the Word of God for those willing to spend time there. Blessings to you!
Thank you so much for sharing! ✝️🙌
Your very welcome, blessings to you!