Anchored in Truth: Finding Peace in God’s Word and Presence

Welcome to Day 176 of The Glory Team Bible Reading plan and we are in the book of Psalms. Psalms 119 and 120 mark a powerful transition between two aspects of the believer’s journey: deep devotion to God’s Word and a cry for deliverance from distress. Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible, is a rich and poetic meditation on the beauty, authority, and transformative power of God’s Word. It presents an intricate tapestry of praise, lament, longing, and obedience from someone wholeheartedly committed to the Lord’s commands. In contrast, Psalm 120 introduces the first of the "Songs of Ascent," a collection of pilgrim songs. It highlights a cry for peace amidst deceit and conflict, symbolizing a soul longing to move from a hostile world toward the peace found in God’s presence. Together, these chapters show how God's Word sustains us and how our journey begins by turning to Him with honesty and hope.

Psalm 119 is a masterfully crafted acrostic poem, divided into 22 sections based on the Hebrew alphabet, each containing eight verses that exalt the supremacy of God’s Word. The psalmist passionately expresses love for God’s statutes, precepts, commands, and promises, using a wide vocabulary to describe the different facets of Scripture. Throughout the chapter, the writer reflects on the value of meditating on God’s Word daily, not only as a source of knowledge but as a guide for righteous living and spiritual renewal. He cries out for understanding, deliverance from sin, and steadfastness in the face of suffering, affirming that obedience brings true freedom. Despite hardship, persecution, and internal struggles, the psalmist continually returns to God’s Word as his source of strength, comfort, and hope. This chapter teaches that spiritual maturity is rooted in a life saturated with Scripture and grounded in God’s unchanging truth.

Psalm 120 is the first of the "Songs of Ascent," a collection of psalms sung by pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem for worship. The psalmist begins with a heartfelt plea to the Lord in distress, specifically calling out against lying tongues and deceitful speech that surround him. Living among hostile and warlike people, symbolized by "Meshech" and "Kedar," he feels out of place and longs for peace. His cry reveals the pain of living in an ungodly environment and the desire to dwell in the presence of the God of peace. Despite being surrounded by conflict, he turns to the Lord for truth and justice, illustrating the believer’s first step in a spiritual journey—honest lament and a yearning for God’s intervention. Psalm 120 sets the tone for a pilgrimage of the heart, moving from trouble toward the peace and security found in God alone.

Origin & Meaning of the Name:

The name "Psalms" comes from the Greek word Psalmoi, which means "songs" or "melodies." This term was used in the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures. In Hebrew, the book is called "Tehillim", meaning “Praises.” Though many of the Psalms are laments or cries for help, the overarching theme is one of worship, adoration, and praise to God. The name reflects the book’s purpose as a collection of poetic songs meant to be sung or recited as expressions of worship and relationship with God.

Purpose of the Book:

The primary purpose of the Book of Psalms is to provide a rich devotional and liturgical guide for God’s people. It gives voice to the full range of human emotion—joy, sorrow, gratitude, confusion, repentance, and hope—and models how to bring those emotions to God in prayer and praise. Psalms teaches believers how to worship, how to lament, and how to trust in God in every season of life. It also contains prophetic elements pointing to the coming Messiah and affirms God's faithfulness, justice, and covenant with His people.

Authorship & Sources Supporting the Author:

The Book of Psalms is a collection of 150 individual psalms written by multiple authors over many centuries. The most well-known contributor is King David, to whom 73 psalms are directly attributed (e.g., Psalm 3, 23, 51). David is referred to as “the sweet psalmist of Israel” in 2 Samuel 23:1, confirming his significant role. Other contributors include:

• Asaph (Psalms 50, 73–83) – a Levitical choir leader (see 1 Chronicles 6:39 and 2 Chronicles 29:30).

• The Sons of Korah (Psalms 42–49, 84–85, 87–88) – descendants of a Levitical family assigned to temple worship (1 Chronicles 9:19, 2 Chronicles 20:19).

• Solomon (Psalms 72 and 127) – David’s son and successor.

• Moses (Psalm 90) – one of the oldest psalms; supports Mosaic authorship (see Deuteronomy 31:22, where Moses is said to write songs).

• Heman the Ezrahite (Psalm 88) and Ethan the Ezrahite (Psalm 89) – associated with wisdom and temple service (1 Kings 4:31, 1 Chronicles 15:17–19).

Some Psalms are anonymous, yet they align with themes and styles used by these known authors. Historical Jewish tradition and early church writings, such as those by Origen and Jerome, also affirm the Davidic authorship of many psalms.

Key People:

1. God (Yahweh) – the central figure, described as Creator, Deliverer, Shepherd, King, and Judge.

2. David – both author and subject in many psalms, especially as a representative of the Messianic king.

3. The Messiah – referenced prophetically (e.g., Psalm 2, 22, 110) and fulfilled in Jesus Christ, as confirmed in the New Testament (Acts 2:25–36, Hebrews 1:5).

4. Enemies of Israel – including surrounding nations and personal adversaries, used to contrast God’s protection and judgment.

5. The righteous and the wicked – recurring symbolic characters representing those who follow God’s law versus those who rebel.

Conclusion

The Book of Psalms is a spiritual treasure chest that has shaped worship, theology, and prayer for thousands of years. With its vivid language, raw emotion, and deep faith, it connects head and heart, doctrine and devotion. It offers comfort in suffering, strength in trials, and joy in worship. Whether used in personal reflection, congregational worship, or prophetic meditation, Psalms continues to speak to every believer’s walk with God. Ultimately, it points to the greatness of God and His eternal plan of redemption through the Anointed One—Jesus Christ.

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What is God's Name in these Chapters?

In this portion of our journey we want to dive deep into the character of God described in His name. By identifying who God is, we can further relate to Him personally and build a stronger relationship and connection with Our Father.

Names are important. They give significance to places, people, and things. We identify with so much based off what it's name is. This is considerably notable when it comes to the names of God.

"Jehovah" is considered a Latinized version of the Hebrew name "Yahweh" (represented by the consonants YHWH) where the vowels of the Hebrew word "Adonai" (meaning "my Lord") were added to the Tetragrammaton (YHWH) when pronounced by Jewish readers who avoided saying the sacred name directly; essentially, Christian scholars combined the consonants of YHWH with the vowels of Adonai to create the pronunciation "Jehovah" in the Latin alphabet. 

Looking for the Names of God from the previous chapters? Due to the overwhelming amount of names we had to dedicate a special place for them for the sake of space. Click the link to see them:

REVIEW GOD'S NAMES FROM PREVIOUS CHAPTERS

In Psalm 119, God's character is revealed as righteous, faithful, wise, and compassionate. He is portrayed as a loving guide who leads His people through the light of His Word. The psalmist repeatedly emphasizes God's justice, mercy, and truth, showing that He is both a righteous judge and a tender Father. His commandments are perfect, and His Word is eternal, offering stability in a world of uncertainty. God is close to the brokenhearted, near to those who keep His precepts, and His guidance is a constant presence for those who seek Him with their whole heart.

Psalm 119 references several Hebrew names and titles of God that reflect His divine nature. Most prominently, the name Yahweh — the covenant name of God—is used throughout the chapter, representing God as the eternal, self-existent One who remains faithful to His promises. The lesson woven through this chapter is the life-changing power of God’s Word. The psalm teaches that obedience leads to spiritual growth, comfort in suffering, and a deeper relationship with God. It encourages us to cling to His statutes in every season, trusting that He is our ultimate source of wisdom and strength.

In Psalm 120, God is revealed as a listening and responsive deliverer. He hears the cries of the distressed and responds with justice and mercy. The psalmist demonstrates trust in God's ability to rescue him from lies and deceit, affirming that God is attentive even when the world feels chaotic and hostile. God’s character here shows that He is near to those who suffer injustice and that He alone brings true peace in the midst of conflict.

There are no specific Hebrew names of God mentioned in Psalm 120, but His personal and covenantal nature is still evident in the relationship expressed through prayer. The lesson in this psalm is about turning to God in the face of turmoil and trusting Him as the source of peace and truth. The psalm teaches that our journey toward God begins with honest cries and confident faith that He hears and acts. Even when we feel surrounded by hostility, we can trust that He sees, He knows, and He delivers.

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Christ in Every Book of the Bible

Christ is the theme throughout the Bible. From Genesis to Revelation, God reveals His Son, Jesus Christ.

Christ is the Seed of the woman Genesis 3:14 , He is the Passover Lamb Exodus 12:3, The Atoning Sacrifice Leviticus 17:11, The Smitten Rock Numbers 20:8, 11, The Faithful Prophet Deuteronomy 18:18, Christ is the Captain of the Lord's Host Joshua 5:15, The Divine Deliverer Judges 2:18, The Kinsman Redeemer Ruth 3:12, Christ is the anticipated as the Anointed One,1 Samuel 2:10, The Son of David 2 Samuel 7:14, The Coming King 1 & 2 Kings, Builder of the Temple 1 & 2 Chronicles (1 Chronicles 28:20), Ezra represents Christ as the Restorer of the Nation Ezra 6:14, 15, Nehemiah shows Him as the Restorer of the Temple Nehemiah 6:15, and Esther portrays Him as the Preserver of the Nation Ester 4:14, Christ is seen as the Living Redeemer Job 19:25, The Praise of Israel Psalm 150:6, The Wisdom of God Proverbs 8:22, 23, The Great Teacher Ecclesiastics 12:11, The Fairest of Ten Thousand Song of Solomon 5:10. Christ is the Suffering Servant Isaiah 53:11, The Maker of the New Covenant Jeremiah 31:31, The Man of Sorrows Lamentations 3:28-30, The Glory of God Ezekiel 43:2, The coming Messiah Daniel 9:25, The Lover of the Unfaithful Hosea 3:1, The Hope of Israel Joel 3:16, The Husbandman Amos 9:13, the Savior Obadiah 21, the Resurrected One Jonah 2:10, the Ruler in Israel Micah 5:2, the Avenger Nahum 2:1, the Holy God Habakkuk 1:13, the King of Israel Zephaniah 3:15, the Desire of Nations Haggai 2:7, the Righteous Branch Zechariah 3:8, and the Sun of Righteousness Malachi 4:2.

The King of the Jews Matthew 2:2, the Servant of the Lord Mark 10:45, the Son of Man Luke 19:10, and the Son of God John 1:1. Christ is the Ascended Lord Acts 1:10, the believer's Righteousness Romans 1:17, Sanctification 1 Corinthians 1:30, Sufficiency 2 Corinthians 12:9, and Liberty Galatians 2:4. He is the Exalted Head of the church Ephesians 1:22, the Christian's Joy Philippians 1:26, and the Fullness of Deity Colossians 2:9. In the Thessalonian epistles Christ is the believer's Comfort 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17 and Glory 2 Thessalonians 1:12. The Christian's Preserver 1 Timothy 4:10, Rewarder 2 Timothy 4:8, Blessed Hope Titus 2:13, and Substitute Philemon 17. He is the High Priest Hebrews 4:15, the Giver of Wisdom James 1:5, the Rock 1 Peter 2:6, and Precious Promise 2 Peter 1:4. John represents Christ as the Life 1 John, the Truth 2 John, and the Way 3 John, Jude portrays Christ as the Advocate and Revelation shows Him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords Revelation 19:16. The whole Bible is literally all about Christ!

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Questions:

Let's expand how these chapters expanded your faith and your relationship with God.

Questions About God's Character: What do these chapters reveal about God’s faithfulness to His word and promises?

1. How does Psalm 119 portray God’s faithfulness in both times of joy and suffering?

2. In what ways does Psalm 119 reveal God as a teacher, guide, and protector?

3. What qualities of God’s justice and mercy are emphasized in Psalm 119?

4. How does the psalmist’s trust in God’s Word reflect his understanding of God’s character?

5. What does Psalm 120 teach us about God’s attentiveness to our cries and troubles?

6. How do these chapters show God's nearness to those who are hurting or oppressed?

7. How can God’s character as righteous and peace-giving give us confidence when facing lies, conflict, or spiritual weariness?

Questions About Themes:

1. What does Psalm 119 teach us about the relationship between God’s Word and a righteous life?

2. Why is Scripture described as a “lamp to my feet and a light to my path,” and how does this shape the theme of divine guidance?

3. How does the theme of longing for God’s truth show up throughout Psalm 119?

4. How does Psalm 120 transition into a new theme of pilgrimage and spiritual journey?

5. What is the significance of lament and confession as starting points in Psalm 120’s theme of ascent?

6. How do both chapters highlight the contrast between God’s truth and the world’s deception?

7. How do these psalms together illustrate the journey from meditation on God’s Word to seeking His peace amid conflict?

Reflective Application Questions:

1. How can I develop a deeper love and reverence for God’s Word like the psalmist in Psalm 119?

2. In what ways am I currently allowing God’s Word to shape my thoughts, decisions, and emotions?

3. Are there any areas of my life where I’ve drifted from God's commands and need to realign through Scripture?

4. How do I usually respond to distress—do I turn to God immediately like the psalmist in Psalm 120?

5. What “Meshech and Kedar” environments (places of hostility or conflict) do I find myself in, and how can I seek God’s peace within them?

6. How might I use Psalm 119 as a model for prayer, especially in seasons of struggle or doubt?

7. What practical steps can I take this week to hide God’s Word in my heart and walk in obedience?

   
   

These questions can help deepen understanding of the themes of these chapters, while encouraging trust in God's sovereignty, justice, faithfulness, and timing. We hope thoughts to these questions invite you to reflect on your own journeys, grow in faith, and understand more about God's nature.

Reference Guides:

Life Application Study Guide

A Popular Survey of the Old Testament by Norman L. Geisler

The Power of God's Names by Tony Evans