The TORAH in the Psalms

For centuries, Christians, believers in Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) have looked to the book of Psalms for strength, comfort, encouragement and wisdom.  Yet, at the same time, we have believed the lie that God’s commandments, statutes, precepts and judgments are not for today.  They were somehow nailed to the cross of Christ and don’t need to be followed by Christians, let alone learned. 

 

We sum all of these up as “the Law”, but it equates to “the Word” of Almighty God.  Would any of us really say we believe the Word of God is done away  with ?  Didn’t Yeshua say, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my word shall never pass away” ? (Matthew 24:35)  Don’t we equate this all as the Word of God ?  Yet, as stated above, most believers want nothing to do with the “Law of Moses” or the commandments found in the Torah (the 5 books of Moses).

 

This summary of verses found in the Psalms is laid out to show just the opposite.  We will see that the “Law” is equal to God’s “commandments”, “precepts”, “judgments”, “statutes” and finally God’s “Word”.  The words are used interchangeably throughout the Psalms to describe the only “word of God” that existed at the time the Psalms were written, that being the Torah.

 

David and the others psalmists wrote over and over how wonderful, wise, faithful, and lasting God’s words are.  Take a look at the list and see for yourself.  Then, you may want to reconsider whether you need to read and learn the Torah.

 

 

I.            Torah as the “Law”

 

Psalm 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Psalm 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

Psalm 37:31 The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.

Psalm 40:8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. 

Psalm 78:1 Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

Psalm 78:5 For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:

Psalm 78:10They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law;

 Psalm 81:4 For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob.

 Psalm 89:30 If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments;

2.

 Psalm 94:12 Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law;

 Psalm 105:10 And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant:

 Psalm 119:1 Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.

Psalm 119:18  Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.

 Psalm 119:29 Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously.

 Psalm 119:34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.

 Psalm 119:44 So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever.

 Psalm 119:51 The proud have had me greatly in derision: yet have I not declined from thy law.

 Psalm 119:53 Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law.

 Psalm 119:55 I have remembered thy name, O LORD, in the night, and have kept thy law.

 Palms 119:61 The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law.

 Psalm 119:70 Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law.

 Ps 119:72 The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.

 Ps 119:77 Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight.

 Ps 119:85 The proud have digged pits for me, which are not after thy law.

 Ps 119:92 Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.

 Ps 119:97 O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.

 Ps 119:109 My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law.

 Ps 119:113 I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love.

 Ps 119:126 It is time for thee, LORD, to work: for they have made void thy law.

Ps 119:136  Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.

 Ps 119:142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.

 Ps 119:150  They draw nigh that follow after mischief: they are far from thy law.

 Ps 119:153 Consider mine affliction, and deliver me: for I do not forget thy law.

 Ps 119:163  I hate and abhor lying: but thy law do I love.

 Ps 119:165  Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.

 Ps 119:174 I have longed for thy salvation, O LORD; and thy law is my delight.

 

3.

II.         Torah as the “Commandments” (mitzvot)

 

Ps 78:7 That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:

 Ps 89:31 If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments;

 Ps 103:18 To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.

 Ps 103:20 Bless the LORD, ye his angels that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.

Ps 111:7 The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure.

 Ps 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

Ps 112:1  Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.

 Ps 119:6 Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.

 Ps 119:10  With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.

 Ps 119:19  I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me.

 Ps 119:21  Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from thy commandments.

 Ps 119:32 I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.

 Ps 119:35  Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.

 Ps 119:47 And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.

 Ps 119:48 My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.

 Ps 119:60 I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.

 Ps 119:66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.

 Ps 119:73 Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.

 Ps 119:86 All thy commandments are faithful: they persecute me wrongfully; help thou me.

 Ps 119:98  Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.

Ps 119:115  Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God.

 Ps 119:127  Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold.

4.

 Ps 119:131  I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments.

 Ps 119:143  Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: yet thy commandments are my delights.

 Ps 119:151 Thou art near, O LORD; and all thy commandments are truth.

 Ps 119:166  LORD, I have hoped for thy salvation, and done thy commandments.

 Ps 119:172  My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.

 Ps 119:176  I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.

 

 

III. Torah as the “Precepts” (piqquwd)

Ps 119:4  Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.

 Ps 119:15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.

 Ps 119:27 Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.

 Ps 119:40 Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.

 Ps 119:45  And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.

 Ps 119:56 This I had, because I kept thy precepts.

 Ps 119:63  I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.

 Ps 119:69  The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.

 Ps 119:78  Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy precepts.

 Ps 119:87 They had almost consumed me upon earth; but I forsook not thy precepts.

 Ps 119:93  I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me.

 Ps 119:94  I am thine, save me; for I have sought thy precepts.

 Ps 119:100 I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.

 Ps 119:104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.

 Ps 119:110 The wicked have laid a snare for me: yet I erred not from thy precepts.

 Ps 119:128 Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.

 Ps 119:134  Deliver me from the oppression of man: so will I keep thy precepts.

 Ps 119:141  I am small and despised: yet do not I forget thy precepts.

 Ps 119:159  Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O LORD, according to thy lovingkindness.

 

5.

 Ps 119:168 I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: for all my ways are before thee.

 Ps 119:173  Let thine hand help me; for I have chosen thy precepts.

 

 

IV. Torah as the “Judgments” (mishpatim)

 

Ps 10:5 His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.

 Ps 18:22 For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me.

 Ps 19:9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

Ps 36:6 Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast.

 Ps 48:11 Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments.

 Ps 72:1 Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son.

 Ps 89:30 If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments;

 Ps 97:8  Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O LORD.

 Ps 105:5 Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;

 Ps 105:7 He is the LORD our God: his judgments are in all the earth.

 Ps 119:7  I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.

Ps 119:13  With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.

 Ps 119:20  My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times.

 Ps 119:30  I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me.

 Ps 119:39  Turn away my reproach which I fear: for thy judgments are good.

 Ps 119:43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments.

 Ps 119:52  I remembered thy judgments of old, O LORD; and have comforted myself.

 Ps 119:62  At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments.

 Ps 119:75  I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.

 Ps 119:102  I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me.

6.

 Ps 119:106  I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments.

 Ps 119:108  Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me thy judgments.

 Ps 119:120 My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments.

 Ps 119:137  Righteous art thou, O LORD, and upright are thy judgments.

 Ps 119:156  Great are thy tender mercies, O LORD: quicken me according to thy judgments.

Ps 119:160  Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.

 Ps 119:164  Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments.

 Ps 119:175  Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; and let thy judgments help me.

 Ps 147:19 He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel.

 Ps 147:20 He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD.

 

 

V.  Torah as the “Statutes” (choq,  khoke)

Ps 18:22 For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me.

 Ps 19:8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

 Ps 50:16  But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?

 Ps 89:31 If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments;

Ps 105:45 That they might observe his statutes, and keep his laws. Praise ye the LORD. 

 Ps 119:5 O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!

 Ps 119:8 I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.

 Ps 119:12  Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.

 Ps 119:16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.

 Ps 119:23  Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.

 Ps 119:26  I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes.

 Ps 119:33  Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.

 Ps 119:48 My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.

 Ps 119:54  Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.

7.

 Ps 119:64  The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes.

 Ps 119:68  Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.

 Ps 119:71  It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.

 Ps 119:80  Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed.

 Ps 119:83  For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget thy statutes.

 Ps 119:112 I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the end.

 Ps 119:117 Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually.

 Ps 119:118  Thou hast trodden down all them that err from thy statutes: for their deceit is falsehood.

 Ps 119:124  Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes.

 Ps 119:135  Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; and teach me thy statutes.

 Ps 119:145 I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O LORD: I will keep thy statutes.

 Ps 119:155  Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes.

 Ps 119:171  My lips shall utter praise, when thou hast taught me thy statutes.

 Ps 147:19 He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel.

 

 

VI.  Torah as the “Word” (dabar)

Ps 17:4 Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.

 Ps 18:30 As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.  

 Ps 33:4 For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.

 Ps 33:6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

 Ps 56:4 In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.

 Ps 56:10 In God will I praise his word: in the LORD will I praise his word.

 Ps 68:11 The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.  

 Ps 103:20 Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.

Ps 105:8  He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.

 Ps 105:19 Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him.

 

8.

 Ps 105:28 He sent darkness, and made it dark; and they rebelled not against his word.

 Ps 106:24 Yea, they despised the pleasant land, they believed not his word:

Ps 107:20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

Ps 119:9  Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

 Ps 119:11  Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

 Ps 119:16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.

 Ps 119:17  Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word.

 Ps 119:25  My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word.

 Ps 119:28  My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word. 

 Ps 119:38  Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear.

 Ps 119:41  Let thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD, even thy salvation, according to thy word.

 Ps 119:42 So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word. 

 Ps 119:43  And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments.

 Ps 119:49  Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.

 Ps 119:50  This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.

 

Ps 119:58  I intreated thy favor with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word.

 Ps 119:65 Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O LORD, according unto thy word.

 Ps 119:67  Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.

 Ps 119:74 They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word.

 Ps 119:76 Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant.

Ps 119:81 My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word.

 Ps 119:82 Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me?

 Ps 119:89 For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.

 Ps 119:101  I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.

 Ps 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. 

 Ps 119:107  I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O LORD, according unto thy word.

 Ps 119:114  Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.

9.

 Ps 119:116  Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope.

 Ps 119:123 Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, and for the word of thy righteousness.

 Ps 119:133 Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.

 Ps 119:140  Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.

Ps 119:147  I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word.

 Ps 119:148 Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word.

 Ps 119:154 Plead my cause, and deliver me: quicken me according to thy word.

 Ps 119:158  I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word.

 Ps 119:160  Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.

 Ps 119:161 Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word.

 Ps 119:162  I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.

 Ps 119:169  Let my cry come near before thee, O LORD: give me understanding according to thy word.

 Ps 119:170 Let my supplication come before thee: deliver me according to thy word.

 Ps 119:172  My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.

 Ps 130:5  I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.

 Ps 138:2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

 Ps 147:15 He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly.

 Ps 147:18 He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow.

 Ps 147:19 He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel.  

 Ps 148:8 Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word: 

 

Compiled by G.E. Walker