Draw Near – 365 Guides to Greater Intimacy with GodSample

LONGEST CHAPTER Tehillim is the Hebrew name for "Psalms." This ancient Hebrew word means "praises," and this captures the heart of what these hymns are all about. So important are these songs that the composers used every device possible to help people remember exactly what they say. Perhaps the most popular device is that of the acrostic poem utilizing the twenty-two letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Psalm 25, 34, and Lamentations are also formed in this manner, but the most popular is Psalm 119. Most commentators feel it is no accident that the longest chapter in the Bible is a hymn about the importance of God's Word. Broken into twenty-two sections, this famous chapter has stirred hearts and assisted people to praise the glories of God's Word. Each section is headed by a letter of the Hebrew alphabet and contains eight verses. This makes it easy to memorize. Each section carries a special reason why God's Word is important. The first reason is many blessings come to those who keep His testimonies and seek Him with their whole heart. It is sad that many believers neglect reading God's Word because they find some passages difficult. This is equivalent to refusing food because one does not like the taste of spinach. Peter plainly says we should, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that we might grow thereby (1 Peter 2:2). The wise believer will make daily Bible reading a part of his life; and as a result, he will find himself growing spiritually.