7 Things You (Probably) Didn't Know About The Longest Psalm In The Bible

The Bible contains 150 psalms. But which is the longest one? And why is it so special?

What's the longest psalm in the Bible? Remember this for your next Bible quiz: it's Psalm 119. It's a fascinating part of the Bible, which stands out dramatically from the psalms that surround it. What's it all about? Here are seven things you (probably) didn't know about Psalm 119.

1. Yes, it is really long.
It is the longest psalm, composed of 22 stanzas, 176 verses, and is also the longest chapter in the Bible.

2. It's a Hebrew acrostic
In the first stanza of the psalm, the first word of each of the eight verses begins with the Hebrew letter aleph, the first letter of the alphabet. In the second stanza, the first words all begin with the second letter of the alphabet, beth. So on it goes, with one stanza for every letter of the alphabet. Its inherent emphasis on order and design has been interpreted as a symbol of how God and his law promote order, and not chaos. You could say Psalm 119 is a Hebrew A-Z, in poetic form.


3. It has a legend attached 
There is an ancient tradition that says that the acrostic, alphabetic pattern of the psalm was utilised by King David, who used it to teach his son, Solomon, the Hebrew alphabet. In doing this Solomon would not only learn letters, but could learn the 'alphabet' of the spiritual, ethical life. It's not something the Bible tells us anything about, and we don't know who wrote the psalm, but it is a nice idea. If you want to practise your Hebrew alphabet, now you know what to do.

4. Its all about the law
"Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord" reads the first verse of the psalm. This beatitude sets the theme of the rest of the psalm: the Law (Hebrew: Torah, with various other synonyms for 'law' used throughout the psalm). The psalmist doesn't just talk about doing the law, he talks about loving the law:

"I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word" (verses 14-16).

5. ...and the law is a good thing
Protestants can sometimes get nervous about loving 'the law', eager to celebrate the grace given by Christ, and wary of falling into pharisaic 'works-righteousness'. But this psalm stands as something of a challenge to that view. Without 'The Law'/Torah, the Bible would have quite a few holes in it. This psalm teaches us that what God commands is good, and reminds us that being a Christian isn't just about believing in abstract ideas about 'grace', but actually becoming holy, good people, sanctified by God, who love like Jesus does. The law is concerned with justice, how we live and ultimately reflects the good character of God. Christians shouldn't find their identity in the law, but they should love it; the psalmist certainly did.

6. It's crafted poetry, not spontaneous praise
CS Lewis wrote of the psalm that it "is not, and does not pretend to be, a sudden outpouring of the heart...It is a pattern, a thing done like embroidery, stitch by stitch, through long, quiet hours, for love of the subject and for the delight in leisurely, disciplined craftsmanship."

The psalmist, Lewis wrote, "felt about the Law somewhat as he felt about his poetry; both involved exact and loving conformity to an intricate pattern...The Order of the Divine mind, embodied in the Divine Law, is beautiful. What should a man do but try to reproduce it, so far as possible, in his daily life?"

7. It's a post-Passover prayer
One biblical scholar, Michael Goulder, theorised that Psalm 119 came at the end of a passover liturgy: it would be read out at the end of the celebration of Passover festival. Passover celebrated freedom from slavery in Egypt, while the next festival, the feast of Weeks, is traditionally a celebration of Israel's arrival at Sinai and her receiving of the law. Psalm 119 then looks forward to that law that is to come, and so says "I shall delight in your commands and meditate on your decrees"(verses 47-48). The Jewish people lived out their own history in their prayer and praise.

It continued to be a significant part of Christian tradition. In the monasteries of the Eastern Orthodox Church, Psalm 119 is read daily at the midnight office. As the psalm says in verse 62: "At midnight I rise to give you thanks for your righteous laws."

5 Bible verses promising you can overcome all the adversities and hardships in your life

The Bible says that we are in a war against the flesh and the devil. That being said, it's important for all of us Christians to understand that we will face adversities and hardships, and these will come in many forms. Regardless of the manner in which adversity comes, we all know that it comes to test us and produce in us Christ-like character if we face it the right way.

Some of us face hardships with a victim mentality, thinking of ourselves as losers even before the fight begins. Some of us face adversity with uncertainty, thinking that we will either win or lose. We need to know one thing: Christ has already overcome the world, and if we are fighting on His side, we should approach the battle from a standpoint of victory! There is no loser or victim in Christ!
Are you facing adversity and hardships right now? Here are some Bible verses declaring that we have the victory in Christ.

Romans 8:31-37 – "What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ... No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us."

Psalm 91:9-11 – "If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home. For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go."

1 John 4:4 – "You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world."

1 John 5:3-5 – "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?"

John 16:33 (Jesus) – "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will[d] have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

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Good Eats with Grapes

(Family Features) Heart-healthy foods can play a role in healthy aging. Whether you enjoy them by the handful as a refreshing snack or use them to add color, crunch and a touch of sweetness to a meal, grapes are a heart-healthy option that make eating better easy.
Grapes of all colors - red, green and black - are a natural source of beneficial antioxidants and other polyphenols. At just 90 calories per serving, they also contain no fat, no cholesterol and virtually no sodium.
With a juicy burst of flavor, grapes show how simple it can be to make good-for-you-dishes that also taste great. Even though California grapes are a snacking staple in most kitchens, you may not realize how versatile they can be for cooking. For example, grapes add a sweet touch to a crunchy yogurt salad and complement the bold spice on a skewer of grilled shrimp. Fresh, flavorful grapes even put a tangy, fresh twist on a soothing glass of iced tea.
Find more delicious recipes to make healthy eating easy at GrapesfromCalifornia.com.

Grapes and Brain Health

A grape-enriched diet helped protect against metabolic brain decline in Alzheimer's-related areas of the brain, according to research from the University of California-Los Angeles. The pilot study, funded by the California Table Grape Commission, was conducted among people with early memory decline and showed that subjects who didn't consume grapes exhibited significant metabolic decline in these critical regions. Additionally, those consuming the grape-enriched diet showed beneficial changes in regional brain metabolism that correlated to improvements in cognition and working memory performance, according to a report published by Experimental Gerontology.

Zahtar Shrimp and Grape Kabobs

Servings: 6

• 2 tablespoons zahtar
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
• 2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1/8 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 36-40 large shrimp (about 2 pounds), shelled and deveined
• 1 cup whole green California grapes
• 1 cup whole red California grapes

1. In medium bowl, combine zahtar, garlic, thyme, vinegar, honey, salt, pepper and olive oil. Whisk to combine. Add shrimp and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate at least 30 minutes or up to 4 hours.
2. Thread shrimp and grapes onto skewers. Heat grill or grill pan to medium-high.
3. Grill skewers, turning once, until shrimp are lightly charred and cooked through and grapes are caramelized but firm, about 2-3 minutes per side.

Nutritional information per serving: 190 calories; 20 g protein; 12 g carbohydrate; 6 g fat (28% calories from fat); 1 g saturated fat (5% calories from saturated fat); 180 mg cholesterol; 870 mg sodium; 1 g fiber.

Savory Yogurt with Grape and Cucumber Salad

Servings: 4
Dukkah:

• 1/3 cup raw cashews
• 1/3 cup hazelnuts
• 1/4 cup sesame seeds
• 2 tablespoons cumin seeds
• 2 tablespoons coriander seeds
• 2 tablespoons dried thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Yogurt:

• 3 cups plain, nonfat Greek yogurt
• 1/2 cup green California grapes, halved
• 1/2 cup red California grapes, halved
• 1 cup English cucumber, diced
• 1 tablespoon minced shallot
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon white balsamic vinegar
• salt, to taste
• pepper, to taste
• 4 tablespoons dukkah
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest

1. To make dukkah: Heat oven to 350 F. Spread cashews and hazelnuts on baking sheet and toast 6-8 minutes. Transfer to food processor and set aside. In skillet over medium heat, toast sesame seeds, cumin seeds and coriander seeds until fragrant, 1-2 minutes, then transfer to food processor. Add dried thyme and salt. Pulse mixture until coarsely ground. Makes about 1 cup that can be stored in an airtight container.
2. Divide yogurt into four 3/4-cup portions. In small bowl, combine grapes, cucumber, shallots, olive oil, vinegar, salt and pepper. Toss to combine. Top each bowl of yogurt with 1/2 cup grape mixture, 1 tablespoon dukkah and sprinkle of lemon zest.

Nutritional information per serving: 220 calories; 19 g protein; 18 g carbohydrate; 8 g fat (33% calories from fat); 1.5 g saturated fat (6% calories from saturated fat); 10 mg cholesterol; 140 mg sodium; 2 g fiber.

Sparkling Hibiscus Tea with Grapes and Mint

Servings: 8

• 6 cups water, divided
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 6 hibiscus tea bags
• 2 cups green California grapes, divided
• 10 mint leaves
• 1 navel orange, sliced
• ice
• 16 ounces sparkling water

1. Using tea kettle or saucepan, bring 3 cups water and honey to boil. Add tea bags, turn off heat and steep 6-8 minutes. Remove tea bags and allow remaining liquid to cool 15 minutes.
2. In martini shaker or bowl, muddle 1 cup grapes with mint leaves. Add muddled grape and mint mixture to 48-60 ounce pitcher along with remaining water and orange slices. Stir in hibiscus tea mixture. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes. Strain before serving.
3. To serve, add ice to 8-ounce glass. Top with 3-4 grapes, 2 ounces sparkling water and hibiscus tea mixture.

Nutritional information per serving: 70 calories; 1 g protein; 16 g carbohydrate; 10 mg sodium; 1 g fiber.
SOURCE:
California Table Grape Commission

3 reasons why you should focus on developing your daily devotions with God

Our relationship with God is the most important thing we'll have in our entire life, and having God as our Father can never be compared to anything else in this world. Many can attest that having a relationship with a rich or famous person is not as important as having a growing, healthy relationship with a loving spouse, but the Bible attests that having a relationship with God is even greater than a blessed marriage.

David said of God's love in Psalm 63, "Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips." Truly, the love of God is better than life itself, and because of this, our relationship with God should be given more importance than any other pursuit we could ever have.

Still not convinced? Here are some reasons why you should focus on developing your devotions with God.

1) Your daily devotions are your primary way of growing closer to the Lord
Reading and obeying the Bible and praying to the Lord are the two most important disciplines that we will ever have in our entire life. Through reading the Bible and obeying it, we get to know God and show Him our love for Him (see John 14:15). Through prayer, we get to talk to and converse with our God (see Matthew 6:6).

Just like any relationship, communication is key. When we pray, we lay down our hearts before the Lord. We open ourselves to Him and are making ourselves available for Him. When we read the Bible, God speaks to us – that's why it is called the "Word of God."

Other disciplines cannot develop our relationship with God. We should never replace personal quiet times with the Lord with any other "spiritual discipline." Bible reading, praying in the Spirit and personal worship times are still the most basic but foundational disciplines that will build us up in the Lord. (see Romans 8:26; Ephesians 6:18)

2) Your daily devotions will provide you with spiritual nourishment
Have you ever tried engaging yourself in any physical activity without any form of nourishment whatsoever? If so, then you know how important it is to spend time with the Lord in prayer and Bible reading, because that's where we get our spiritual nourishment.

There are no other sources of spiritual nourishment for a Christian (see John 15, 12:46). Those who do not rely on the Word of God and prayer will be unable to build strong foundations and will be likely to fall into deception.

3) It's what the great men and women of God do
The Bible presents us with people who became close to the Lord through a love for Scripture and prayer times. The Lord Jesus spent much time with His Father daily. David enjoyed God's presence while guarding sheep. Abraham built altars or prayer wherever he goes. Even the prophet Anna spent her entire life as a widow praying and waiting for the Christ to show up (see Luke 2:36-38).

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