How would you like to spend the next 22 mornings with Jesus, meeting with Him in an unexpected place? I’m thinking about Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible with 176 verses. Recall how Jesus said that all Scripture testifies of Him (John 5:39)—and He was referring specifically of the Old Testament. After all, He is the Word of God (John 1 and 1 John 1), so we should be able to find Him even in Psalm 119.

A few years ago I decided to look for Him there—and wow! Read the following and see for yourself.

Notice that each of the 176 verses in Psalm 119 is bundled into sections of eight verses. So if you read one section for the next 22 mornings, you’ll cover the entire Psalm—and receive an amazing revelation of Jesus.

See for yourself. Here it is: Psalm 119 in light of the New Covenant:
                                                    
  1 Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk with Jesus.
  2 Blessed are those who have Jesus, and who seek Him with their whole heart.
  3 They also refrain from iniquity, they walk in His ways.
  4 You have commanded us to trust diligently in Jesus.
  5 O that my ways were directed to trust in Jesus!
  6 Then will I not be ashamed, when I have respect for Jesus.
  7 I will praise You with uprightness of heart, when I will have learned about Jesus.
  8 I will trust in Jesus; O forsake me not completely.

  9 How shall a young man cleanse his way?  By taking heed to Jesus.
 10 With my whole heart I have sought You; O let me not wander from Jesus.
 11 Jesus I have hid in my heart that I might not sin against You.
 12 Blessed are You, O Lord, teach me about Jesus.
 13 With my lips I have declared Jesus.
 14 I have rejoiced in the way of Jesus, as much as in all riches.
 15 I will meditate in Jesus and have respect for Your ways.
 16 I will delight myself in Jesus, I will not forget Him.

 17 Deal bountifully with Your servant, that I may live and trust in Jesus.
 18 Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in Jesus.
 19 I am a stranger in the earth, hide not Jesus from me.
 20 My soul breaks for the longing that it has for Jesus at all times.
 21 You have rebuked the proud who are cursed, those who stray from Jesus.
 22 Remove from me reproach and contempt, for I have followed Jesus.
 23 Princes also sat and spoke against me, but Your servant did meditate in Jesus.
 24 Jesus is my delight and my counselor.

 25 My soul is dragging in the dust.  Give me life through Jesus.
 26 I have spoken of my ways and You heard me; teach me about Jesus.
 27 Make me understand the way of Jesus, so I will talk of His wonderful works.
 28 My soul melts for heaviness; strengthen me through Jesus.
 29 Remove from me the way of lying, and grant me Jesus in Your grace.
 30 I have chosen the way of truth; Jesus I have set before me.
 31 I have stayed with Jesus, O Lord, put me not to shame.
 32 I will run the way of Jesus, when You will enlarge my heart.  

 33 Teach me, O Lord, the way of Jesus, and I will keep it to the end.
 34 Give me understanding and I will trust in Jesus, yes, I will follow Him with my whole heart.
 35 Make me travel in the path of Jesus, for in that do I delight.
 36 Direct my heart to Jesus, and not to covetousness.
 37 Turn away my eyes from beholding vanity, and give me life in Jesus.
38 Establish Jesus to Your servant, who is devoted to Your fear.
 39 Turn away my reproach which I fear, for Jesus is good.
 40 Behold, I have longed after Jesus, give me life in Your righteousness.

 41 Let Your mercies come also to me, O Lord, even Your salvation through Jesus.
 42 So will I be able to answer him who reproaches me, for I have Jesus.
 43 And take not the word of truth completely out of my mouth, for I hope in Jesus.
 44 So I will trust in Jesus continually for ever and ever.
 45 And I will walk at liberty, for I seek Jesus.
 46 I will speak of Jesus before kings, and will not be ashamed.
 47 I will lift up my hands to Jesus, whom I have loved.
 48 My hands will I lift up to Your Son, whom I have loved, and I will meditate in Jesus.   

 49 Remember Jesus when You think about me; upon Him You have caused me to hope.
 50 This is my comfort in my affliction: Jesus has given me life.
 51 The proud have ridiculed me greatly, yet I have not strayed from Jesus.
 52 For a long time now I have remembered Jesus, O Lord, and have comforted myself.
 53 Horror has taken hold upon me because of the wicked who forsake Jesus.
 54 Jesus has been my song in the house of my pilgrimage.
 55 I have remembered You, O Lord, in the night, and have trusted in Jesus.
 56 This I had, because I trust in Jesus.   

 57 You are my portion, O Lord, I have said I would trust in Jesus.
 58 I beg for Your favor with my whole heart, be merciful to me through Jesus.
 59 I thought on my ways and I turned my feet to Jesus.
 60 I made haste and delayed not to follow Jesus.
 61 Wicked people have robbed me, but I have not forgotten Jesus.
 62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You because of Jesus.
 63 I keep company with all those who respect You, and those who trust in Jesus.
 64 The earth, O Lord, is full of Your mercy; teach me about Jesus.

 65 You have dealt well with Your servant, O Lord, through Jesus.
 66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I have believed in Jesus.
 67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I follow Jesus.
 68 You are good, and You do good; teach me about Jesus.
 69 The proud have forged a lie against me, but I will trust in Jesus with my whole heart.
 70 Their heart is as fat as grease, but I delight in Jesus.
 71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn about Jesus.
 72 Jesus is better for me than thousands of gold and silver.

 73 Your hands have made me and fashioned me, give me understanding that I may learn about Jesus.
 74 Those who respect You will be glad when they see me, for I have hoped in Jesus.
 75 I know, O Lord, that Jesus is right, and that You in faithfulness have afflicted me.
 76 I pray You, let Your merciful kindness comfort me through Jesus.
77 Let Your tender mercies come to me that I may live, for Jesus is my delight.
 78 Let the proud be ashamed, for they wronged me without a cause ‑‑ but I will meditate in Jesus.
 79 Let those who respect You turn to me, and those who have known Jesus.
 80 Let my heart be secure in Jesus so I will not be ashamed.

 81 My soul faints for Your salvation, but I hope in Jesus.
 82 My eyes are growing weary for Jesus, saying, When will You comfort me?
 83 I am become like a bottle in the smoke, yet I do not forget Jesus.
 84 How many days are left to Your servant?  When will You execute judgment on those who persecute me?
 85 The proud have dug pits for me, those who do not follow Jesus.
 86 Jesus is faithful; they persecute me wrongfully ‑‑ help me!
 87 They had almost eaten me alive, but I did not forsake Jesus.
 88 Give me life through Your lovingkindness, so I will trust in Jesus.

 89 For ever, O Lord, Jesus is established in heaven.          
 90 Your faithfulness lasts for all generations; You have established the earth, and it abides.
 91 They continue this day through Your sovereignty, for all are Your servants.
 92 Unless Jesus had been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.
 93 I will never forget Jesus, for with Him You have given me life.
 94 I am Yours, save me; for I have sought Jesus.
 95 The wicked have waited for me to destroy me, but I will think about Jesus.
 96 I have seen the end of all perfection, but Your mercy is exceedingly great.

 97 O how I love Jesus!  He is my meditation all the day.
 98 Through Jesus You have made me wiser than my enemies, for He is ever with me.
 99 I have more understanding than all my teachers, for Jesus is my meditation.
100 I understand more than the ancients, because I trust in Jesus.
101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might have Jesus.
102 I have not departed from Jesus, for You have instructed me.
103 How sweet is Jesus to my taste!  Even sweeter than honey to my mouth!           
104 Through Jesus I get understanding, therefore I hate every false way.  

105 Jesus is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path.
106 I have determined and I will follow through with it, that I will trust in Jesus.
107 I am afflicted very much; give me life, O Lord, through Jesus.
108 Accept, I beg You, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord, and teach me about Jesus.
109 My soul is continually in my hand, yet I do not forget Jesus.
110 The wicked have laid a snare for me, yet I have not strayed from Jesus.
111 Jesus I have taken as my heritage for ever, for He is the rejoicing of my heart.
112 I have inclined my heart to follow Jesus always, even to the end.

113 I hate vain thoughts, but Jesus do I love.            
114 You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Jesus.
115 Depart from me, you evildoers, for I will follow Jesus.
116 Uphold me through Jesus that I may live, and let me not be ashamed of my hope.
117 Hold me up and I will be safe, and I will have respect for Jesus continually.
118 You have trampled upon everyone who strays from Jesus, for their deceit is falsehood.
119 You put away all the wicked of the earth like dross, therefore I love Jesus.
120 My flesh trembles for fear of You, and I am afraid of Your word.

121 I have done what is right and just; leave me not to my oppressors.
122 Guarantee the well‑being of Your servant; let not the proud oppress me.
123 My eyes fail for Your salvation, and for the word of Your righteousness.
124 Deal with Your servant through Your mercy, and teach me about Jesus.
125 I am Your servant; give me understanding, that I may know Jesus.
126 It is time for You to work, Lord, for they have disregarded Jesus.
127 Therefore I love Jesus above gold, yes, above fine gold.
128 Therefore I consider Jesus to be right in everything, and I hate every false way.

129 Jesus is wonderful, therefore my soul trusts in Him.          
130 The entrance of Jesus gives light, He gives understanding to the simple.
131 I opened my mouth and panted, for I longed for Jesus.
132 Look upon me and be merciful to me, as You have done to those who love Jesus.
133 Establish my steps in Jesus, and let not any sin have dominion over me.
134 Deliver me from the oppression of man; so will I trust in Jesus.
135 Make Your face shine upon Your servant, and teach me about Jesus.
136 Rivers of waters run down my eyes, because they do not trust in Jesus.

137 You are righteous, O Lord, and Jesus is upright.
138 Jesus is righteous and very faithful.
139 My zeal has consumed me, because my enemies have forgotten Jesus.
140 Jesus is very pure, therefore Your servant loves Him.
141 I am small and despised, yet I do not forget Jesus.
142 Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Jesus is the truth.
143 Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me, yet Jesus is my delight.
144 The righteousness of Jesus is everlasting; give me understanding and I will live.

145 I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O Lord, I will trust in Jesus.
146 I cried to You; save me, and I will follow Jesus.
147 I arose before the dawning of the morning and cried, I hoped in Jesus.
148 My eyes are awake during the night watches, that I might meditate in Jesus.
149 Hear my voice through Your lovingkindness, O Lord; give me life through Jesus.
150 Those who do wickedness are nearby; they are far from Jesus.
151 You are near, O Lord, and Jesus is truth.
152 Concerning Jesus, I have known of old that You have established Him for ever.

153 Consider my affliction and deliver me, for I do not forget Jesus.
154 Plead my cause and deliver me, give me life through Jesus.
155 Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek Jesus.
156 Great are Your tender mercies, O Lord, give me life through Jesus.
157 Many are my persecutors and my enemies, yet I refuse to turn away from Jesus.
158 I saw the transgressors and felt sad, because they refused to follow Jesus.
159 Consider how I love Jesus; give me life, O Lord, through Your lovingkindness.
160 Jesus is true from the beginning, and He endures for ever.

161 Princes have persecuted me for no reason, but my heart stands in awe of Jesus.
162 I rejoice in Jesus as one who finds great wealth.
163 I hate and despise lying, but I love Jesus.
164 Seven times a day I praise You because of Jesus.
165 Great peace have they who love Jesus, and nothing will offend them.
166 Lord, I have hoped for Your salvation, and I have kept my trust in Jesus.
167 My soul has trusted in Jesus, and I love Him exceedingly.
168 I have followed Jesus, for all my ways are before You.           

169 Let my cry come near before You, O Lord; give me understanding through Jesus.
170 Let my supplication come before You; deliver me through Jesus.
171 My lips will utter praise when You have taught me about Jesus.
172 My tongue will speak of Jesus, for He is righteousness.
173 Let Your hand help me, for I have chosen Jesus.          
174 I have longed for Your salvation, O Lord, and Jesus is my delight.
175 Let my soul live and it will praise You, and let Jesus help me.
176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek Your servant, for I do not forget Jesus. 

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You have much to say about the New Covenant, and we share your enthusiasm for its new life in the Spirit. What we can’t understand is why you feel the New Covenant does away with God’s Law—not as a method of salvation (which would be legalism) but as the test of fully devoted discipleship?

2 Corinthians 3 condemns not God’s Law itself but the futility of having it written on tables of stone, as in the Old Covenant. In the New Covenant, that same Law is “written on the fleshly tables of the heart” (verse 3). It’s not the message that is different but the place where it is written—tables of the heart instead of tables of stone.

If you disagree with that, please tell us which of the Ten Commandments that God’s Spirit of grace won’t write on your heart? The one that forbids disrespecting parents (5^th)?  Murdering (6^th)?  Adultery (7^th)?  Stealing (8^th)?  Lying (9^th)? How about coveting (10^th)? Of course not. Then what about putting false gods before the real God (1^st), debasing His image (2^nd) or taking His name in vain (3^rd)? Certainly not. You’re good with all of those commandments. So where is the problem?

I wonder if it’s that Sabbath commandment, which just won’t go away. So do you throw away the whole Law of God just to get rid of one inconvenient truth? What a pity, since it’s the Sabbath commandment that keeps us from being legalists when honoring the other nine. The Sabbath means rest, remember? Resting in Christ’s finished works? How can you possibly have a problem with that?

My friends at Life Assurance want me to give them evidence that the 10 Commandments are written in the heart under the New Covenant. I think we just I just did! If I didn’t, please do tell me which one of the 10 you don’t want anymore? Only the one that specifically calls us to rest in Christ.

This seems so strange, I can't understand it. You fulfill the other nine commandments while resting in Jesus, while you reject the one commandment that calls us to rest in Christ’s finished works of Creation and Salvation. What kind of sense does this make?

And it gets even worse when our friends at Life Assurance Ministries deny the clear statement of Romans 8:4 that “the righteousness of the Law is fulfilled in us.” It doesn’t say that the righteousness of the Spirit is written in our hearts; it says that the Spirit writes the righteousness of the Law in our hearts.

Of course this doesn’t happen in a legalistic way by trying to be good enough before God. It only happens when we rest in Christ, which empowers us to live in the Spirit. So that’s how God’s Law is written in our hearts—by His Spirit, who leads us to Gospel rest (which is what the seventh-day Sabbath is all about!).

Dale Ratzlaff speaks of Christ’s two great commandments of Jesus: to love the Lord with all our hearts and our neighbors as ourselves. Fine. Now which of God’s 10 Commandments do Christ’s two commandments overthrow? Please tell us.

Actually, we already have Christ’s own explanation: “On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets” (Matthew 22:40). The Message Bible puts it this ways; “These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them.” So there we have it: Christ’s two commandments support God’s Law instead of negating it.

The apostle Paul puts it this way: “Do we then make void the Law through faith?” Yes, according to Life Assurance Ministries. But the Bible says, “God forbid, we establish the Law” (Romans 3:31). Which brings us back to 1 Corinthians 7:19: “Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters.”

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