Finding Life in the Word from Psalm 119:97–104
Welcome back! Today, we reach the final stanza of Psalm 119. Our focus is on verses 97–104, the section titled Mem.
The Source of Life
Mem is the thirteenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet and is associated with the word mayim, meaning water. Water was more valuable than gold in the ancient Near East, especially in the arid regions of Israel. Water was (and still is) life.
The psalmist says he meditates on God’s Law. He is not merely studying words on a scroll. He is clinging to life itself.
I love how Matthew Henry captures this truth:
“What we love, we love to think of. All true wisdom is from God. A good man carries his Bible with him, if not in his hands, yet in his head and in his heart.” ¹
More than head knowledge
Verse 99 reminds us it is not head knowledge the psalmist prizes—it is a heart connection with God. There are brilliant theologians who know much about the Bible, yet do not show love for the God who authored it. Their admiration is for the text, not the One behind it.
Let me explain it this way: I’m a guitar player. I love the feel of the instrument, the tones it can produce, the way music stirs the soul. When I was younger, I took music theory lessons. I learned about chord structures and triads and use that knowledge when I play. But while my instructor loved the theory, I loved the music. That’s the difference.
Likewise, Psalm 119 is not an ode to theoretical knowledge—it’s a love letter to the God who gives life through His Word. The Pharisees, perhaps referenced in spirit here, delighted in expounding the Law, but many lacked a relationship with the Lord who gave it. Knowing the Law is not enough. Doing what it says, loving the One who speaks through it—that’s where transformation happens.
Avoiding evil
We often shrink back from speaking about Scripture because we fear sounding ignorant or getting challenged. That’s why memorizing God’s Word matters. Verse 101 says, “I have kept my feet from every evil path so that I might obey your word.” God’s Word equips us to resist the crowd, to pause when the herd charges left and ask, “Should I go with them?” I still hear my mom’s voice asking, “If everyone jumped off a bridge, would you?”
We are so blessed today. Bibles are everywhere—on shelves, apps, websites, even AI can help you find any verse. But access does not guarantee affection. That is the Spirit’s work. Before Jesus changed my life, I had read the Bible, but it felt repetitive, confusing, sometimes even burdensome. After surrendering to Him, Scripture became “sweeter than honey” (v. 103). I couldn’t get enough.
And here’s the paradox: The more I abide in the Word, the more I hate the sin that lingers in me (v. 104). That tension is holy. It shapes us.
Know it, and do it!
I’ve seen Christians boast in biblical knowledge but bristle with contempt toward those outside the faith. Jesus never did that. He loved the sinner while hating the sin—and if we’re not doing the same, then something’s gone awry. Pride poisons our witness.
So today, I urge you: fall in love with the Word of God. Don’t just read it. Sit with it. Ask the Spirit to unlock it. Let your guard down and invite transformation.
When you do, I believe you’ll find that the Word is, indeed, life.
Tomorrow, we will read Psalms 120-126.
Notes
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Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible, Psalm 119:97.
