Delight in Obedience: A 22-Day Journey Through Psalm 119

“The Bible is a letter from God with our personal address on it.” — Søren Kierkegaard

When I used to flip through my Bible (where are my NIV peeps at??), Psalm 119 always felt a little intimidating. I mean, ten full pages of poetic lines—an endless stretch of verses that seemed too long to take in. Definitely too much to grasp at once. I’d skim through and admire a few familiar phrases, but never truly study it. After much avoiding, I finally decided that if this psalm was the longest chapter in Scripture, and if it was entirely about loving God’s Word, then maybe it deserved to be slowed down, savored, and studied line by line.

So I broke it apart.

22 stanzas.

Eight verses each.

One day at a time.

What began as a way to make Psalm 119 more manageable quickly turned into a love story—a rediscovery of what it means to delight in obedience.

Psalm 119 is a masterpiece of devotion and design. It’s an acrostic poem, crafted with extraordinary and intentional structure. Each of its 22 sections corresponds to a letter of the Hebrew alphabet, from Aleph to Taw (think, a poem where each line went in alphabetical order from A-Z). Each section, or stanza, contains eight verses of poetic prose centered on God’s Word.

The author remains unknown, but the message is crystal clear: Scripture is our guide, our comfort, our joy, and our ultimate source of wisdom. Out of 176 verses, only seven of them don’t mention God’s law, commands, or precepts. Every line carries a love for God’s voice and a soul-deep longing to live by it.

Psalm 119 captures the essence of Deuteronomy 10:12-13, where Moses says to God’s chosen people:

“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to Him, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?”

This is the heartbeat of Psalm 119. Obedience isn’t about rules, but relationship. It’s about trusting that every command God gives is for our good and brings us closer to Him. It shouldn’t feel like a burden, but like belonging.

We’ve seen this truth echoed through the lives of countless men and women in the Bible.

Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave everything he knew behind, trusting a promise he couldn’t yet see. His obedience became the foundation of faith itself.

Noah obeyed when the world mocked him, building an ark before there was a drop of rain simply because God told him to. His obedience saved his life.

Moses obeyed, stuttering through his fear but learning that obedience isn’t about our abilities—it’s about God’s.

David learned that obedience was the difference between peace and pain. Every time he strayed from God’s commands, he felt the pain of separation.

Jesus, the perfect example of obedience, submitted to His Father’s will. Our Savior humbly took on death so that we might live.

Each story reminds us that obedience is costly, but it’s also beautiful. It builds intimacy, reveals God’s faithfulness, and anchors our hearts in truth. That’s what Psalm 119 invites us into—persistence over perfection. Not rule-following, but a rhythm of returning.

This 22-day study was created to help you slow down and see that beauty for yourself. To discover the richness that’s been waiting in these verses along. My hope is that as we journey through it together, we begin to see obedience not as a duty, but as a delight. Whether you’ve read Psalm 119 many times or always found it daunting like me, I hope this journey helps you see it with fresh wonder.

You can download the full PDF to study at your own pace, or head to our Instagram to follow along daily as we reflect on each section together!

Father, Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light on my path. I confess how easily I sometimes rush past it and how often I forget that it’s a living gift, written with love and purpose. Thank You for inviting me back, again and again, to know You more. Teach me to delight in obedience. Open my eyes to the beauty of Your commands and the safety of Your boundaries. Remind me that every “yes” to You brings life, and every act of surrender brings freedom. Help me to love Your Word and live it out. Amen.