Psalms 119:172
My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.
Psalms 119:172
Psalm 119 is an acrostic meditation on the law, a festival of God’s revealed will. Verse 172 climaxes a section where the psalmist testifies that all of God’s commandments are righteousness. In Hebrew, “my tongue shall speak” echoes ancient liturgical practice: speech that aligns with what God has spoken. The surrounding psalms celebrate the Torah as life, counsel, and standard by which life is measured. Historically, these words reflect a devout teacher-learner posture: knowing Scripture is not merely intellectual but morally formative. Culturally, the covenant people understood righteousness as alignment with God’s character, not merely legal compliance. The psalmist’s claim signals trust that God’s commands reveal reality as it should be: for the good of the community and the person.
This verse anchors righteousness in revelation. God’s commandments are not arbitrary rules but trustworthy, life-giving norms that reflect His character. The idea that “all thy commandments are righteousness” unites truth and virtue: God’s law discloses what is right, just, good. It also foreshadows Jesus’ teaching that the law reveals humanity’s need for mercy and transformation. The psalmist’s readiness to speak of God’s word indicates a speech ethic: words should mirror divine truth. The verse invites believers to reorder their hearts so that speech and conduct harmonize with God’s standards, cultivating integrity within worship and daily life.
What we say should reflect God’s truth. Start a daily habit: read a verse, then paraphrase it in a way you would explain to a friend who doesn’t know God. Practice speaking with honesty, kindness, and truthfulness in every conversation—family, workplace, online. For example, if you face a debate about a moral issue, let your response be rooted in Scripture’s view of righteousness, not in pride or victory. Let your tongue become a conduit for blessing: praise, correction when needed, encouragement, and truthful testimony. This verse also invites us to trust God’s commands as protective boundaries that guide life toward flourishing. When tempted to bend rules for convenience or personal gain, recall that God’s commandments are righteousness and seek discernment through prayer and wise counsel.
Cross-References: Psalm 19:7-11; Psalm 119:11; Psalm 119:128; Psalm 1:1-3; Romans 7:12