What is the Word of God?
In "Doctrinal Discussion" William Sillings writes:
What is the “Word of God”? The Word of God is the direct self-revelation of God to humanity. This part of revelation is often listed by theologians in the area of “special revelation” and includes both words and deeds of God's direct self-revelation.
Sillings continues on page 74 about how God's Word takes three forms.
Source: Studies in the Psalms: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 74.
A Spiritual Primer?
In "God's Word for Today" David Woods writes:
Psalm 119 is made up of twenty-two strophes (paragraph of poetry), one for each letter of the Hebrew alphabet, and each strophe has eight verses. Each of these verses begins with the Hebrew letter by which their particular strophe is named. Faithlife Study Bible notes that the most prominent feature in translation is the repetition of eight words: law, word (imrath), word (devar), judgments, testimonies, commandments, statutes, and precepts. Psalm 119 is characterized as a Torah Psalm, a wisdom Psalm, and an individual lament. The author is unknown. This Psalm emphasizes the Word of God, using some term for God's Word in almost every verse. Preacher's Commentary notes that the psalmist was involved in a real battle with enemies, but also was struggling with himself to do what was right and good. New Bible Commentary calls this Psalm the Golden ABC of God's Word.
Discussion: Early American education was profoundly impacted by The New England Primer, Webster's Speller, and the McGuffey Readers. How might our lives be impacted if we used Psalm 119 as a spiritual “primer”?
Source: Studies in the Psalms: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 70.
God's Word – Commandments vs. Statements
In "Biblical Perspective" Gordon Snider writes concerning Psalm 107:11…
The reason for this condition is clear. God's words are not so much commandments as they are statements of fact — this is the way life is. Man either aligns himself with the world as it was created, or he experiences some or all of the problems of verse 10. Man is by nature a rebel against God (Rom. 5). He despises and disdains the counsel of the most High. This name of God emphasizes His sovereign rulership over all creation as the Creator-God. Its use here amplifies the absurdity of the one created rejecting the advice of the one who made and rules all things
Source: Studies in the Psalms: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 66.