SOUNDING
OUT:
God’s Word in Psalms 119
If your Bible is like my Cambridge wide margin,
you’ll notice that Psalm 119 is divided into eight verse sections.
Each of my eight verse sections are preceded by a Hebrew letter
followed by how it is spelled in English. These are not part of
the text, but have been inserted into our Bibles to communicate
the acrostic arrangement of the Psalm. Each of these eight verse
sections begins with the same letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The
first section begins with aleph, the first letter in the Hebrew
alphabet then each section that follows proceeds through the Hebrew
alphabet until we arrive at the last one, the tau section.
An acrostic is a composition, usually in verse, in which
the initial or final letters of the lines, taken in order, spell
a word or phrase or follow the regular order of the alphabet.
Psalm 119 is an example of this last kind, an abecedarian, or
alphabetic acrostic. Although the alphabetic structure may be
an aid to memory, Bullinger says in Figures of Speech Used
in the Bible that through “the use of this peculiar figure,
our attention is attracted to the special importance of certain
passages.” Another suggestion is that the alphabet was symbolic
of completeness, and so alphabetic acrostics were composed to
express one's complete praise as in Psalm 145, the complete virtue
of the good wife as in Proverbs 31, the complete grief of a man
who saw Jerusalem overthrown as in Lamentations 1-4, or, in the
case of Psalm 119, complete devotion to the Word of God.
Psalm 119 is largely a collection of prayers and meditations
on the Word of the Lord. In every verse the psalmist either praises
some excellent quality of God’s Word, declares his love and affection
for God’s Word, affirms his awareness and awe of the power of
God’s Word, or expresses thanksgiving for the usefulness and efficacy
of God’s Word. The Word of God is referred to by twelve synonyms.
There is immediate value in recognizing that they all doubtless
refer to the same Word of God. However, we would lose much to
not differentiate between them. Each of these terms designates
the same law of the Lord, but each representing different aspects
or functions or signifying different modes of its reception and
promulgation.
- God’s law, because they are enacted by him
as our Sovereign. Hebrew torah [08451],
which is always translated “law,” occurs 25 times in Psalm 119.
This word comes from a verb which means to direct, to guide, to
aim, to shoot forwards. Its etymological meaning, then, would
be a rule of conduct.
- His way, because it lays out a course for
life and morality easily established by habit over the course
of time. Hebrew derek [01870] and orach [0734], which are always translated “way” or “ways” in Psalm 119,
and occur twelve and five times respectively.
- His testimonies, because they are solemnly
declared to the world, and attested beyond contradiction. It comes
from a Hebrew word meaning to repeat or go over again. Hebrew edah [05713] and eduth [05715] occur fourteen and nine times respectively.
- His commandments, because they are given
with authority and mandate a course of action. Hebrew mitsvah [04687], which is always translated commandments, occurs twenty-three
times in Psalm 119.
- His precepts, because they are prescribed
to us, and not left indifferent. Derived from a word, which means
“to place in trust,” it means something entrusted to man. Like
a written prescription. Hebrew piqqed [06490] occurs 21 times in Psalm 119,
- His word, or saying, because it is the
declaration of his will, and Jesus Christ, the red thread is in
it. Hebrew dabar [01697] and imrah [0565] occur twenty-four and nineteen times respectively.
- His judgments, because they are framed
in infinite wisdom and by them we must both judge and be judged.
Derived from a word signifying “to govern, to judge, or to determine.”
It means judicial ordinances and decisions; legal sanctions. Hebrew mishpat [04941] occurs twenty-three
times in Psalms 119.
- His righteousness, because it is all holy,
just, and good, and the rule and standard of righteousness. Hebrew tsedeq [06664] occurs twelve times
in Psalms 119.
- His statutes, because they are fixed and
determined, and of perpetual obligation. The verb from which this
word is formed means to engrave or inscribe. Hebrew choq [02706] occurs twenty-two times in Psalms 119.
- His truth or faithfulness,
because the principles upon which God’s Word is established are
true and eternal. Hebrew emeth [0571]
or emanuh [0530] occur four and five
times respectively.
The
word Elohim occurs only once in verse 115. This is the
only verse after verse three that is not spoken directly to God.
Herein the psalmist turns aside to speak to evildoers, but he still
mentions God. This is the figure of speech apostrophe. It is “when
the speaker turns away from the real auditory whom he is addressing,
and speaks to an imaginary one. It is a sudden breaking off in the
course of speech diverting it to some new person or thing.” Jehovah
is used 24 times all but three of which occur with O in direct address.
When our hearts cry out “O Lord” (used twenty-one times),
when our longing is “teach me” (used nine times), when we pursue
Him with our “whole heart” (used six times), when we act “according
to His Word” (used twelve times), when we delight (used nine times)
and meditate (used seven times) in God’s Word, we are on our way
to being men and women after God’s own heart. What a lesson for
us to direct our hearts to the Lord in prayer and praise for what
He has done! The Psalmist was building his relationship with the
Lord God almighty through the greatness of God’s wonderful matchless
Word. We can do the same. There is no way for us to know the will
of God without knowing the Word of God, and there is no way to develop
a relationship with God without developing a relationship with His
Word..
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