Aleph

Good Morning!

If you are one of the readers who follow the Daily Bible Readings, you will know that we began Psalm 119 yesterday with the first 16 verses. There are some unique things about the 119th Psalm. First, it consists of 22 sections (or stanzas) – each section being eight verses long. Your Bible may also have the heading like below – which is one of the letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Each verse within each stanza begins with the alphabetic character given in the heading. So, here’s the question: why? The books of the Psalms is a learning tool and a very good one. By using the repetitive, the information in the Psalm would hopefully stick in the reader’s mind and be there when the reader needed it. So let’s take a look at the first stanza:

Psalm 119:1-8 (English Standard Version)
Your Word Is a Lamp to My Feet
Aleph
1[a] Blessed are those whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of the LORD!
2Blessed are those who keep his testimonies,
who seek him with their whole heart,
3who also do no wrong,
but walk in his ways!
4You have commanded your precepts
to be kept diligently.
5Oh that my ways may be steadfast
in keeping your statutes!
6 Then I shall not be put to shame,
having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.
7I will praise you with an upright heart,
when I learn your righteous rules.[b]
8I will keep your statutes;
do not utterly forsake me!
Footnotes:
a. Psalm 119:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem of twenty-two stanzas, following the letters of the Hebrew alphabet; within a stanza, each verse begins with the same Hebrew letter
b. Psalm 119:7 Or your just and righteous decrees; also verses 62, 106, 160, 164

So what did you pick up in your reading?

One of the comments from our Bible study yesterday was that we have failed to teach the Old Testament. Oh, to be certain, we have had studies in the Old Testament but it is common for us to think that the Old Testament is just that … old; no longer in effect having been surpassed by the NEW Testament. And in some respects one could say that is true … especially when it comes to what is required for a person to be at one with God. BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE – the Old Testament is still valid for all of us. Listen to the Psalmist:

BLESSED (we would make that two syllables BLESS and ED) are those whose way is blameless (how) who walk in the law of the LORD! God gave us the law to be our schoolmaster – to teach us His desired way for us to live and exist one with another and one with Him. His teachings have not changed – each law has value for our life.

BLESSED (again, two syllables) are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong but walk in His ways. And where do we find the testimonies of God? In the Torah and the Prophets and the History books and Poetry that make up our OLD Testament.

Listen again to the Psalmist: You have commanded Your precepts be kept diligently. What does that mean? Simply that we don’t blow off the words that God has given us but we think on it and we strive to keep the His law in our everyday existence. I admit it is not a simple task – impossible is more descriptive. But as we walk in His way, the walk becomes easier.

The Psalmist concludes this stanza with a plea for himself and a promise to God. And that is a good thing – setting our eyes upon His commandments, learning his statues and attempting to live a life pleasing to Him. Something to strive for on this good day.

Agape’

Mr. Jim
Fatdad5@comcast.net
"Preach the Gospel everyday - and if you have to, use words" ... St. Francis of Assisi