Today’s reading is Psalm 119.
cool Stuff about Words and Letters
Throughout Psalm 119, the psalmist repeats eight man terms for God’s Word over and over and over again: law, testimonies, precepts, statutes, commandments, promises, word, rulings (this last one is translated in various ways in most translations). Out of 176 verses, 172 of them have one of these eight words. Only four verses do not use one of these words. Two of those verses (vss. 3 & 37) use another word: the Hebrew word “DEREK.” The common English translation: Way. “Way” is found 13 times in Psalm 119. Of those 13, 5 are in DALETH (vss. 25-32).
Look, I get it, not every body thinks this kind of thing is cool like I do. For most of us, talking about word count is one of the most boring things in the world. Sadly, for many people, noticing this sucks the life and emotion out of a poem. Not to mention, throwing out different numbers right and left can get confusing. However, when nearly 40% of a word’s uses in this lengthy psalm are packed into one section, we are supposed to notice. We are supposed to take stock. We are supposed to stop and figure out why the author did that.
Additionally, I can’t help but think our author did this on purpose for another reason. This is the DALETH section. Every line begins with the Hebrew letter DALETH. It probably doesn’t take much to notice “DEREK” (the word translated “way”) begins with DALETH.
By the way, our author pulled out all the stops on words and letters in this section. Not only does every line begin with DALETH; not only does this section contain the greatest concentration of the word for “Way,” DEREK, which also begins with DALETH; each line of vss. 25-28 ends with the Hebrew letter KAPH and each line of vss. 29-32 ends with the Hebrew letter YODH.
Which Way?
Check out what DALETH says about “ways.” It speaks of “my ways” (vs. 26), “the way of your precepts” (vs. 27), “false ways” (vs. 29), “the way of faithfulness” (vs. 30), and “the way of your commandments” (vs. 32).
When I want to talk about my ways, what I really need is the Lord’s statutes. My struggle is I’m prone to false ways, therefore I need the Lord to teach me His law. I need the Lord to make me understand the way of His precepts so I can run in the way of His commandments. Of course, it’s my choice whether I will follow God’s way so I must choose a way of faithfulness (interestingly, “faithfulness” is the word used in one of the four verses missing one of the eight terms for God’s Word: see vs. 90).
With all this focus on the Way, I hope you are ahead of me in recalling how the Psalter began. Psalm 1:6 says, “The LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish” (ESV). The way of the Lord’s statutes, precepts, and commandments leads to righteousness, blessing, life. My ways are false ways. That is, they promise to lead me through the swamp, but they simply get lost in the bog.
Understand this: God’s Way Works! It is the only way that does. Every other way fades into oblivion, leading us to demise, destruction, and death.
Love God’s way. It is amazing, it is wondrous.
Praise the Lord!
Today’s reading is Psalm 119 (vss. 17-32).
PODCAST!!!
PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family
How does Psalm 119:17-32 prompt or improve your hope in God?
Read the Bible 