Psalm 119:113-128: A Pledge of Good

Today’s reading is Psalm 119 (vss. 113-128).

The Final Replacement Term

As we have learned before, the psalmist uses eight terms to describe the Word of God over and over again throughout Psalm 119. Those terms are used in 172 of the 176 verses. A case can be made that in the 4 outlier verses, the psalmist uses secondary or replacement terms. That is, terms which are not commonly used for God’s Word, but in a specific context and to make a specific point can be substituted. We’ve seen the term “way” used in vss. 3, 37. Then “faithfulness” in vs. 90. Now, in vs. 122, we find the final replacement term: pledge. That is, surety, security.

On the surface, this financial, accounting term seems like an odd “replacement” term for God’s Word. However, quickly trace the statements in AYIN (vss. 121-128).

In vs. 121, he begs not to be left to those who would oppress him. Certainly, oppressors are anyone who harms, but the term is frequently used of those who would steal or take from a neighbor (see Leviticus 6:2, 4; 19:13; Deuteronomy 24:14; 28:29, 33, et al). In contrast to those who would steal from him, in vs. 122, the psalmist asks the Lord to give a pledge, a security, a surety for a greater larger gift by not letting the insolent oppress him. The greater gift is discovered in vs. 123 as salvation, the fulfillment of God’s righteous promise. According to vs. 124, that fulfillment is the demonstration of the Lord’s covenant loyalty. Having asked for the Lord to give a pledge in vs. 123, he asks the Lord to give him understanding in vs. 125 so he may know the Lord’s testimonies. This leads to the point in vs. 127, in which the psalmist demonstrates he would rather have God’s commandment than money as his inheritance. Because of all he has said in this stanza, in vs. 128, he declares God’s precepts to be right and commits to hate all false ways.

Walking through the stanza, we discover the “pledge” of good, is the promise of salvation and deliverance itself in the Word of God. It is the commandments worth more than gold. It is the understanding, given so the psalmist may know the testimonies.

Certainly, the psalmist wants to see the fullness of the promised deliverance, but he is presently content with the pledge of the promise itself. Content enough to accept the precepts, put faith in the promises, learn the statutes, abide by the commandments, and hate every other way.

When we live in the interim between when the promise is given and the promise is completely fulfilled, may we also accept God’s pledge, His covenant-making, deliverance-declaring Scripture and Word. May we recognize His pledge as right and, therefore, hate all false ways.

Praise the Lord!

Today’s reading is Psalm 119 (vss. 113-128).

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier.

PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family

How does Psalm 119:113-128 prompt or improve your trust in God?

Psalm 119:17-32: Which Way Will I Go?

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!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier.

PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family

How does Psalm 119:17-32 prompt or improve your hope in God?