Looking at the letters of the Hebrew alphabet as I reflect on these sections of the acrostic Psalm 119 makes me long to learn Hebrew. I'm sure a Hebrew scholar could point out many connections that my language-deprived brain misses. Simply knowing the letter's definition opens new realms of meaning. The seventeenth letter of the … Continue reading The Open Mouth of Psalm 119, Pe
The Climax of Psalm 119, Ayin
Push comes to shove in the sixteenth section of Psalm 119, in which each verse in the original begins with the Hebrew letter Ayin. In our amble through Psalm 119, we've noted that nearly every verse contains a word that is synonymous for God's word, which is no surprise since the Psalm is well-known as … Continue reading The Climax of Psalm 119, Ayin
Our Hiding Place in Psalm 119, Samekh
Deadly tornadoes recently ripped through the Midwest, destroying towns and taking lives, leaving a distressing wake of devastation and despair. If you live in the Midwest, you know there is only one thing to do if a tornado threatens: take shelter. That is why most homes are constructed with a basement. When the tornado sirens wail, … Continue reading Our Hiding Place in Psalm 119, Samekh
The Lamp of Psalm 119, Nun
Although the previous section of Psalm 119 contained two well-known verses, this section shines with the radiance of another well-known verse: Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path (105, ESV). God's word is the lantern that illuminates our walk through this dark world. We must clutch his word … Continue reading The Lamp of Psalm 119, Nun
Loving the law in Psalm 119, Mem
This section of Psalm 119 begins with its well-known verse: Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day (97, ESV). Perhaps for you, as it is for me, this is the most familiar of all the 176 verses in Psalm 119. Do you know what the next verse says? I admit … Continue reading Loving the law in Psalm 119, Mem
Limited perfection in Psalm 119, Lamedh
"I have seen a limit to all perfection," says the psalmist, "but your commandment is exceedingly broad" (Psalm 119:96, ESV). Those words remind me of the oft-repeated Ecclesiastes refrain that "all is vanity...under the sun" (Eccl. 1:2-3, ESV). Our finite minds and physical vision limit our ability to see perfection. We plod through life with the … Continue reading Limited perfection in Psalm 119, Lamedh
Wineskin in the smoke, Psalm 119, Kaph
In this eleventh section of Psalm 119, the psalmist poignantly compares himself to a wineskin in the smoke (83, ESV). A wineskin repeatedly exposed to smoke would shrivel and harden until it lost its flexibility and became useless. What a fitting picture for the way chronic cares shrivel the spirit! As noted in my previous … Continue reading Wineskin in the smoke, Psalm 119, Kaph
Creation and humility in Psalm 119, Yodh
What anomaly exists in the tenth section of Psalm 119, named after the Hebrew letter Yodh? We shall see. According to the "Yod" page on the Hebrew for Christians website, Yodh is the smallest letter of the Hebrew alphabet and conveys connotations regarding creation and humility. I write this on the day following the American celebration … Continue reading Creation and humility in Psalm 119, Yodh
The treasure of affliction in Psalm 119, Teth
Do you treasure affliction? I don't! But Psalm 119 shows me that affliction turns us more wholeheartedly to the riches of God's word. In the ninth section of Psalm 119, named after the Hebrew letter, Teth, the psalmist focuses on affliction. God sometimes uses affliction as punishment, and he always uses it as instruction. The psalmist begins by … Continue reading The treasure of affliction in Psalm 119, Teth
The covenantal promises of Psalm 119, Heth
According to what I've read this morning, the eighth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, Heth (or Cheth) stands for the chesed (loving-kindness) of the Lord. It's a concept often translated as "steadfast love" in the ESV (English Standard Version). It appears frequently in the psalms, including the conclusion of this section of Psalm 119. The section begins with a … Continue reading The covenantal promises of Psalm 119, Heth
Glenda Faye Mathes 