Psalm 119 - yep, the words within this Psalm, still ring loudly within my soul. Tears still stream down my face as I read these words over and over again today. I believe with everything in me that His word is alive and just like I speak to my child through the words I use, I believe my Father, speaks to me within the very words He uses. So, hang tight, this journey might be long, after all, I am only into verse 17-24 from the longest Psalm in the Bible, but I promise you this: HIS WORD NEVER FAILS. So over the next few days, which will actually turn into weeks I am sure, I am going to share this journey with you, and pray He speaks to you in a way that draws you to His feet, because trust me, it is the BEST place to be.
I went over a few facts about the Psalm that just keeps going and going, but let's review, just because...
1. There are 176 verses within this Psalm.
2. The 176 verses are broken up into 22 carefully constructed sections. (I am going to assume, we will be on this journey together for 22 days... that is if I get to write only about 8 verse a day.... so hang in there, I promise HIS WORD NEVER FAILS)
3. Each one of the 22 constructed sections correspond with a different letter in the Hebrew alphabet. And, each verse within the sections beings with the letter of it's section. Each section is made up of 8 verses.
You see, this kind of repetition was common in the Hebrew culture. People did not have copies of the scriptures so they relied on memorization of His word and passed it along orally. The structure of this Psalm allowed for easy memorization.
Don't worry, the fabulousness does not end there... through out the 176 verses there are 8 different words used that mean "God's Word"... those 8 words are...
1. Testimonies (this is used 19 times)
2. Precepts (this is used 20 times)
3. Statutes (This is used 19 times)
4. Commandments (this is used 22 times)
5. Judgments (this is used 22 times)
6. Word (this is used 22 times)
7. Words/Sayings/Promised (these are used 20 times)
8. Law (this is used 24 times) - funny thing about the word "law", in Hebrew, it means teachings or instructions...
Gimel
17 Do good to your servant, and I will live;
I will obey your word.
18 Open my eyes that I may see
wonderful things in your law.
19 I am a stranger on earth;
do not hide your commands from me.
20 My soul is consumed with longing
for your laws at all times.
21 You rebuke the arrogant, who are cursed
and who stray from your commands.
22 Remove from me scorn and contempt,
for I keep your statutes.
23 Though rulers sit together and slander me,
your servant will meditate on your decrees.
24 Your statutes are my delight;
they are my counselors.
So these 8 verses are big ones for me. You see, I want to serve Him with my life, I want to bring Him honor, glory and praise. But sometimes, I also want to have fun, and there are times when I use to think the two did not go together. It was like, there was Jesus, a bell choir and a church that was pretty, quite, so quite you were afraid to even eat cheerios during service because someone might hear you chew. And then there was fun. And the two just did not mix. Well, what I have come to find, is that the two mix, and they mix well. Jesus and fun mix together like salt and a margarita. Or fabulous shoes and a handbag that matches but that is not too matchie matchie. Jesus and fun go together like pizza, beer and a funny movie. Jesus and fun go together like a mani and pedi. You with me?
So, obviously my eyes have been opened and I have seen the wonderful and FUN things within His Word. And yet, I am still a stranger on this earth. I don’t fit it. You see, there is fun, like the kind of fun I mentioned above, and then there is the kind of “fun” I had in high school and college. You know the type, the kind of “fun” that has you chin deep into toilet water after a “night out with friends” or the type of fun that has your pillow tear stained because you thought he was the one, so you gave him EVERYTHING and to your surprise, he never called since. You see, there is fun and then there is “fun”. And the kind of fun that comes with Him, leaves us to feel like strangers on this earth. But there is something in us that longs for Him.
There is something that is consumed by Him and His word that leaves us just aching for Him. We will give it all up, we would walk away from the “fun” and run towards Him, just to satisfy the ache we have inside.
You see, the one who came to die for you and me, the one who saved us from all the “fun” we could ever get ourselves into and the one who loves us more than the birds of the sky, is HIM. The very ONE that rebukes the arrogant, the ONE who will remove the scorn and shame that comes from nights and morning making nice with toilet water. He is the ONE that when everyone else walks out, He stretches out his hands and says “Finally, my beloved, you and I get some alone time.” He is the very ONE that will whisper TURTH in our ears when rulers and high powered people slander.
His Word, His Statues, His Law, His Teachings, are our delight. They are our delight because they are pieces of Him. The very One we cannot get enough of. And that is why these 8 verses mean everything to me, a stranger on this earth, longing for just a moments with the very ONE whom I love the most.
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