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FRAMEWORKS: Psalms

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FRAMEWORKS: Psa 119: The Law of God: Part 2

      

PART THREE: Stanzas 15 to 22: verses 113 to 176

   

  

PART TWO: Stanzas 8 to 14: verses 57 to 112

 

8. v.57-64 Lord, I will stick with your word, your will

9. v.65-72 Teach me more for I have learned its value through suffering

10. v.73-80 Lord, teach me more your wonderful word, revealing us all

11. v.81-88 Lord, preserve me in the face of persecution

12. v.89-96 I am determined to stand true against opposition

13. v.97-104 The wonder of God's word that teaches and guides

14. 105-112 Lord, even though I suffer for it, I'll keep your word

     

 

[Note: This second part becomes a combination of reflections on God's word and the psalmist's need of the Lord's help in understanding, and then increasingly references to the opposition he experiences – v.61,67,69-71,78,84-86,95,107 & 110.]

 

 

[8] Heth [Lord, I will stick with your word, your will]

 

v.57-59 He has set his path on the word of the Lord

  

v.57  You are my portion [or inheritance], Lord;
     I have promised to obey your words.
v.58  I have sought your face with all my heart;
     be gracious to me according to your promise.
v.59  I have considered my ways
     and have turned my steps to your statutes.
    

v.60,61 He determines to hold onto and obey the Lord's word

  

v.60  I will hasten and not delay
     to obey your commands.
v.61  Though the wicked bind me with ropes,
     I will not forget your law.
    

v.62 Whenever the situation calls for it, he will adhere to the Lord's word

   

v.62  At midnight I rise to give you thanks
     for your righteous laws.
[judgments]
v.63  I am a friend to all who fear you,
     to all who follow your precepts.
v.64  The earth is filled with your love, Lord;
     teach me your decrees.

 

[Additional Comments: The Law requires personal responses of us, see in v.57-59, the greatest of which is to determine to hold to the will of God [v.60-61]. Thus the law is before him even in the wakefulness of the middle of the night [v.62], in unity with other believers [v.63] and generally in response to His love [v.64]. A stanza of personal affirmation and commitment to the word, the law, the will of God.]

 

 

[9] Teth [Teach me more for I have learned its value through suffering]

 

v.65,66 He calls on the Lord to bless him through teaching

  

v.65  Do good to your servant
     according to your word, Lord.
v.66   Teach me knowledge and good judgment,
     for I trust your commands.
    

v.67,68 Past transgressions are gone, now he is obedient and teachable

  

v.67  Before I was afflicted I went astray,
     but now I obey your word.
v.68  You are good, and what you do is good;
     teach me your decrees.
    

v.69,70 The wicked are arrogant, lying unbelievers, but he holds to God's will

  

v.69  Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies,
     I keep your precepts with all my heart.
v.70  Their hearts are callous and unfeeling,
     but I delight in your law.
    

v.71,72 He had learned through suffering to endure in God's precious word

 

v.71  It was good for me to be afflicted
     so that I might learn your decrees.
v.72  The law from your mouth is more precious to me
     than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.

 

[Additional Comments: The psalmist starts this stanza with a request for the Lord's goodness to be expressed towards him in the form of teaching [v.65,66] but then looks back and sees his past state of affliction in disobedience, which he rejects in order to receive the blessing of God's will through His word [v.67,68]. Yes, he is opposed but he will cling to God's wonderful word [v.69,70]. The ‘suffering' he had experienced taught him the value of God's precious word [v.71,72] A stanza where the value of God's word comes through experiences.]

 

 

[10] Yodh [Lord, teach me more your wonderful word, revealing us all]

 

v.73,74 The psalmist needs God, who is both creator & lawgiver, to teach him

  

v.73  Your hands made me and formed me;
     give me understanding to learn your commands.
v.74  May those who fear you rejoice when they see me,
     for I have put my hope in your word.
    

v.75-77 The values that accompany God's word

 

v.75  I know, Lord , that your laws are righteous,
     and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
v.76  May your unfailing love be my comfort,
     according to your promise to your servant.
v.77  Let your compassion come to me that I may live,
     for your law is my delight.
     

v.78-80 Desired Outcomes

 

v.78  May the arrogant be put to shame for wronging me without cause;
     but I will meditate on your precepts.
v.79  May those who fear you turn to me,
     those who understand your statutes.
v.80  May I wholeheartedly follow your decrees,
     that I may not be put to shame.

 

[Additional Comments: God the creator is the originator of all law [v.73,74] that is seen as righteousness & demonstrates God's faithfulness [v.75] and unfailing love seen in His promises [v.76], that also reveals His compassion [v.77]. His response is a desire for unbelievers to be shown up [v.78], and those who obey God's law be united with him [v.79], finalized by a desire for his own obedience to reveal his righteousness [v.80]. A stanza for desires for greater understanding as he sees the wonder of God's laws, and desires for them to reveal the world for what it is, and himself as an obedient follower.]

 

 

[11] Kaph [Lord, preserve me in the face of persecution]

 

v.81-83 The psalmist feels weak and down

   

v.81  My soul faints with longing for your salvation,
     but I have put my hope in your word.
v.82  My eyes fail, looking for your promise;
     I say, ‘When will you comfort me?'
v.83  Though I am like a wineskin in the smoke, [shrivelled & spoilt?]
     I do not forget your decrees.
    

v.84-86 The cause of his feelings - persecution

  

v.84  How long must your servant wait?
     When will you punish my
persecutors?
v.85  The arrogant dig pits to trap me,
     contrary to your law.
v.86  All your commands are trustworthy;
     help me, for I am being
persecuted without cause.
    

v.87,88 God's love helps him cling on to his faith & obedience

   

v.87  They almost wiped me from the earth,
     but I have not forsaken your precepts.
v.88  In your unfailing love preserve my life,
     that I may obey the statutes of your mouth.

 

[Additional Comments: The psalmist has been receiving opposition and feels demoralized by it, but with the help of God's love he maintains obedience to God's word.]

 

 

[12] Lamedh [I am determined to stand true against opposition]

 

v.89-91 God's word & His faithfulness go on and on and on

  

v.89  Your word, Lord, is eternal;
     it stands firm in the heavens.
v.90  Your faithfulness continues through all generations;
     you established the earth, and it endures.
v.91  Your laws endure to this day,
     for all things serve you.
     

v.92,93 It has been His word that has preserved him

 

v.92  If your law had not been my delight,
     I would have perished in my affliction.
v.93  I will never forget your precepts,
     for by them you have preserved my life.
     

v.94-96 A cry for the Lord to save him against the coming adversaries

  

v.94  Save me, for I am yours;
     I have sought out your precepts.
v.95   The wicked are waiting to destroy me,
     but I will ponder your statutes.
v.96  To all perfection I see a limit,
     but your commands are boundless.

 

[Additional Comments: He is still aware of opposition [v.95] in the form of destroyers and so he trusts implicitly in God's faithfulness and His word.]

 

 

[13] Mem [The wonder of God's word that teaches and guides]

 

v.97 He affirms his love for God's law

    

v.97  Oh, how I love your law!
     I meditate on it all day long.
     

v.98-100 The effect of the knowledge of the Law is to elevate him above others

  

v.98  Your commands are always with me
     and make me wiser than my enemies.

v.99  I have more insight than all my teachers,
     for I meditate on your statutes.
v.100  I have more understanding than the elders,
     for I obey your precepts.
    

v.101,102 He has maintained righteousness & obedience to God's law

  

v.101  I have kept my feet from every evil path
     so that I might obey your word.
v.102  I have not departed from your laws,
     for you yourself have taught me.
    

v.103,104 He savors God's every word that teach and guide him rightly

   

v.103  How sweet are your words to my taste,
     sweeter than honey to my mouth!
v.104  I gain understanding from your precepts;
     therefore I hate every wrong path.

   

[Additional Comments: His focus is on the wonder of the Law on which he meditates [v.97] every day, that has brought him wisdom, insight & understanding more than others [v.98-100]. He has avoided evil by obedience to what he has been taught [v.101,102] and those words have been like a sweet taste in his mouth giving him more and more understanding to walk the right path [v.103,104] A stanza that thrills in God's word.]

 

 

[14] Nun [Lord, even though I suffer for it, I'll keep your word]

 

v.105 God's word shows him the way through life

 

v.105  Your word is a lamp for my feet,
     a light on my path.
    

v.106.107 I've promised to stick with your will, preserve me when I suffer

  

v.106  I have taken an oath and confirmed it,
     that I will follow your righteous laws.
v.107  I have suffered much;
     preserve my life, Lord , according to your word.
    

v.108,109 Let me praise you as you teach me, even under threat I'll hold to your will

  

v.108  Accept, Lord, the willing praise of my mouth,
     and teach me your laws.
v.109  Though I constantly take my life in my hands,
     I will not forget your law.
     

v.110 Although the wicked try to trap me, I have held to your word

  

v.110  The wicked have set a snare for me,
     but I have not strayed from your precepts.
    

v.111,112 I'm going to hold to these laws throughout my life

   

v.111  Your statutes are my heritage for ever;
     they are the joy of my heart.
v.112  My heart is set on keeping your decrees
     to the very end.

 

[Additional Comments: God's word so clearly lights his path [v.105] that the psalmist has determined he will keep to God's word whatever comes for he's promised that [v.106] even if he is opposed [v.107,109,110]; they are such a joy to him [v.111] so he will hang onto Gods will to the end of his life [v.112]. Nothing is going to detract from God's will decreed in God's word.]

  

  

PART THREE: Stanzas 15 to 22: verses 113 to 176