FRAMEWORKS:
Psa 119: Introduction
[Preliminary
Comments: Because this is such a large psalm [with 176
verses] it needs quite an introduction.
Structure:
Various
of the psalms employ acrostics where each part starts with a letter
of the Hebrew Alphabet letter. In this one, each of the twenty-two
stanzas , each of eight verses, starts with the next letter
of the alphabet. Simply to help the reader, we have taken them
as three groups or Parts as follows:
Contents:
The three
Parts we have used are as follows:
PART
ONE: Stanzas 1 to 7: verses 1 to 56
PART
TWO: Stanzas 8 to 14: verses 57 to 112
PART
THREE: Stanzas 15 to 22: verses 113 to 176
CLICK
on the appropriate title to read it.
God's
Word:
This psalm is all about God's word and eight Hebrew words are
used to cover it and appear a large number of times in each stanza:
Law, Statute, Precept, Decree, Command, Judgment [law], Word,
and Promise. [There is some discrepancy between versions – we
are using the NIV – and we've indicated them in the first stanza
only.] But note from the outset God's word is also seen as His
will or His ‘ways'. Watch for the numbers of times the word ‘ways'
[or paths] occurs.
Word
Usage:
Because some of these words are not familiar to many we suggest
the following:
i)
Law (tora) – requirement seen as a direction, teaching, [&
esp.] instruction.
ii)
Statute – a clearly laid down law to define behaviour, seen as
legal authority.
iii)
Precept – general rule to regulate behaviour & thought.
iv)
Decree – an official order to fit specific situations.
v)
Command – divine requirement stated.
vi)
Judgment – a specific required outcome for a specific case or
situation.
vii)
Word – God's expressed will.
viii)
Promise – guaranteed assurance by God of an outcome.
Each
stanza has a number of these words but perhaps, for easy understanding,
it may be easier to just see them as colours of the same
‘rainbow' of ways that God's revealed will is shown.
We have added numbers before each stanza, simply to clarify for
the reader how far through the psalm they have got.
Finally
we have made the divisions & ‘headings' we have in the ways
the verses seem to group to us. There will obviously be other
perceptions, but we hope these will help.
Note:
In the text we will highlight the increasing number of references
to opposition that the psalmist faces by changing the verse text
to red.
Benefits:
It is
clear throughout that the psalmist finds great benefit in the
Lord's word in its many forms. The reader is encouraged to take
a notebook and itemize these are you go through.
PART
ONE: Stanzas 1 to 7: verses 1 to 56
PART
TWO: Stanzas 8 to 14: verses 57 to 112
PART
THREE: Stanzas 15 to 22: verses 113 to 176