September 11thPsalm 119
The Truly Happy
Those who way is blameless –
who walk in the Lord’s instruction – are truly happy! Those who guard God’s laws are truly happy!
They seek God with all their hearts. [119.1-2]
Here is the theme for this lengthy psalm. To be ‘blameless’ does not mean sinless, but rather indicates complete devotion to God’s way. The way of true happiness is to entrust one’s life to God.
Three verbs dominate the first two lines: ‘walk, keep watch or guard, and search.’ The reader is to be diligent in obedience.
Psalm 119 is a wisdom psalm, instructing readers in the laws of God, but more inviting the reader/pupil to love and diligently follow their way. I do not intend to do an exhaustive line by line take on the psalm but will offer three blogs on it: This week an overview of its creative, artistic, and powerful teaching, followed by two blogs reflecting on other parts of the psalm.
Psalm 119 is impressive and imposing, perhaps even intimidating. Scholar Leslie Allen aptly calls it ‘a literary monument raised in honour of YHWH’s revelation to Israel.’
It is designed with great artistry. The psalm consists of 22 sections, each section having eight verses and each beginning with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet and each line in the sequence begins with that letter. So, for instance, vs. 1-8 are aleph and each line begins with aleph . . . and so on to tav, the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
Eight Hebrew terms designate God’s revelation. The first and most frequently used is Torah or instruction (25 times). The other terms are: decrees/statutes, precepts, commandments, ordinances, laws, word, promise. With the exception of vs.3,37,90, and 122, every line in Psalm 119 contains one of these eight words.
To read this psalm in one sitting is overwhelming, and this is what the poet intended. The importance of God’s instruction is overwhelming. It applies to everything at every moment, and apart from it there is nothing worthy to be called life. Hebrew scholar, Jon Levenson suggests that the repetition is intended to create a psychological (spiritual) condition – the proper state of mind and heart – which is conducive to concentration upon God and thus openness to God’s revelation.
As you read this psalm, I invite you to keep the following truths in mind:
- The laws in the OT are not random taboos designed to keep you from enjoying life. Rather, they were given to help you live a truly human life.
- Adhering to God’s laws is the way of blessing; things will go well in your life. You can expect God to be with you and not abandon you. Conversely, not following these laws will be destructive of a good life.
- Sometimes adhering to God’s laws will bring hardship and even persecution.
- God’s laws are a pleasure, a delight, a joy. You give your whole energy to getting your mind around them and then to living them. And there is always more to learn.
TORAH = does not merely mean rules or laws; it means ‘teaching,’ that is, teaching that has come from the Living God. When the pupil receives such teaching he or she receives a revelation of what is in the mind of his Teacher. So Torah is both teaching and revelation.
But even more, Torah is a word taken from archery.
It means to aim'. Torah is about direction ... about the way a person or a people is headed. The Torah of God is about the direction that God intends for the earth and its people.
You’re blessed when you stay on course,
walking steadily on the road revealed by God.
You’re blessed when you follow God’s directions,
doing your best to find Him.
That’s right—you don’t go off on your own;
you walk straight along the road God set.
You, God, prescribed the right way to live;
now you expect us to live it.
Oh, that my steps might be steady,
keeping to the course You set;
Then I’d never have any regrets . . . [The Message]