In the Beginning – God!
In the beginning, God created
the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the
last, the beginning and the end.” Revelation
22:13.
the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the
last, the beginning and the end.” Revelation
22:13.
The longest chapter and the longest
Psalm in the Bible, containing 176 verses is 119. This Psalm
contains twenty-two verses of an acrostic poem divided by Hebrew letters,
each with eight lines each.
Psalm in the Bible, containing 176 verses is 119. This Psalm
contains twenty-two verses of an acrostic poem divided by Hebrew letters,
each with eight lines each.
I read the entire Psalm and found words
like law (Torah) and commandments tied to joy. During my teen years, rules and
commandments did not seem to go together.
like law (Torah) and commandments tied to joy. During my teen years, rules and
commandments did not seem to go together.
I
read the second and third verses. “Blessed are those who keep His
testimonies, who seek Him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong, but
walk in his ways.” And now I understand the joy of obedience holding hands
with steadfastness.
read the second and third verses. “Blessed are those who keep His
testimonies, who seek Him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong, but
walk in his ways.” And now I understand the joy of obedience holding hands
with steadfastness.
God’s love and forgiveness continue to
draw me close to Him through the years. I recall the spring afternoon
Mother asked me to plant green onion plants. Although that was not my
favorite thing to do, I found myself on my knees and plunging the seedling
onion into the ground, pulling the dirt around the roots. The neighbor boy came
by and watched me for a time, not saying a word. Finally, his comment seemed to
echo my heart, “You just keep on keeping on!” Our God ‘keeps on keeping
on’ in His Creation.
draw me close to Him through the years. I recall the spring afternoon
Mother asked me to plant green onion plants. Although that was not my
favorite thing to do, I found myself on my knees and plunging the seedling
onion into the ground, pulling the dirt around the roots. The neighbor boy came
by and watched me for a time, not saying a word. Finally, his comment seemed to
echo my heart, “You just keep on keeping on!” Our God ‘keeps on keeping
on’ in His Creation.
The sun rises and sets, the stars
shine. Seasons roll by and the years. We experience God’s character through
reading this Psalm. He is the God of order and precision.
shine. Seasons roll by and the years. We experience God’s character through
reading this Psalm. He is the God of order and precision.
How many ways can commandments and
joyous living be written? The Jewish people recited this poem as a song of
deliverance from sin and beginning another year, freed of sin.
joyous living be written? The Jewish people recited this poem as a song of
deliverance from sin and beginning another year, freed of sin.
I read and re-read these 176 verses in
several translations, and each one added more richness to the meaning of this
psalm. Each of the following is a Hebrew letter. I chose my favorite
verses from each of the eight verses. I thought about all the generations who
sang these truths from God’s own heart.
several translations, and each one added more richness to the meaning of this
psalm. Each of the following is a Hebrew letter. I chose my favorite
verses from each of the eight verses. I thought about all the generations who
sang these truths from God’s own heart.
Aleph. Blessed are those whose way is
blameless, who walk
in the law of the Lord! Vs.1
blameless, who walk
in the law of the Lord! Vs.1
Beth. I will delight in Your statutes; I will not forget Your Word. Vs. 16
Gimel. Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Your
law. I am a
sojourner on the earth; hide not Your
commandments from me! Vs. 18-19
law. I am a
sojourner on the earth; hide not Your
commandments from me! Vs. 18-19
Daleth. When I told of my ways, You answered
me; teach me Your
statutes! Make me understand the way of Your
precepts, and I will meditate on Your
wondrous works. Vs.
26-27
me; teach me Your
statutes! Make me understand the way of Your
precepts, and I will meditate on Your
wondrous works. Vs.
26-27
He.
Teach me, O Lord,
the way of Your statutes; and I will keep it to the end. Give me understanding, that I may keep Your law and observe it with my whole heart. Vs. 33-34
Teach me, O Lord,
the way of Your statutes; and I will keep it to the end. Give me understanding, that I may keep Your law and observe it with my whole heart. Vs. 33-34
Waw.
Let Your steadfast love come to me, O Lord, Your salvation according to your promise; then shall I have an answer for him who
taunts me, for I trust in Your word. Vs. 41-42
Let Your steadfast love come to me, O Lord, Your salvation according to your promise; then shall I have an answer for him who
taunts me, for I trust in Your word. Vs. 41-42
Zayin.
Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my sojourning.
Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my sojourning.
I remember Your name in the night, O Lord, and keep Your law. Vs. 54-55
Heth.
The Lord is
my portion; I promise to keep Your words. Vs. 57
The Lord is
my portion; I promise to keep Your words. Vs. 57
Teth.
It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes. Vs. 71
It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes. Vs. 71
Yodh.
Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn Your commandments. Vs. 73
Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn Your commandments. Vs. 73
Kaph.
My soul longs for your salvation; I hope in your word. Vs.
81
My soul longs for your salvation; I hope in your word. Vs.
81
Lamedh.
Forever, O Lord,
Your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. Your faithfulness endures to all generations; You have established the earth, and it stands fast. Vs. 89-90
Forever, O Lord,
Your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. Your faithfulness endures to all generations; You have established the earth, and it stands fast. Vs. 89-90
Mem.
How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Vs. 103
How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Vs. 103
Nun.
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Vs. 105
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Vs. 105
Samekh.
You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word. Vs.
114
You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word. Vs.
114
Ayin.
My eyes long for Your salvation and for the fulfillment of Your righteous promise. Vs. 123
My eyes long for Your salvation and for the fulfillment of Your righteous promise. Vs. 123
Pe.
My eyes long for Your salvation and for the fulfillment of Your righteous promise. Deal with Your servant according to your steadfast love and teach me Your statutes. Vs. 129-130
My eyes long for Your salvation and for the fulfillment of Your righteous promise. Deal with Your servant according to your steadfast love and teach me Your statutes. Vs. 129-130
Tsadhe.
Your testimonies are righteous forever; give me understanding
that I may live. Vs.144
Your testimonies are righteous forever; give me understanding
that I may live. Vs.144
Qoph.
My eyes are awake before the watches of the
night, that I may meditate on your
promise. Hear my voice according
to your steadfast love; O Lord, according to your
justice give me life. Vs. 148-149
My eyes are awake before the watches of the
night, that I may meditate on your
promise. Hear my voice according
to your steadfast love; O Lord, according to your
justice give me life. Vs. 148-149
Resh. The sum of Your word is the truth, and every one of Your righteous rules endures
forever. Vs.160
forever. Vs.160
Sin
and Shin. Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble. Vs. 165
and Shin. Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble. Vs. 165
Taw.
Let Your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen Your precepts. I long for Your salvation, O Lord, and Your law is my delight. Vs. 173-174.
Let Your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen Your precepts. I long for Your salvation, O Lord, and Your law is my delight. Vs. 173-174.
Could we write the meaning of our
personal salvation in the Lord God with the twenty-six letters of our
alphabet? Experiencing the delight and
wonder of God’s love comes through belonging to Him only. God delights in a
pure heart and a true faith.
personal salvation in the Lord God with the twenty-six letters of our
alphabet? Experiencing the delight and
wonder of God’s love comes through belonging to Him only. God delights in a
pure heart and a true faith.
The word delight is used eight times.
Psalm 37:3-4. Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and befriend
faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the
desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:3-4. Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and befriend
faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the
desires of your heart.
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In Psalm 119, Beth verses 14-16, I
find, In the way
of your testimonies I delight as much as
in all riches. I will meditate on Your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your Word.
find, In the way
of your testimonies I delight as much as
in all riches. I will meditate on Your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your Word.
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