GIMEL
17 Deal bountifully with your servant,
that I may live and keep your word.
18 Open my eyes, that I may behold
wondrous things out of your law.
19 I am a sojourner on the earth;
hide not your commandments from me!
20 My soul is consumed with longing
for your rules at all times.
21 You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones,
who wander from your commandments.
22Take away from me scorn and contempt,
for I have kept your testimonies.
23 Even though princes sit plotting against me,
your servant will meditate on your statutes.
24 Your testimonies are my delight;
they are my counselors.
17 Deal bountifully with your servant,
that I may live and keep your word.
18 Open my eyes, that I may behold
wondrous things out of your law.
19 I am a sojourner on the earth;
hide not your commandments from me!
20 My soul is consumed with longing
for your rules at all times.
21 You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones,
who wander from your commandments.
22Take away from me scorn and contempt,
for I have kept your testimonies.
23 Even though princes sit plotting against me,
your servant will meditate on your statutes.
24 Your testimonies are my delight;
they are my counselors.
Psalm 119 is in book five of the Psalms (as seen in the chart above) and represents God's giving His good Word or Law to His people at Mount Sinai. This is why this Psalm and grouping of Psalms fits very well in the liturgical calendar right now. It is a retelling of God's great and wondrous deeds for His people and for His glory around the time of the Exodus.
See which of these words you can find in GIMEL
law
commandments
statutes
rules
testimonies
precepts
word
ways
By now you know that I believe nothing is done by accident in Scripture in any way, including literary devices and grammatical details. This Psalm was crafted so carefully and skillfully under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The Hebrew letter, gimel, is the heading for this section and is pictured as a man in motion (a benefactor) running towards the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet, dal, which means weak and signifies someone in need. This is just another visual example of the Gospel being in the smallest of things in Scripture: of God reminding His people visually that He is running to them - the weak and the helpless. He is the Great Benefactor by giving us the Word, His Son, Jesus.
The Psalmist finds the law, not as squelching life, but as his life source. He understands that the Law isn't here to "cramp his style ... but to stretch his vision" (Wilcock p.196)
We cannot see the Law for what it is, however, unless our eyes are first opened. This reminds me of the story of Jesus giving sight to the blind man in Mark. Jesus was using the blind man to open the spiritual eyes of His disciples. The disciples could try to see and understand, but they could not until Jesus, the Fulfiller of the Law, opened their eyes.
Verses 19-20 uses an interesting word, sojourner. The Psalmist recognizes that he isn't in Egypt, the exodus, or exile, but he is a stranger or alien on this earth. We too are only aliens here on this earth and need constant reminding of this fact! We become so comfortable in our house, our town, our country, but we don't belong here. We of course obey the laws of whatever country God has placed us in, but the Psalmist is crying out for God's guidebook and law so he can live according to God's kingdom in God's world because God is the true King!
The problem is that he is finding that even though this is God's world, there are so many who do NOT live as though God is king. He sees the arrogant and the cursed (who scorn and have contempt for God's Word). This can be so scary! Verses 23-24 remind us that all around and near us are people who reject God and His Law. This is why the poet has great resolve to meditate, turn to, and delight in the Law.
The hymn writer accurately states: "This is my Father's world. O let me ne'er forget that though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet. This is my Father's world. The battle is not done. Jesus who died shall be satisfied and earth and heaven be won."
The poet knew of the Promised King that was to come. He understood that the only way to remember the promises of God and believe them is to be in the Word.
We have seen a layer that this Psalmist never saw in his life. We are also surrounded by a world of God rejectors, but we know that Jesus came. He would change everything. He, the very Word of God, was plotted against, scorned, despised, and rejected. And yet, He came - He came to open our eyes that we would behold wondrous things - we would see the Law followed perfectly, we would see the prophecies fulfilled, and we would see Jesus literally open eyes and empty graves. So, in a world of God-rejectors, look to the Word, Jesus for life and hope. Remember that but for the grace of God, we would all still be God-rejectors. Because of Jesus, we can delight in His salvation.
The Psalmist finds the law, not as squelching life, but as his life source. He understands that the Law isn't here to "cramp his style ... but to stretch his vision" (Wilcock p.196)
We cannot see the Law for what it is, however, unless our eyes are first opened. This reminds me of the story of Jesus giving sight to the blind man in Mark. Jesus was using the blind man to open the spiritual eyes of His disciples. The disciples could try to see and understand, but they could not until Jesus, the Fulfiller of the Law, opened their eyes.
Verses 19-20 uses an interesting word, sojourner. The Psalmist recognizes that he isn't in Egypt, the exodus, or exile, but he is a stranger or alien on this earth. We too are only aliens here on this earth and need constant reminding of this fact! We become so comfortable in our house, our town, our country, but we don't belong here. We of course obey the laws of whatever country God has placed us in, but the Psalmist is crying out for God's guidebook and law so he can live according to God's kingdom in God's world because God is the true King!
The problem is that he is finding that even though this is God's world, there are so many who do NOT live as though God is king. He sees the arrogant and the cursed (who scorn and have contempt for God's Word). This can be so scary! Verses 23-24 remind us that all around and near us are people who reject God and His Law. This is why the poet has great resolve to meditate, turn to, and delight in the Law.
The hymn writer accurately states: "This is my Father's world. O let me ne'er forget that though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet. This is my Father's world. The battle is not done. Jesus who died shall be satisfied and earth and heaven be won."
The poet knew of the Promised King that was to come. He understood that the only way to remember the promises of God and believe them is to be in the Word.
We have seen a layer that this Psalmist never saw in his life. We are also surrounded by a world of God rejectors, but we know that Jesus came. He would change everything. He, the very Word of God, was plotted against, scorned, despised, and rejected. And yet, He came - He came to open our eyes that we would behold wondrous things - we would see the Law followed perfectly, we would see the prophecies fulfilled, and we would see Jesus literally open eyes and empty graves. So, in a world of God-rejectors, look to the Word, Jesus for life and hope. Remember that but for the grace of God, we would all still be God-rejectors. Because of Jesus, we can delight in His salvation.
Tips, Tricks and Songs
- Google Psalms coloring pages. (Pinterest would also be helpful). I am going to have a piece of art or something for my children to color for each Psalm. This will use another sense to help them remember, and it will also help Scripture to be tangible for them
- If you are the artistic sort (I envy you), try drawing each Psalm or writing it out in calligraphy to help you remember and understand it
- If you have young children, sing songs over the next few weeks that talk about God's Word: The B-I-B-L-E, The Bible is a Treasure Book, Holy Bible Book Divine, etc.
- hymnary.org will be your friend. Search for Psalm 119, and you will find Watts' texts helpful. O Word of God Incarnate is also on there and one of my favorites.
- Consider buying The Book of Psalms for Worship. I believe you can purchase a version that is downloadable for an iPad - this just helps get the words/emphasis of the Psalm in your brain using music. This will help you retain and internalize the meaning better even though you aren't quoting the words exactly from Scripture. There is a song for each section of Psalm 119 in this book. Also, look here for songs specific for each stanza
- Use technology to help you memorize (if that does help you) - I am using the Bible memory app and have a group Committed to 150. This app sets up review and uses different ways to help you remember the verses. I am still figuring it out, because I tend to just memorize as I work on it with the children. This is a good way to keep track of what you have done and to set up review.
- I have made a chart for our wall (it will be there for a few years) and we are marking off the Psalms as we go.
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