Showing posts with label Psalm 119. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Psalm 119. Show all posts
Monday, July 29, 2024
Psalm Meditation 1259
¶Proper 19
¶August 4, 2024
¶Psalm 119:1-16
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm+119&version=NRSVUE
(NRSVUE)
¶Psalm 119 has 176 verses, eight for each letter of the Hebrew alphabet, in celebration of the law of God. Allons y.
¶People have made, and continue to make some pretty stupid laws. It seems that whenever someone in authority is offended, troubled, hurt by anything there is a push to make a law that will keep that from happening. Sometimes, in a effort to protect God from someone else’s foolishness, we pass a law against that as well. Banning and burning books that someone finds offensive or heretical has a long and silly history, as if banning or burning a book will do anything other than pique the curiosity of folks who would have otherwise not heard of the book.
¶The psalmist wants to remind us that the laws of God are praiseworthy rather than silly. Granted, we have made some amendments and addenda that seem good at the time while changing God’s original intent for us. The intent of God’s law if to teach us the importance of loving each other, caring for each other, and protecting and providing for those who lack the resources to protect and provide for themselves. Rules that allow us to oppress another are not from God.
¶God wants us to work together, to depend on each other, and to share in the bounty that this world provides for us. If it were easy, there would be no need to make a law, it would flow in and out of our lives like water through a sieve. Learning and following God’s law is not easy since we are so used to doing things our own selfish way. However, the psalmist spends 176 verses to remind us that it is worth the effort to act with the love, grace, mercy, and providence that we have so richly received from God.
¶July 29, 2024
¶LCM
Monday, May 17, 2021
Psalm Meditation 1092
Pentecost
May 23, 2021
Psalm 119:129-144
129 Your decrees are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them.
130 The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.
131 With open mouth I pant, because I long for your commandments.
132 Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is your custom toward those who love your name.
133 Keep my steps steady according to your promise, and never let iniquity have dominion over me.
134 Redeem me from human oppression, that I may keep your precepts.
135 Make your face shine upon your servant, and teach me your statutes.
136 My eyes shed streams of tears because your law is not kept.
137 You are righteous, O Lord, and your judgments are right.
138 You have appointed your decrees in righteousness and in all faithfulness.
139 My zeal consumes me because my foes forget your words.
140 Your promise is well tried, and your servant loves it.
141 I am small and despised, yet I do not forget your precepts.
142 Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and your law is the truth.
143 Trouble and anguish have come upon me, but your commandments are my delight.
144 Your decrees are righteous forever; give me understanding that I may live.
(NRSV)
Write each letter of the alphabet eight times down a column. Using those letters as a guide, write a celebration of the law of God for each letter you have written. If you feel especially creative, write it as a poem. This is the outline of Psalm 119. There are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet which means there are 176 verses of the psalm. With the 26 letters of the English alphabet there would be 208 verses. Some groupings would be more difficult than others.
The important part is celebrating God’s law. Many of us think that the law is for everyone else and that it is more a suggestion for us. We have extenuating circumstances that require us to push past any law from time to time in order to meet our need of the moment. Celebrating the law of God is a good exercise. It reminds us that law is not oppressive. At its best, as well as our best, the law of God is permission giving. ‘Here is the outside limit, other than that you are free to do what seems good to you.’
“Be on your best behavior; be home by midnight.” As long as we follow these simple rules we are free to have an enjoyable evening. If we find a way to justify skirting one of the rules there will be consequences. The consequence may be as simple as losing a privilege or as devastating as contributing to a lasting injury for ourselves or another. God is not an ogre, making rules for the sake of having rules. God loves us and wants us to be safe, to keep others safe, and to be able to enjoy our life together. “The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.”
May 17, 2021
LCM lcrsmanifold@att.net
http://psalmmeditations.blogspot.com/
Monday, February 19, 2018
Psalm Meditation 923
Second Sunday in Lent
February 25, 2018
Psalm 119:17-32
17 Deal bountifully with your servant, so that I may live and observe your word.
18 Open my eyes, so that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.
19 I live as an alien in the land; do not hide your commandments from me.
20 My soul is consumed with longing for your ordinances at all times.
21 You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones, who wander from your commandments;
22 take away from me their scorn and contempt, for I have kept your decrees.
23 Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statutes.
24 Your decrees are my delight, they are my counselors.
25 My soul clings to the dust; revive me according to your word.
26 When I told of my ways, you answered me; teach me your statutes.
27 Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works.
28 My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.
29 Put false ways far from me; and graciously teach me your law.
30 I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your ordinances before me.
31 I cling to your decrees, O LORD; let me not be put to shame.
32 I run the way of your commandments, for you enlarge my understanding.
(NRSV)
This psalm has 176 verses, 8 for each letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The first word of each of those eight verses begins with the letter in the sequence. One through eight begin with the letter aleph, nine through sixteen begin beth. Because translation is an approximation of the original we lose that part of the psalm and wonder why Psalm 119 has to be so long and repetitive as it goes on and on about how great the law of God is. One of the problems is that somewhere in our history we decided that most laws are for other people and it is our privilege to pick and choose the ones we want. We also give ourselves the right to decide which laws apply to others, even if they don’t apply to us. A psalm celebrating the law of God gets troubling.
In childhood and youth we begin to look forward to being adults so that we can make our own rules and no one can tell us what to do. As adults we long for the days of youth and childhood when rules were simple and didn’t have the nuance of the rules we live with on a daily basis. I have asked, and heard others ask, can’t we just go back to the 10 Commandments instead of having pages and pages, books and books of laws in this country. We could do that until someone did something that pushed the limits of a particular commandment. We would make a rule to clarify the meaning of the original rule, we would need to put in some exceptions at a later date, add something else later and suddenly we would be back to pages and books of rules and laws.
This psalm may need all 176 verses to emphasize the point that rules and laws are a good thing, especially the rules and laws of God. When we get burdened by having to follow the intricacies of law, make the time to read this psalm. When we feel as if we are threading a needle with a piece of legal rope, make the time to read this psalm. When we get annoyed that some people seem to be above the law, make the time to read this psalm. When it appears that some folks bear the full weight of the law, make the time to read this psalm. Yes, those situations will still exist and we will want to do something to make the laws just and fair, by reading this psalm we can honor the rule of law with thanks to God for loving us enough to care what we do with ourselves and each other.
February 19, 2018
LCM
Second Sunday in Lent
February 25, 2018
Psalm 119:17-32
17 Deal bountifully with your servant, so that I may live and observe your word.
18 Open my eyes, so that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.
19 I live as an alien in the land; do not hide your commandments from me.
20 My soul is consumed with longing for your ordinances at all times.
21 You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones, who wander from your commandments;
22 take away from me their scorn and contempt, for I have kept your decrees.
23 Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statutes.
24 Your decrees are my delight, they are my counselors.
25 My soul clings to the dust; revive me according to your word.
26 When I told of my ways, you answered me; teach me your statutes.
27 Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works.
28 My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.
29 Put false ways far from me; and graciously teach me your law.
30 I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your ordinances before me.
31 I cling to your decrees, O LORD; let me not be put to shame.
32 I run the way of your commandments, for you enlarge my understanding.
(NRSV)
This psalm has 176 verses, 8 for each letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The first word of each of those eight verses begins with the letter in the sequence. One through eight begin with the letter aleph, nine through sixteen begin beth. Because translation is an approximation of the original we lose that part of the psalm and wonder why Psalm 119 has to be so long and repetitive as it goes on and on about how great the law of God is. One of the problems is that somewhere in our history we decided that most laws are for other people and it is our privilege to pick and choose the ones we want. We also give ourselves the right to decide which laws apply to others, even if they don’t apply to us. A psalm celebrating the law of God gets troubling.
In childhood and youth we begin to look forward to being adults so that we can make our own rules and no one can tell us what to do. As adults we long for the days of youth and childhood when rules were simple and didn’t have the nuance of the rules we live with on a daily basis. I have asked, and heard others ask, can’t we just go back to the 10 Commandments instead of having pages and pages, books and books of laws in this country. We could do that until someone did something that pushed the limits of a particular commandment. We would make a rule to clarify the meaning of the original rule, we would need to put in some exceptions at a later date, add something else later and suddenly we would be back to pages and books of rules and laws.
This psalm may need all 176 verses to emphasize the point that rules and laws are a good thing, especially the rules and laws of God. When we get burdened by having to follow the intricacies of law, make the time to read this psalm. When we feel as if we are threading a needle with a piece of legal rope, make the time to read this psalm. When we get annoyed that some people seem to be above the law, make the time to read this psalm. When it appears that some folks bear the full weight of the law, make the time to read this psalm. Yes, those situations will still exist and we will want to do something to make the laws just and fair, by reading this psalm we can honor the rule of law with thanks to God for loving us enough to care what we do with ourselves and each other.
February 19, 2018
LCM
Monday, August 24, 2015
Psalm Meditation 793
Fourteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
August 30, 2015
Psalm 119:153-176
153 Look on my misery and rescue me, for I do not forget your law.
154 Plead my cause and redeem me; give me life according to your promise.
155 Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek your statutes.
156 Great is your mercy, O LORD; give me life according to your justice.
157 Many are my persecutors and my adversaries, yet I do not swerve from your decrees.
158 I look at the faithless with disgust, because they do not keep your commands.
159 Consider how I love your precepts; preserve my life according to your steadfast love.
160 The sum of your word is truth; and every one of your righteous ordinances endures forever.
161 Princes persecute me without cause, but my heart stands in awe of your words.
162 I rejoice at your word like one who finds great spoil.
163 I hate and abhor falsehood, but I love your law.
164 Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous ordinances.
165 Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.
166 I hope for your salvation, O LORD, and I fulfill your commandments.
167 My soul keeps your decrees; I love them exceedingly.
168 I keep your precepts and decrees, for all my ways are before you.
169 Let my cry come before you, O LORD; give me understanding according to your word.
170 Let my supplication come before you; deliver me according to your promise.
171 My lips will pour forth praise, because you teach me your statutes.
172 My tongue will sing of your promise, for all your commandments are right.
173 Let your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts.
174 I long for your salvation, O LORD, and your law is my delight.
175 Let me live that I may praise you, and let your ordinances help me.
176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek out your servant, for I do not forget your commandments.
(NRSV)
In junior high gym class we played a game our teacher called Texas basketball. It was supposed to be extra fun because there were no rules. The class was divided into two groups and everybody played at once. Even in this free for all atmosphere we still had rules to follow. A basket only counted for a team if it went into the basket at the proper end of the court, a basket only counted one point and we all had to stay on the court while the game was in progress.
This psalm is a celebration of the rules, of the laws and precepts of God. In each set of eight verses the first word of each line begins with the same letter of the Hebrew alphabet. These verses are the last three sets of eight. It may seem extravagant to spend so much effort and energy to celebrate something that so many of us spend so much time trying to get around. This may be the point of the psalm. Even though the rules drive us nuts sometimes it is important to have them. Much as we complain about them we like to know that we have limits and boundaries in our lives.
God’s rules are about how we get along with each other and with God. The rules are about our relationships. We can treat each other with respect and dignity or we can be selfish and unruly. God recommends that we treat each other as people of sacred worth, people loved by God, people who are bound to us in a variety of ways including faithfulness to the laws and precepts of God.
August 24, 2015
LCM
Fourteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
August 30, 2015
Psalm 119:153-176
153 Look on my misery and rescue me, for I do not forget your law.
154 Plead my cause and redeem me; give me life according to your promise.
155 Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek your statutes.
156 Great is your mercy, O LORD; give me life according to your justice.
157 Many are my persecutors and my adversaries, yet I do not swerve from your decrees.
158 I look at the faithless with disgust, because they do not keep your commands.
159 Consider how I love your precepts; preserve my life according to your steadfast love.
160 The sum of your word is truth; and every one of your righteous ordinances endures forever.
161 Princes persecute me without cause, but my heart stands in awe of your words.
162 I rejoice at your word like one who finds great spoil.
163 I hate and abhor falsehood, but I love your law.
164 Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous ordinances.
165 Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.
166 I hope for your salvation, O LORD, and I fulfill your commandments.
167 My soul keeps your decrees; I love them exceedingly.
168 I keep your precepts and decrees, for all my ways are before you.
169 Let my cry come before you, O LORD; give me understanding according to your word.
170 Let my supplication come before you; deliver me according to your promise.
171 My lips will pour forth praise, because you teach me your statutes.
172 My tongue will sing of your promise, for all your commandments are right.
173 Let your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts.
174 I long for your salvation, O LORD, and your law is my delight.
175 Let me live that I may praise you, and let your ordinances help me.
176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek out your servant, for I do not forget your commandments.
(NRSV)
In junior high gym class we played a game our teacher called Texas basketball. It was supposed to be extra fun because there were no rules. The class was divided into two groups and everybody played at once. Even in this free for all atmosphere we still had rules to follow. A basket only counted for a team if it went into the basket at the proper end of the court, a basket only counted one point and we all had to stay on the court while the game was in progress.
This psalm is a celebration of the rules, of the laws and precepts of God. In each set of eight verses the first word of each line begins with the same letter of the Hebrew alphabet. These verses are the last three sets of eight. It may seem extravagant to spend so much effort and energy to celebrate something that so many of us spend so much time trying to get around. This may be the point of the psalm. Even though the rules drive us nuts sometimes it is important to have them. Much as we complain about them we like to know that we have limits and boundaries in our lives.
God’s rules are about how we get along with each other and with God. The rules are about our relationships. We can treat each other with respect and dignity or we can be selfish and unruly. God recommends that we treat each other as people of sacred worth, people loved by God, people who are bound to us in a variety of ways including faithfulness to the laws and precepts of God.
August 24, 2015
LCM
Monday, May 20, 2013
Psalm Meditation 675
Trinity Sunday
May 26, 2013
Psalm 119:81-96
81 My soul languishes for your salvation;
I hope in your word.
82 My eyes fail with watching for your promise;
I ask, “When will you comfort me?”
83 For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke,
yet I have not forgotten your statutes.
84 How long must your servant endure?
When will you judge those who persecute me?
85 The arrogant have dug pitfalls for me;
they flout your law.
86 All your commandments are enduring;
I am persecuted without cause; help me!
87 They have almost made an end of me on earth;
but I have not forsaken your precepts.
88 In your steadfast love spare my life,
so that I may keep the decrees of your mouth.
89 The LORD exists forever;
your word is firmly fixed in heaven.
90 Your faithfulness endures to all generations;
you have established the earth, and it stands fast.
91 By your appointment they stand today,
for all things are your servants.
92 If your law had not been my delight,
I would have perished in my misery.
93 I will never forget your precepts,
for by them you have given me life.
94 I am yours; save me,
for I have sought your precepts.
95 The wicked lie in wait to destroy me,
but I consider your decrees.
96 I have seen a limit to all perfection,
but your commandment is exceedingly broad.
(NRSV)
This psalm is 176 verses long and is divided into 22 sets of eight verses, a set for each letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The psalm is a celebration of the laws and precepts of God which are life giving and life saving.
Imagine life with no laws, not simply anarchy but a world in which nothing is dependable; no cause and effect, no sense of order and no assurance that what happens in one instance will happen in a similar instance. It would be beyond chaos and randomness. It is possible that this is the void into which God spoke the first word of creation. By speaking that first word, ‘let there be light,’ an order was given to what became the universe. With each successive word of creation more order and definition was given to the void. And while we are guilty of over-ordering our sphere of influence with rules that benefit the rule makers, it is beyond our ability to imagine a place in which no rules of any kind would apply.
The psalmist celebrates that even when the rules have been broken and no longer seem to apply to some people, the laws and precepts of God stand. In the midst of chaos and randomness it is good to know that there is something dependable within our grasp. For the psalmist it is the laws and precepts of God which are kept in heaven where folks who break and bend laws cannot touch them. Those who relish the presence of God can use God’s laws as a touchstone, a place of safety and comfort.
The psalmist reminds us that the presence of God offers us a point of dependability in the midst of any uncertainty. The laws and precepts of God give us hope in the face of all that comes our way.
May 20, 2013
LCM
Trinity Sunday
May 26, 2013
Psalm 119:81-96
81 My soul languishes for your salvation;
I hope in your word.
82 My eyes fail with watching for your promise;
I ask, “When will you comfort me?”
83 For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke,
yet I have not forgotten your statutes.
84 How long must your servant endure?
When will you judge those who persecute me?
85 The arrogant have dug pitfalls for me;
they flout your law.
86 All your commandments are enduring;
I am persecuted without cause; help me!
87 They have almost made an end of me on earth;
but I have not forsaken your precepts.
88 In your steadfast love spare my life,
so that I may keep the decrees of your mouth.
89 The LORD exists forever;
your word is firmly fixed in heaven.
90 Your faithfulness endures to all generations;
you have established the earth, and it stands fast.
91 By your appointment they stand today,
for all things are your servants.
92 If your law had not been my delight,
I would have perished in my misery.
93 I will never forget your precepts,
for by them you have given me life.
94 I am yours; save me,
for I have sought your precepts.
95 The wicked lie in wait to destroy me,
but I consider your decrees.
96 I have seen a limit to all perfection,
but your commandment is exceedingly broad.
(NRSV)
This psalm is 176 verses long and is divided into 22 sets of eight verses, a set for each letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The psalm is a celebration of the laws and precepts of God which are life giving and life saving.
Imagine life with no laws, not simply anarchy but a world in which nothing is dependable; no cause and effect, no sense of order and no assurance that what happens in one instance will happen in a similar instance. It would be beyond chaos and randomness. It is possible that this is the void into which God spoke the first word of creation. By speaking that first word, ‘let there be light,’ an order was given to what became the universe. With each successive word of creation more order and definition was given to the void. And while we are guilty of over-ordering our sphere of influence with rules that benefit the rule makers, it is beyond our ability to imagine a place in which no rules of any kind would apply.
The psalmist celebrates that even when the rules have been broken and no longer seem to apply to some people, the laws and precepts of God stand. In the midst of chaos and randomness it is good to know that there is something dependable within our grasp. For the psalmist it is the laws and precepts of God which are kept in heaven where folks who break and bend laws cannot touch them. Those who relish the presence of God can use God’s laws as a touchstone, a place of safety and comfort.
The psalmist reminds us that the presence of God offers us a point of dependability in the midst of any uncertainty. The laws and precepts of God give us hope in the face of all that comes our way.
May 20, 2013
LCM
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)