Delightful Precepts

July 21, 2024 Background Scripture: Psalm 119:73 - 80 Lesson Passage: Psalm 119:73 - 80 Psalm 119 celebrates the Law of God in both a broad and narrow sense. In the broad sense, the Law of God refers to God's revelations that extended from Moses to the Old Testament prophets. In a narrow sense, the Law of God refers to God's presentation of the Ten Commandments to Moses. Psalm 119 refers to both. This psalm uses an artistic literal)' form known as an acrostic. Much can be appreciated about this Psalm from understanding its artistic form. Psalm 119 has twenty-two sections with each section corresponding to one of the twenty-two Hebrew alphabets. Each section contains eight verses. Each verse begins with the same Hebrew alphabet that pertains to its place in the alphabets. Our lesson focuses on the tenth Hebrew alphabet. In Hebrew, each verse of our Lesson Passage begins with the tenth Hebrew alphabet. The acrostic nature of Psalm 119 does not carry over when it is translated from Hebrew into English. Again, this psalm is a total celebration of the Law of God. Since it follows the Hebrew alphabet from start to finish, in English we should think about this psalm as celebrating the Law of God from "A" to "Z". That is to suggest a complete celebration of God's Law. When each alphabet is considered then nothing is left out. Because of the use often synonyms to reference the Law of God in this psalm, the author referred to God's Law in some fashion in each of the one hundred seventy-six verses of this psalm. In today's lesson the author does so by using the expressions: Your commandments, Your word, Your judgments, Your word (again), Your law, Your precepts, Your testimonies, and Your statutes. Again, we lose the beauty of the acrostic form in English because we don't see each verse beginning with the tenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet. However, the celebration of God's Law is powerfully expressed in this psalm even without the acrostic form being evident in English. About one third of the psalms are listed with unknown authorship. Psalm 119 is a part of that group. Many believe Ezra was instrumental in its current form as a leader of Israel after the Babylonian captivity. Within these verses in our lesson the Law is described as God's revelation to His covenant people. In that revelation, we find God's standard of conduct for His people, the pattern of life they are expected to live, and the judicial decisions they are to make. The Law is not presented as a punitive and burdensome requirement placed on people who want to be saved from God's wrath. Contrariwise, the Law is presented as a blessing that God bestows upon His covenant people. Understanding and following the Law leads to a blessed life for the people of God. The Law was not given as punitive; it taught them how to live a blessed life. Even in times of difficulties, they viewed the Law as providing guidance and protection. Within the verses of our lesson, the author prays for understanding that he may learn God's Law. The author believed that others can be encouraged by seeing him survive because of his hope that comes from knowing the Law. Even when God's hand was seen as chastising His people, it was not seen as inflicting unbearable wrath. God never placed more on them than they could bear. God's chastisement was seen as leading to their betterment because of the Law. Summarizing this in English terms, the author's desire was to be wrapped up, tied up, and tangled up in the Law of God. He delighted in God's precepts. Robert C. Hudson July 15, 2024