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Psalm 119
Tau
169 Let my cry come near before thee, O
LORD: give me understanding according
to thy word.
170 Let my supplication come before thee:
deliver me according to thy word.
171 My lips shall utter praise, when thou hast
taught me thy statutes.
172 My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all
thy commandments are righteousness.
173 Let thine hand help me; for I have chosen
thy precepts.
174 I have longed for thy salvation, O LORD;
and thy law is my delight.
175 Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee;
and let thy judgments help me.
176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek
thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.
This is the twenty-second, and last, section
of Psalm 119. Having covered a more detailed
overview of the Psalm, it is my intention to go more
thoroughly through each section. Briefly, each
section is according to the letter of the Hebrew
alphabet. Each letter contains 8 verses that begin
with that specific letter. Tau is the twenty-second
letter, so each verse, in the Hebrew, begins with a
word starting with the letter Tau.
In Hebrew, unlike English, each letter was
originally also a word. We do not know the meaning of every letter today, but we do know most. Tau
means, 'A mark; by implication a signature'. Since
the Psalmist built the Psalm based on the letters,
it is likely the meaning of each letter played in his
thoughts as he composed each section. In this section, I believe the theme runs along a root word
from which Tau comes. The Strong's Concordance
number is 8420, 8427 and 8428 and has some
possible clues (See Gesenius Lexicon). There is the
aspect of marks, as in designation of boundaries.
Such is God's Word. Ignoring of those marks, is
the downfall of God's people, which is seen in this
section. The other consideration, is the meaning
of 8428 as 'to repent, to be grieved', which is the
exact theme of this section.
This Psalm is also based upon the usage of a host
of words that are 'legal' terms in the Hebrew. I
have gone into a more thorough definition of each
word, as it has been encountered, in the previous
sections. I would recommend going there to find
those expansions. I will cover additional words as
we come across them.
The Pathway Back
169 Let my cry come near before thee, O
LORD: give me understanding according
to thy word.
The first two verses form a Hebrew parallelism.
They repeat each other with slight variation. The
singular difference, in the first portion of each, is
our finding the name of Yahweh in this section. We
will find it again in verse 174. In both, it marks the
longing cry addressing God. It certainly carries the
note of the intimacy with God that is not known
simply in the title 'God'.
We are not told here what the trouble is, but verse
176 shows us he has wandered from the LORD. No
specific 'enemy' is mentioned in this section.
Between these two verses, we find the alternate
used of the two common terms for 'word'. This
verse, using that more common for the written
word. It is also in the singular. When we face
trouble, it is not our usual concern to seek understanding of Yahweh's Word first. We tend to lift up
the threat first. This Psalmist's battle plan is different. He knows something we need to learn. He
needs answers, he needs understanding from the
Bible, and he doesn't trust himself for being able
to find the answers.
What I am seeing as glaringly absent from so
much preaching today, is an understanding. Many
preachers preach, but they seem unaware they miss
the entire point, or major issues in the pertinent
passages they are preaching from. I believe the
primary reason, is they feel competent enough from
their training in college. Most do not seem to sense
their inability to understand without God's special
hand of revelation.
170 Let my supplication come before thee:
deliver me according to thy word.
Here we see the mirror of verse 169. The point to
really pay attention to, is the variation in the second
half of this verse. This has that term for 'word'
which predominantly leans towards speech. It is in
the plural, so we literally find, 'Your words'.
What I perceive we are seeing here, is a partial
answer to the first verse. Initially, he asked for
understanding, now we see his prayer based upon
that understanding. The written Word had been
opened to him, so they became living words to him.
Before he could read facts, but now he could pray
according to an understanding of what promises
were for him. This second verse shows a distinct
progression in intelligent prayer.
171 My lips shall utter praise, when thou
hast taught me thy statutes.
Something important here, is the use of the same
Hebrew word at the beginning of the second half
of verse 171, 172 and 173. That word is generally
translated 'for', as you can see in 172 and 173. There
is no reason to change it to 'when' for 171. Such a
change distinctly changes the meaning of the verse.
Read the whole verse with the variation, and note
the important difference.
We have seen the prayerful cry for an unspecified
help. Here we are beholding the joyful heart that
has received the answer of gaining understanding.
It is because the LORD has given him understanding, that he can make the confession of having
been taught. If we study a book, we generally don't
credit the writer of the textbook as having taught
us. If we learn in a class setting, we give credit to
the teacher of the class. Such is a sample of what
the Psalmist is recognizing. He didn't just read
the Bible and accredit his understanding to being
taught from a book. He recognizes there must be
a teacher, to gain understanding. Only then, can
he be sure he is even understanding the text accurately. Such is the desperate need of today.
He has used his lips in a wonderfully progressive manner. Too often, we use our lips to speak
without ever having been taught. Shame on us.
The Psalmist initially uttered a 'cry' to Yahweh.
That should be the starting point for all of us. Let
it be an ignorant cry. At least then, we know to
start by asking for the intelligence to be able to
pray in a way that isn't wearying to God! Next,
we see he presented an understanding petition.
God had answered the first prayer, so he could
pray an intelligent second prayer. Now, those lips
utter praise. We are being given a clear lesson on
how to pray effectively and how to properly use
our ability to speak. Now behold the next step in
the development.
172 My tongue shall speak of thy word:
for all thy commandments are righteousness.
As you may have noticed, the progression in
the use of the vocal cords reaching out to testify.
How wonderful. Prayer for understanding, intelligent petitioning, praise, then sharing what God
has taught us.
The term for 'word' here is that same one used
in verse 170. These are those words of revelation
and understanding he had been granted. Too
many do speak of God's Word, but have never been
given the understanding. They pass on the written
Word, void of the Spirit's opening understanding
and teaching them. The Psalmist is not going to
pass that kind of word on. He has been taught, and
from that source of life, he is going to pass on that
same living word.
Notice the primary characteristic of what God
had taught him. God's commandments (mitzvoth)
are righteous. When God teaches, He will teach
about righteousness. The Psalmist also knows that
ALL God's commandments are righteous. He not
only understands their character, he has received
the understanding, as a part of that answered
prayer, that God's written Word is trustworthy.
His heart doesn't waver in an inability to know if it
is accurately God's Word. He simply knows, for he
has been taught of the Spirit. When he sees God's
Word, he recognizes it right off. If we compared
it to some fine, French cooking, after tasting the
sampling, 'Ah, do I know real French cooking or
what? That is the real thing! The quality is superb.
It is clear there have been no short-cuts taken in
preparing that dish.' Such is the flavor of God's
Word. Once one has learned what the real quality
stuff is like, you won't be able to pull the wool over
that person's eyes.
The Return of the Prodigal
173 Let thine hand help me; for I have chosen thy precepts.
This verse takes us back to verse 170, in its asking for deliverance. The
term for 'hand' is that
for the working hand, designating power. He is
furthering his plea for God's needed help.
Now pay attention to the second part. He has
been taught and grown in his knowledge of God's
Word. God has given him an understanding heart
and mind. From such a position, he appeals to God
for help 'based upon' his having chosen God's
precepts. The term 'chosen' might sound a little
unusual to you. Considering that each of us either
chooses to obey God's Word, or we choose to ignore it, we can see what is meant by 'chosen'.
Consider this for a minute with the gift of King
Solomon's wisdom. Solomon had been given understanding and great discernment. Though he
had received such enlightenment, he eventually
failed to keep choosing it. Such is the position each
of us must decide. After prayer for teaching, and
receiving God's gift of understanding, we must
actively choose to follow. Just because the LORD
has answered our prayer, doesn't mean we are
'Christians'. He is waiting to see if we choose.
Going back to the grounds for the Psalmist's
expecting an affirmative response from God. We
are not saved by works, but most assuredly God
is paying attention to whether or not we obey
His Word. Don't think God will rise up for your
defense, when you cry to Him, if you have been
ignoring His cry to you for obedience. I am not
saying God absolutely won't answer, if you walk in
disobedience. He has His divine prerogative, for
one thing. Satan will also accomplish a miracle,
if it will help you feel snug in your sin. What's a
little healing, or the like, if such will end up in
your refusing to take serious consideration of your
sin? I will tell you though, for those who take that
path to soothe their consciences, and see some
'blessing', be assured it will have it's price. Take
a look at this from a crowd of people who did just
as I have described:
16 As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us
in the name of the LORD, we will not hearken unto
thee. 17 But we will certainly do whatsoever thing
goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense
unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink
offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our
fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of
Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then
had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw
no evil. 18 But since we left off to burn incense to
the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offer-
ings unto her, we have wanted all things, and have
been consumed by the sword and by the famine.
19 And when we burned incense to the queen of
heaven, and poured out drink offerings unto her,
did we make her cakes to worship her, and pour
out drink offerings unto her, without our men?
20 Then Jeremiah said unto all the people, to
the men, and to the women, and to all the people
which had given him that answer, saying, 21 The
incense that ye burned in the cities of Judah, and
in the streets of Jerusalem, ye, and your fathers,
your kings, and your princes, and the people of
the land, did not the LORD remember them, and
came it not into his mind? 22 So that the LORD
could no longer bear, because of the evil of your
doings, and because of the abominations which
ye have committed; therefore is your land a
desolation, and an astonishment, and a curse,
without an inhabitant, as at this day. 23 Because
ye have burned incense, and because ye have
sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed
the voice of the LORD, nor walked in his law, nor
in his statutes, nor in his testimonies; therefore
this evil is happened unto you, as at this day.
Jeremiah 44:16-23
174 I have longed for thy salvation, O LORD;
and thy law is my delight.
As this section began with an anguished cry to
Yahweh, so we find that pattern repeated here in
a similar form. We do not find a cry, here is simply
an open yearning of heart. He has chosen, and
takes delight in following God's law (torath). All
God's directions for our life. It is no longer considered a burden, clearly the opposite.
The Hebrew term for 'salvation' is in the plural.
He has been longing for God's deliverances in this
life, as well as in eternity. The trouble he is battling
is not an outside enemy. It is his fallen nature.
175 Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee;
and let thy judgments help me.
His soul has strayed into the paths of death.
This section is the returning heart of the prodigal.
He has been brought low, has looked at where
he has ended up, and gives us a walk thru on his
journey back. He prays for God to give life to his
soul. His body is obviously alive, but something
had happened to his soul. He had strayed from the
lessons found in the section 'Shin'. His destitute
condition has brought him to his senses. The
'praise' harkens us back to Shin. That abundant
life, let slip, may be restored. It is such a life that
will praise God.
In requesting for God's 'judgments' to help him,
he may be asking for one of two things. One, seeking for God to show him through His Word, the
help he needed. Two, for God to render an answer
to his prayer, giving His judgment, for his help.
176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep;
seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy
commandments.
This summarizing verse is gripping. The word
for 'lost' is a serious word. It also means 'destroyed'. Jesus came to save the lost sheep.
See the position the Psalmist takes. He comes
like the Prodigal Son, 'Let me be as one of thy
servants.' He takes the position of a servant who
needs help to find his way back. He has learned a
serious lesson. He no longer figures he will just
walk back to the rest of the flock. He can't, he has
been destroyed. Perhaps he has fallen down a ledge
and finds himself trapped and with a broken leg.
His soul is fading, but he pleads with God. He confesses his sin and returns in heart as the servant.
The whole reason he got into that mess in the first
place, 'he had forgotten God's Word'. It is that which
is the beginning of the fatal end, in a faithful walk with
God. Now, he reconsecrates himself to remembering
God's commandments. This shows our clear, personal
responsibility in the choice of 'remembering'.
After a rather lengthy journey through Psalm
119, it may seem a rather sad conclusion. Being the
'Omega', or the end of the Hebrew alphabet, we
might have expected a more cheery, 'return of the
LORD' conclusion. In one way it is. This ends with
a prayer for the LORD to come for His lost sheep.
That is exactly what He did at His first coming. This
section is Messianic in that consideration.
Another reason for finding this as the final message, is the issue of straying is a major problem.
After all, look at Israel's history, and look at the
prevalent apostasy from Christ today. Unless we
are shown the way back, we may come to the end of
ourselves, but not know what to do to turn around.
We will simply wallow in the far country hungering for the pig's husks, and bemoan our trapped
condition. We are never so helplessly trapped, that
God cannot hear and save. That is the hope this
section offers.
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