It seems appropriate to finish this study with some personal reflections. We’ve explored the 176 verses over the course of half a year. Looking at the psalm verse by verse revealed the depth and complexities of the grammar, vocabulary, and Hebraic thought patterns. But this microscopic examination might cloud the overall impact. After all, it…
I have wandered about like a lost sheep; search for Your servant, for I do not forget Your commandments. Psalm 119:176 NASB Lost sheep – This is not the verse we expected! After 175 verses of praise for the Law, of reiterated commitment to obedience, of line after line extolling God’s graciousness, we expected this verse to be…
Let my soul live that it may praise You, and let Your ordinances help me. Psalm 119:175 NASB Live/ help – We don’t need to mention the mistaken translation “soul.” You certainly know that nepeš isn’t “soul,” which is the Greek term psyche. But we should note the idea that praise can only happen while we…
I long for Your salvation, Lord, and Your Law is my delight. Psalm 119:174 NASB Long – Twice. The Hebrew tāʾeb is used only twice, here and in verse 40 of this psalm. The derivative, taʿăbâ, is only used once, in verse 20 of the same psalm. Psalm 119:40 “Behold, I long for Your precepts; . . .” Psalm…
And, by the way, the complete edition of Today’s Word 2024 is available now as a download on the web site in the Archive section.
Let Your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen Your precepts. Psalm 119:173 NASB Help – What a wonderful verb! ʿāzar, “to help, to support.” Could you ask anything more of the Sovereign of the Universe than “help me”? Unspecified help. Whatever-is-needed help. Not even limited to my own perspective. This is help from…
Let my tongue sing about Your word, for all Your commandments are righteousness. Psalm 119:172 NASB Sing – Do you sing the psalms? It’s nice to think that this psalm is lyrical poetry designed to be sung. Many psalms are. But if we read only this English translation, we’d miss the wider implications of the use of…
Let my lips pour out praise, for You teach me Your statutes. Psalm 119:171 NASB Pour out/ teach – What’s significant about the two verbs, nābaʿ and lāmad? They’re not unusual. They don’t have some odd grammatical structure. But they do have something we need to notice, which, by the way, we don’t see in the English…
Let my pleading come before You; save me according to Your word. Psalm 119:170 NASB Pleading – Three words need to be understood in Hebrew context. These three words are part of the overall pattern of this long psalm. They are also crucial terms describing the relationship between the follower and the founder of the faith. They…
Let my cry come before You, Lord; give me understanding according to Your word. Psalm 119:169 NASB תִּקְרַ֤ב רִנָּתִ֣י לְפָנֶ֣יךָ יְהֹוָ֑ה כִּדְבָרְךָ֥ הֲבִינֵֽנִי Let my cry come before You, Lord; give me understanding according to Your word. תָּב֣וֹא תְחִנָּתִ֣י לְפָנֶ֑יךָ כְּ֝אִמְרָתְךָ֗ הַצִּילֵֽנִי Let my pleading come before You; save me according to Your word. תַּבַּ֣עְנָה שְׂפָתַ֣י תְּהִלָּ֑ה כִּ֖י תְלַמְּדֵ֣נִי חֻקֶּֽיךָ Let my lips…
