A Cure for the Liar

May the arrogant be put to shame, because they lead me astray with a lie; But I shall meditate on Your precepts.  Psalm 119:78  NASB Lead me astray – How many lies have you believed?  How many of your usual assumptions about life are actually based on lies?  Those seem to be particularly important questions in the political…

The Mother Syndrome

May Your compassion come to me so that I may live, for Your Law is my delight.  Psalm 119:77  NASB Compassion – “Go for it!”  Yes, that’s the sense of the “May come to me Your compassion.”  You’ll notice I rearranged the syntax to match the Hebrew which begins with yebō’ûnî (from the verb bôʾ.  Of course,…

Too Close for Comfort

May Your favor [ad]comfort me, according to Your [ae]word to Your servant.  Psalm 119:76  NASB Comfort – We start this investigation by noting two things: 1) the opening in Hebrew is not translated in this NASB version.  That opening is necessary for the acrostic pattern.  It is יְהִי־נָ֣א, with a yod, and should probably be translated “O,…

The Proof in the Pudding

I know, Lord, that Your judgments are righteous, and that You have afflicted me in faithfulness.  Psalm 119:75  NASB You have afflicted me – So you want to be a witness for the Lord.  You want people to see you and recognize a person whose life reflects the Creator.  You want your actions to speak louder than your…

The Only Testimony That Matters

May those who [ab]fear You see me and be glad, because I [ac]wait for Your word.  Psalm 119:74  NASB See me – Doctrinal discussions.  Statements of faith.  Creeds.  Tracts.  Testimonies.  You’ve heard them all.  Perhaps too many times.  Lots and lots of words.  Did they really make a difference?  Were you compelled to pursue God because of any…

Yodh – On the Runway

Your hands made me and fashioned me; enable me to understand, and I shall learn Your commandments.  Psalm 119:73 Chabad Fashioned – First, the acrostic section that begins with yod. יָדֶ֣יךָ עָ֖שׂוּנִי וַיְכֽוֹנְנ֑וּנִי הֲ֜בִינֵ֗נִי וְאֶלְמְדָ֥ה מִצְו‍ֹתֶֽיךָ יְרֵאֶיךָ יִרְא֣וּנִי וְיִשְׂמָ֑חוּ כִּ֖י לִדְבָֽרְךָ֣ יִחָֽלְתִּי יָדַ֣עְתִּי יְ֖הֹוָה כִּי־צֶ֣דֶק מִשְׁפָּטֶ֑יךָ וֶֽ֜אֱמוּנָ֗ה עִנִּיתָֽנִי יְהִי־נָ֣א חַסְדְּךָ֣ לְנַֽחֲמֵ֑נִי כְּאִמְרָֽתְךָ֥ לְעַבְדֶּֽךָ יְבֹא֣וּנִי רַֽחֲמֶ֣יךָ וְאֶֽחְיֶ֑ה…