I have seen a limit to all perfection; Your commandment is exceedingly broad. Psalm 119:96 NASB Perfection – What is the limit of all perfection? When you think about it, the phrase is a bit strange. If something is perfect it doesn’t have a limit. If it did, would it still be perfect? If I…
The wicked wait for me to destroy me; I will diligently consider Your testimonies. Psalm 119:95 NASB Diligently consider – Do you feel safe? I mean really safe, like not a care at all because no one can do you harm. Totally protected. Bulletproof all around. No chance of disaster, ruin, robbery, assault, collapse, surprise? Most…
I am Yours, save me; for I have sought Your precepts. Psalm 119:94 NASB I am Yours – While the English captures the idea, the Hebrew isn’t quite so straightforward. The phrase is lekā-‘ănî’. It’s really a preposition (l – “to, towards, in regard to”) and two pronouns (kā – you, and ănî – I). Literally, “to…
I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have revived me. Psalm 119:93 NASB Revived – The Hebrew verb ḥāyâ has a wide range of meanings: “live, have life, remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, live forever. Also be quickened, revive from sickness, discouragement, or even death.”[1] As if that weren’t enough, there are…
If Your Law had not been my delight, then I would have perished in my misery. Psalm 119:92 NASB Misery – Carefully consider this statement. Could you say the same thing? Is the law of God so wonderful, so amazing, so encouraging to you—so shaashuim, delightful—that without it you would be destroyed in affliction? Can I be…
They stand this day by Your ordinances, for all things are Your servants. Psalm 119:91 NASB They – The odd thing about pronouns is that without a reference point we have little idea what they actually mean. If I were to write, “He said something critically important,” but I didn’t tell you who “he” is, how could…
Your faithfulness continues throughout generations; You established the earth, and it stands. Psalm 119:90 NASB Generations – Disney borrowed from Genesis. “By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, until you return to the ground, because from it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19). Well, maybe not exactly. After all, the…
Forever, O Lord, Your word stands firm in the heavens. Psalm 119:89 Chabad לְעוֹלָ֥ם יְהֹוָ֑ה דְּ֜בָֽרְךָ֗ נִצָּ֥ב בַּשָּׁמָֽיִם לְדֹ֣ר וָ֖דֹר אֱמֽוּנָתֶ֑ךָ כּוֹנַ֥נְתָּ אֶ֜֗רֶץ וַֽתַּֽעֲמֹֽד לְמִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ עָֽמְד֣וּ הַיּ֑וֹם כִּ֖י הַכֹּ֣ל עֲבָדֶֽיךָ לוּלֵ֣י תוֹרָֽתְךָ֣ שַֽׁעֲשֻׁעָ֑י אָ֖ז אָבַ֣דְתִּי בְעָנְיִֽי לְעוֹלָם לֹא־אֶשְׁכַּ֣ח פִּקּוּדֶ֑יךָ כִּי־בָ֜֗ם חִיִּיתָֽנִי לְֽךָ־אֲ֖נִי הוֹשִׁיעֵ֑נִי כִּ֖י פִקּוּדֶ֣יךָ דָרָֽשְׁתִּי לִ֚י קִוּ֣וּ רְשָׁעִ֣ים לְאַבְּדֵ֑נִי עֵֽ֜דֹתֶ֗יךָ אֶתְבּוֹנָֽן לְכָל תִּ֖כְלָה רָאִ֣יתִי…
Revive me according to Your faithfulness, so that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth. Psalm 119:88 NASB Revive – We’ve been at this for quite a while. Perhaps “revive” is the right term for the halfway point. Halfway through the longest psalm, we should pause and ask ourselves, “Why is the poet spending…
They almost destroyed me on earth, but as for me, I did not abandon Your precepts. Psalm 119:87 NASB Destroyed – What will be the final line in your obituary? “A good husband?” “A loving wife?” “A cherished father/mother?” “A provider?” “A friend?” How about “committed to God?” Or “a Torah-keeper?” Would you think to add…
