Expected Routine

Hearken to my voice according to Your kindness; O Lord, according to Your custom sustain me.  Psalm 119:149  Chabad Custom – This translation might lead us to believe that the psalmist anticipates a typical response from God.  He enlists the protocol of ḥesed, establishing the required connection.  He asks God to listen, using a verb…

Pay It Forward

With my lips I have told of all the ordinances of Your mouth.  Psalm 119:13  NASB I have told – Oral transmission.  How often we forget that Israel’s ancient cultural was oral.  Yes, of course, the fundamentals were written on those stone tablets, but the transmission of the message, the training in righteousness, the legacy and history…

Situational Legislation

Of old I have known from Your testimonies that You have founded them forever.  Psalm 119:152  NASB Founded – Why don’t you pick up your Bible and read this verse?  KJV, ESV, RSV and NKJV retain “testimonies.”  NLT uses “laws.”  NIV translates “statutes.”  Since the psalmist claims that these are established forever, it would be…