Pe

Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul complies with them.  Psalm 119:129  NASB Chabad translations פְּלָא֥וֹת עֵֽדְו‍ֹתֶ֑יךָ עַל־כֵּ֜֗ן נְצָ֘רָ֥תַם נַפְשִֽׁי Your testimonies are hidden; therefore, my soul kept them. פֵּ֖תַח דְּבָרֶ֥יךָ יָאִ֗יר מֵבִ֥ין פְּתָיִֽים The commencement of Your words enlightens; You make the simple understand. פִּ֣י פָ֖עַרְתִּי וָאֶשְׁאָ֑פָה כִּ֖י לְמִצְו‍ֹתֶ֣יךָ יָאָֽבְתִּי I opened my mouth and panted…

The Difficult Verses (2)

You have removed all the wicked of the earth like impurities; therefore I love Your testimonies.  Psalm 119:119  NASB All the wicked – Well, I certainly wish this were true.  Perhaps some day it will be, but right now this statement seems as fictitious as you could imagine.  I can’t think of any period in any culture in human…

I’m Better Than You

I have more insight than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation.  Psalm 119:99  NASB More insight – Do you remember Goldberg’s remark, “In the well-known verse Prov 4:7, ‘understanding’ is not a higher stage than ‘wisdom,’ but a poetic synonym used for emphasis.”[1]  We’ll want to keep this in mind as we examine…

Home Protection

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…

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…