Psalm 119: Some more thoughts

koot van wyk (DLitt et Phil; ThD)

Kyungpook National University

Sangju Campus

South Korea

conjoint lecturer of Avondale College

23 June 2010

Synonyms of law

In our first encounter with Psalm 119 we soon learnt that the words law, testimony, commands, word, precepts, statutes, ordinances all have an interlocking meaning that is connected to God's character and His interest in human beings. What we learn from this is that as long as we stay on course within their boundaries, we are in a safe sound and carefree zone as well.

Offroad attractions

The surprise lies with the offroad cases. We called these cases "offroad attractions" for that is what they really are.

God's Word is alive for those who read it

One is made to understand the way of His precepts (Psalm 119:27).

One is taught His statutes (Psalm 119:26).

There is joy in His testimonies (Psalm 119:24).

One keeps His testimonies (Psalm 119:22).

One meditates His statutes (Psalm 119:23).

One stands according to the word (28).

Judgements are waited for the very long (ad-meod) (43).

One can speak in the testimonies of God (46).

Words of God contains salvation (41).

One can delight in His commandments (47).

His Words are to be remembered (49).

Offroad cases

Fat covered the arrogant's heart (70).

Down below we will indicate that the arrogant is really those who deny God's existence. The heart of the arrogant are covered with fat. It may be physical fat in the sense that they do not work and need to exercise since they have all the capital in the world to go on tours, travel, overseas, golf playing, and relax while others have to toil and labor for their daily means. Such situations may create fat around the heart. An unhealthy lifestyle of drinking, smoking, eating without biblical principles like those in Leviticus 11 with the meat distintions, can also cause fat to accumulate around the heart. In some countries they eat dogs, snails, frogs, snakes, crabs, lobsters, sharks, bears, whales, mice, monkeys and a long list of no-no's. There are zoological physical reasons regarding the appropriateness of these animals to digest their food and excrete their poisons, why they cannot be eaten by humans. Dr. Walther Veith (Zoologist in South Africa) has online videos on this matter at Youtube.com.

Turning aside from His law is an offroad situation (51).

One needs to say "no" to offroad attractions as the Psalmist said: "from your Law I do not turn aside" (51b).

Delay to keep the commandments of the Lord is an offroad situation (60).

What is delay? When a person knows the law of God and the person refuses to follow it, it is not only neglect, or irresponsible, it is delaying the keeping of it. Delay is a deliberate and intentional no for the obligation expected by the Law of God. If a person keeps Sunday as a Lord's Day but then realize that Saturday is the Sabbath and the Lord's Day as the Gospel of Mark indicates, then a neglect, or putting off to make the change to the correct day, a delay to keep the Law of God. The person knows what is right but due to personal human barriers like tradition, custom of my parents, etc. they do not want to make the shift to the correct and proper keeping of the Law. This is delay.

Cords of the wicked encircled the righteous and tries to bring them in an offroad situation (61).

Cords are links and this means that the wicked strives very hard to make links and connection with the righteous. They approach and approach without break and the righteous who is not aware of this action can end up in an offroad situation. With networks, meetings, appointments, invitations, weddings, parties and all kinds of ways the wicked is trying their best relentlessly to lead the righteous offroad.

One can forget His law and that is also an offroad situation (61).

How can you forget the law of God? By stop reading it. Memory needs to be charged daily like batteries of a notebook computer. If not, memory will shut down and that is called forget.

The arrogant forged a lie against the righteous to bring them in an offroad situation (69).

The arrogant are normally in biblical terms those who say there are no God. They do not have any norm but themselves and no God but themselves. In their skew outlook, they are very arrogant, dominering, eager to selfexaltation and slow to weigh their words carefully. Sarcacism is seen by them as a sign of sophistication.

When the Psalmist went astray, he was afflicted but the affliction was medicine to himself since he learned to keep His word (67).

Benifits of the law

There are benifits attached to the law, testimonies, precepts, commandments, statutes and ordinances of the Lord:

Words of the law are priceless (72).

"Affliction is good so that I may learn your statutes" (71).

In the New Testament we are told that suffering should be seen as a blessing.

"Lift up your handpalms to the commandments" (48) means that your hands are open and the scrolls of the Torah or books of the Old Testament is on your open hands. The person pulls them apart and read the vellums in between. Regular reading takes the book and Bible in your handpalms and read them. The reading could take place in two ways: lifting up the handpalms and the Torah with it or leaving the Torah on the rostrum. Enjoyable reading is lifting it up since the eye focus is at even degrees to the paper almost in a 90 degree angle. However, if it lies down the reading pleasure is strained a bit since the letters are further and nearer to the comfort zone of reading. The angle is almost 45 degrees. He loves the commandments of the Lord (asher ahabti verse 48) and that is why we think the lifting up is a comforting way of reading with a 90 degree focus which is better.

In suffering there is comfort since His Word revives (50).

Statutes are songs "songs are to me Your statutes" (54).

One can say to keep the Word of the Lord according to the Word of the Lord (57).

Discipline is needed

Feet should be turned to His testimonies (59).

Sometimes the Psalmist woke at midnight (24h00) and prayed to give thanks to the Lord for His rigtheous judgements (62).

The Judgement function of Christ in the Most Holy apartment of the Heavenly Sanctuary since 1844 (following the literal reading of the prophetic period of Daniel 8:14 of the 2300 days in which a year day principle for prophecy is favored [as in Revelation 12 where 1260 days are 1260 years] leading to the conclusion from 457 BCE to 1844 as the beginning and end of this period). Judgement started as Peter said with the House of God and thus the saints. There is no fear for the righteous since Chirst promised that they will not come into judgement (executive judgement at the end of time when He will bring His reward with Him, meaning the investigative judgement is already concluded). Since 1844 is the investigative judgement. Christ our Advocate and Highpriest is on our side all the way and we have nothing to fear but all to be thankful for as the Psalmist did here (62).

Positive aspects of the law

The law of God is rejoicing (70).

The Psalmist says he is a companion (haber) to everyone who fears the Lord and keep His ordinances (63).

An interesting term through the centuries were the word Hebrews, Habiru (Amarna Tablets, Ugaritic Texts) and an individual or ancestor of Israel with the name Heber. The same root is used here.

One can believe (hemunati) in commandments (66).

The Torah (law, teaching) of the mouth of the Lord is good and more valuable than thousands of gold or silver (72).

Creator God chose this means to communicate Himself to us

God fashioned humans, gave them understanding and taught them His commandments (73).

What we learn here is that Adam and Eve had God walking with them daily to give them understanding and teach them His commandments.

Law is to be obeyed (55).

People who are against the law in any form and strive for relativism is here not biblical.

What we learn here is that the Revelation of God is a multifaceted concept that embraces all that is understood under law, torah, commandments, ordinances, precepts, teachings, words, testimonies, statutes. All these genres are included here under a single understanding for the simple reason that all of them have the same befinits and functions.