In this case, David used the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Therefore, instead of “a to z,” of the English alphabet, or from the “alpha” to the “omega” of the Greek alphabet, we have from “aleph” to “tau” of the Hebrew alphabet.
Every line of the first eight verses of Psalm 119, if read in Hebrew, begins with the first letter of the alphabet, “aleph,” and each the second eight verses begins with the second letter, “bet,” and so on throughout Psalm 119, with the last eight verses each of which begins with the last letter of the alphabet, “tau.” Now, just as a reminder, when you read through Psalm 119, please remember to read the verses in pairs, as “couplets,” that express the same idea over again using different words and phrases. Finally, when you get into the “rhythm” of the psalm, you realize that the power of this repetitive technique only grows stronger as the main themes of David’s love for and dedication to God’s Word are themselves repeated over and over again.
Note, too, please, that David uses many synonyms to refer to the Word of God. He exhorts us to study, to delight in, to revere and to obey God’s Word, His commands, His statues, His laws, His precepts, His testimonies and His ways ~ Hallelujah! As we turn to study the Beatitudes, it will help us to realize that Jesus, the greatest of all Rabbis, the greatest Teacher of God’s Word in all of history, spoke to His audience, the Jews of the 1st century, spoke to them and taught them in ways that would “click” for them, in ways that would instantly attract and hold their attention.
Therefore, like the greatest of the psalmists of Israel, David, so, too, the greatest of the teachers of Israel, Jesus, “sang” to the people a beautiful song of blessing, calling to the deepest part of their psyche – their heart of hearts, the depths of their souls – in such a way that they hung on His every Word. Now, then, before we go farther into the heart of this teaching, the “meat” of the Word, if you will, please go back and read the Beatitudes, and read them, please, in their context of Matthew 5:3-16. Read them with the specific intent of “hearing the rhythm” of His thoughts as He repeats them – first as simple couplets, or two lines paired together – and then again as couplets repeating couplets, thereby building one upon another and building the strength and the power of the image that He is embedding into our hearts as we hear Him calling to us to be Kingdom People!
Every line of the first eight verses of Psalm 119, if read in Hebrew, begins with the first letter of the alphabet, “aleph,” and each the second eight verses begins with the second letter, “bet,” and so on throughout Psalm 119, with the last eight verses each of which begins with the last letter of the alphabet, “tau.” Now, just as a reminder, when you read through Psalm 119, please remember to read the verses in pairs, as “couplets,” that express the same idea over again using different words and phrases. Finally, when you get into the “rhythm” of the psalm, you realize that the power of this repetitive technique only grows stronger as the main themes of David’s love for and dedication to God’s Word are themselves repeated over and over again.
Note, too, please, that David uses many synonyms to refer to the Word of God. He exhorts us to study, to delight in, to revere and to obey God’s Word, His commands, His statues, His laws, His precepts, His testimonies and His ways ~ Hallelujah! As we turn to study the Beatitudes, it will help us to realize that Jesus, the greatest of all Rabbis, the greatest Teacher of God’s Word in all of history, spoke to His audience, the Jews of the 1st century, spoke to them and taught them in ways that would “click” for them, in ways that would instantly attract and hold their attention.
Therefore, like the greatest of the psalmists of Israel, David, so, too, the greatest of the teachers of Israel, Jesus, “sang” to the people a beautiful song of blessing, calling to the deepest part of their psyche – their heart of hearts, the depths of their souls – in such a way that they hung on His every Word. Now, then, before we go farther into the heart of this teaching, the “meat” of the Word, if you will, please go back and read the Beatitudes, and read them, please, in their context of Matthew 5:3-16. Read them with the specific intent of “hearing the rhythm” of His thoughts as He repeats them – first as simple couplets, or two lines paired together – and then again as couplets repeating couplets, thereby building one upon another and building the strength and the power of the image that He is embedding into our hearts as we hear Him calling to us to be Kingdom People!
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