In the Lamed stanza, we see the Psalmist understanding the authority of the Lord over his life. Do we personally understand the power of His great authority over our own lives? And if so, have we experienced the great expectation that comes along with it?
-Raquel
Hebrew Word Pictures
by Dr. Frank T. Seekins
Each of the verses in the twelfth stanza of Psalm 119 starts with the letter Lamed.
Psalm 119:89-96
89 Forever, O LORD,
Your word is settled in heaven.
90 Your faithfulness endures to all generations;
You established the earth, and it abides.
91 They continue this day according to Your ordinances,
For all are Your servants.
92 Unless Your law had been my delight,
I would then have perished in my affliction.
93 I will never forget Your precepts,
For by them You have given me life.
94 I am Yours, save me;
For I have sought Your precepts.
95 The wicked wait for me to destroy me,
But I will consider Your testimonies.
96 I have seen the consummation of all perfection,
But Your commandment is exceedingly broad.
The letter Lamed is used in the Hebrew words for:
To-Toward
When added as a prefix to a Hebrew word means to or toward. A cattle goad was used to drive animals to the destination.
"To know wisdom and instruction, To perceive the words of understanding." -Proverbs 1:2
As a prefix this letter is used to mean to or toward 5 times in Psalm 119:89-96.
God
The word for God is el. The word picture tells us that God is the first or the strong authority.
"When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, 'I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless.'" -Genesis 17:1
Heart
The Hebrew word for the heart is lev. The word picture tells us that the heart is what controls the inside.
"The wise in heart will receive commands, But a prating fool will fall." -Proverbs 10:8
"Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of correction will drive it far from him." -Proverbs 22:15
Tongue
The word that means the tongue is la-shon. The word picture tells us that the tongue is the rod that devours and establishes life.
"Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit." -Proverbs 18:21
Teach
The Hebrew word for teach is lee-med and comes directly from the word for the eleventh letter of the Alef Bet. To teach, just like a shepherd is to care for and to direct.
"Blessed are You, O LORD! Teach me Your statutes." -Psalm 119:12
"I have declared my ways, and You answered me; Teach me Your statutes." -Psalm 119:26
"The earth, O LORD, is full of Your mercy; Teach me Your statutes." -Psalm 119:64
"You are good, and do good; Teach me Your statutes." -Psalm 119:68
"Deal with Your servant according to Your mercy, And teach me Your statutes." -Psalm 119:124
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Saturday, October 30, 2010
The Staff
We started our study of the Hebrew letter Lamed this week; which means The Staff. Just like a cattle goad, God's authority directs and keeps us safe in all our ways. Thank You Jesus for Your divine authority over our lives!
-Raquel
Hebrew Word Pictures
by Dr. Frank T. Seekins
The letter Lamed is used in the Hebrew words for: To-Toward, God, Heart, Tongue, Teach.
Psalm 119:89-96
89 Forever, O LORD,
Your word is settled in heaven.
90 Your faithfulness endures to all generations;
You established the earth, and it abides.
91 They continue this day according to Your ordinances,
For all are Your servants.
92 Unless Your law had been my delight,
I would then have perished in my affliction.
93 I will never forget Your precepts,
For by them You have given me life.
94 I am Yours, save me;
For I have sought Your precepts.
95 The wicked wait for me to destroy me,
But I will consider Your testimonies.
96 I have seen the consummation of all perfection,
But Your commandment is exceedingly broad.
Each of the verses in the twelfth stanza of Psalm 119 starts with the letter Lamed. Because the letter Lamed means the staff, these eight verses tell us that God's authority controls and protects us like a sheperd's staff. When we understand that God is sovereign, then we can say with confidence "I am Thine, save me."
-Raquel
Hebrew Word Pictures
by Dr. Frank T. Seekins
The letter Lamed is used in the Hebrew words for: To-Toward, God, Heart, Tongue, Teach.
Psalm 119:89-96
89 Forever, O LORD,
Your word is settled in heaven.
90 Your faithfulness endures to all generations;
You established the earth, and it abides.
91 They continue this day according to Your ordinances,
For all are Your servants.
92 Unless Your law had been my delight,
I would then have perished in my affliction.
93 I will never forget Your precepts,
For by them You have given me life.
94 I am Yours, save me;
For I have sought Your precepts.
95 The wicked wait for me to destroy me,
But I will consider Your testimonies.
96 I have seen the consummation of all perfection,
But Your commandment is exceedingly broad.
Each of the verses in the twelfth stanza of Psalm 119 starts with the letter Lamed. Because the letter Lamed means the staff, these eight verses tell us that God's authority controls and protects us like a sheperd's staff. When we understand that God is sovereign, then we can say with confidence "I am Thine, save me."
Saturday, October 23, 2010
The Open Hand (Part 2)
In the Kaf stanza, the Psalmist lays his trust in the Lord regardless of the persecution he was facing. The Lord offers His lovingkindness with open hands and it is up to us whether to grab a hold of His hand or not.
-Raquel
The Treasury of David
by Charles Spurgeon
Psalm 119:81-88
81 My soul faints for Your salvation,
But I hope in Your word.
82 My eyes fail from searching Your word,
Saying, “When will You comfort me?”
83 For I have become like a wineskin in smoke,
Yet I do not forget Your statutes.
84 How many are the days of Your servant?
When will You execute judgment on those who persecute me?
85 The proud have dug pits for me,
Which is not according to Your law.
86 All Your commandments are faithful;
They persecute me wrongfully;
Help me!
87 They almost made an end of me on earth,
But I did not forsake Your precepts.
88 Revive me according to Your lovingkindness,
So that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth.
This portion of the gigantic psalm sees the Psalmist in extremis. His enemies have brought him to the lowest condition of anguish and depression; yet he is faithful to the law and trustful in his God. This octave is the midnight of the psalm, and very dark and black it is. Stars, however, shine out, and the last verse gives promise of the dawn. The strain will after this become more cheerful; but meanwhile it should minister comfort to us to see so eminent a servant of God so hardly used by the ungodly: evidently in our own persecutions, no strange thing has happened unto us.
-Raquel
The Treasury of David
by Charles Spurgeon
Psalm 119:81-88
81 My soul faints for Your salvation,
But I hope in Your word.
82 My eyes fail from searching Your word,
Saying, “When will You comfort me?”
83 For I have become like a wineskin in smoke,
Yet I do not forget Your statutes.
84 How many are the days of Your servant?
When will You execute judgment on those who persecute me?
85 The proud have dug pits for me,
Which is not according to Your law.
86 All Your commandments are faithful;
They persecute me wrongfully;
Help me!
87 They almost made an end of me on earth,
But I did not forsake Your precepts.
88 Revive me according to Your lovingkindness,
So that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth.
This portion of the gigantic psalm sees the Psalmist in extremis. His enemies have brought him to the lowest condition of anguish and depression; yet he is faithful to the law and trustful in his God. This octave is the midnight of the psalm, and very dark and black it is. Stars, however, shine out, and the last verse gives promise of the dawn. The strain will after this become more cheerful; but meanwhile it should minister comfort to us to see so eminent a servant of God so hardly used by the ungodly: evidently in our own persecutions, no strange thing has happened unto us.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
The Open Hand
We started our study of the Hebrew letter Kaf this week; which means The Open Hand. Just like an open hand, it expects to receive something from that which it trusts. What will happen if you opened your heart like that to the Lord daily?
-Raquel
Hebrew Word Pictures
by Dr. Frank T. Seekins
The letter Kaf is used in the Hebrew words for: Yes, A Priest, All-Whole-Everything, To Forgive-To Atone, Like-According To.
Psalm 119:81-88
81 My soul faints for Your salvation,
But I hope in Your word.
82 My eyes fail from searching Your word,
Saying, “When will You comfort me?”
83 For I have become like a wineskin in smoke,
Yet I do not forget Your statutes.
84 How many are the days of Your servant?
When will You execute judgment on those who persecute me?
85 The proud have dug pits for me,
Which is not according to Your law.
86 All Your commandments are faithful;
They persecute me wrongfully;
Help me!
87 They almost made an end of me on earth,
But I did not forsake Your precepts.
88 Revive me according to Your lovingkindness,
So that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth.
Each of the verses in the eleventh stanza of the Psalm 119 starts with the letter Kaf. Because the letter Kaf is the open hand, these eight verses tells us that we all need the open hand of God. Cry out for His lovingkindness! Remember that it is not the hand of man you need, it is the open hand of God's lovingkindness that will revive your life and soul.
MY HAND IN GOD'S
By Florence Scripps Kellogg
Each morning when I wake I say,
"I place my hand in God's today;"
I know He'll walk close by my side
My every wandering step to guide.
He leads me with the tenderest care
When paths are dark and I despair--
No need for me to understand
If I but hold fast to His hand.
My hand in His! No surer way
to walk in safety through each day.
By His great bounty I am fed;
Warmed by His love, and comforted.
When at day's end I seek my rest
And realize how much I'm blessed,
My thanks pour out to Him; and then
I place my hand in God's again.
-Raquel
Hebrew Word Pictures
by Dr. Frank T. Seekins
The letter Kaf is used in the Hebrew words for: Yes, A Priest, All-Whole-Everything, To Forgive-To Atone, Like-According To.
Psalm 119:81-88
81 My soul faints for Your salvation,
But I hope in Your word.
82 My eyes fail from searching Your word,
Saying, “When will You comfort me?”
83 For I have become like a wineskin in smoke,
Yet I do not forget Your statutes.
84 How many are the days of Your servant?
When will You execute judgment on those who persecute me?
85 The proud have dug pits for me,
Which is not according to Your law.
86 All Your commandments are faithful;
They persecute me wrongfully;
Help me!
87 They almost made an end of me on earth,
But I did not forsake Your precepts.
88 Revive me according to Your lovingkindness,
So that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth.
Each of the verses in the eleventh stanza of the Psalm 119 starts with the letter Kaf. Because the letter Kaf is the open hand, these eight verses tells us that we all need the open hand of God. Cry out for His lovingkindness! Remember that it is not the hand of man you need, it is the open hand of God's lovingkindness that will revive your life and soul.
MY HAND IN GOD'S
By Florence Scripps Kellogg
Each morning when I wake I say,
"I place my hand in God's today;"
I know He'll walk close by my side
My every wandering step to guide.
He leads me with the tenderest care
When paths are dark and I despair--
No need for me to understand
If I but hold fast to His hand.
My hand in His! No surer way
to walk in safety through each day.
By His great bounty I am fed;
Warmed by His love, and comforted.
When at day's end I seek my rest
And realize how much I'm blessed,
My thanks pour out to Him; and then
I place my hand in God's again.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
The Hand (Part 2)
In the Yood stanza, the Psalmist expresses trust in the Lord's hand moving faithfully in his life. Are we also expressing that same trust for our own lives even when we are going through times of trouble?
-Raquel
The Treasury of David
by Charles Spurgeon
Psalm 119:73-80
73 Your hands have made me and fashioned me;
Give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments.
74 Those who fear You will be glad when they see me,
Because I have hoped in Your word.
75 I know, O LORD, that Your judgments are right,
And that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.
76 Let, I pray, Your merciful kindness be for my comfort,
According to Your word to Your servant.
77 Let Your tender mercies come to me, that I may live;
For Your law is my delight.
78 Let the proud be ashamed,
For they treated me wrongfully with falsehood;
But I will meditate on Your precepts.
79 Let those who fear You turn to me,
Those who know Your testimonies.
80 Let my heart be blameless regarding Your statutes,
That I may not be ashamed.
We have now come to the tenth portion, which in each stanza begins with Yood. Its subject would seem to be personal experience and its attractive influence upon others. The prophet is in deep sorrow, but looks to be delivered and made a blessing. Endeavouring to teach, the Psalmist first seeks to be taught (verse 73), persuades Himself that he will be well received (74), and rehearses the testimony which he intends to bear (75). He prays for more experience (76, 77), for the baffling of the proud (78), for the gathering together of the godly to him (79), and for himself again that he may be fully equipped for his witness bearing and may be sustained in it (80). This is the anxious yet hopeful cry of one who is heavily afflicted by cruel adversaries, and therefore makes his appeal to God as his only friend.
In God's Hands
by Jeffrey Pollock
In God's hands
We twist and turn,
Knowing His commands
But unwilling to learn;
In God's hands
We climb and fall,
Striving to stand
But ignoring His call.
In God's hands
We worry and work,
Following fallen man
In a never-ending search;
In God's hands
We break and die,
Surrendering our plans
To the Creator of life.
In God's hands
We worship and rest,
Believing Jesus has
Freed us from certain death;
Redeemed by His blood
We kneel at Jesus' feet,
Captured by His love
In God's hands we are complete.
-Raquel
The Treasury of David
by Charles Spurgeon
Psalm 119:73-80
73 Your hands have made me and fashioned me;
Give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments.
74 Those who fear You will be glad when they see me,
Because I have hoped in Your word.
75 I know, O LORD, that Your judgments are right,
And that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.
76 Let, I pray, Your merciful kindness be for my comfort,
According to Your word to Your servant.
77 Let Your tender mercies come to me, that I may live;
For Your law is my delight.
78 Let the proud be ashamed,
For they treated me wrongfully with falsehood;
But I will meditate on Your precepts.
79 Let those who fear You turn to me,
Those who know Your testimonies.
80 Let my heart be blameless regarding Your statutes,
That I may not be ashamed.
We have now come to the tenth portion, which in each stanza begins with Yood. Its subject would seem to be personal experience and its attractive influence upon others. The prophet is in deep sorrow, but looks to be delivered and made a blessing. Endeavouring to teach, the Psalmist first seeks to be taught (verse 73), persuades Himself that he will be well received (74), and rehearses the testimony which he intends to bear (75). He prays for more experience (76, 77), for the baffling of the proud (78), for the gathering together of the godly to him (79), and for himself again that he may be fully equipped for his witness bearing and may be sustained in it (80). This is the anxious yet hopeful cry of one who is heavily afflicted by cruel adversaries, and therefore makes his appeal to God as his only friend.
In God's Hands
by Jeffrey Pollock
In God's hands
We twist and turn,
Knowing His commands
But unwilling to learn;
In God's hands
We climb and fall,
Striving to stand
But ignoring His call.
In God's hands
We worry and work,
Following fallen man
In a never-ending search;
In God's hands
We break and die,
Surrendering our plans
To the Creator of life.
In God's hands
We worship and rest,
Believing Jesus has
Freed us from certain death;
Redeemed by His blood
We kneel at Jesus' feet,
Captured by His love
In God's hands we are complete.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
The Hand
We started our study of the Hebrew letter Yood this week; which means The Hand. It's amazing how the same hands that created us fearfully and wonderfully were the hands that created the heavens and the earth, and the same hands that were pierced for our transgressions.
-Raquel
Hebrew Word Pictures
by Dr. Frank T. Seekins
The letter Yood is used in the Hebrew words for: Fear-Awe, Straight-Upright, Despair, Capable-Able.
Psalm 119:73-80
73 Your hands have made me and fashioned me;
Give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments.
74 Those who fear You will be glad when they see me,
Because I have hoped in Your word.
75 I know, O LORD, that Your judgments are right,
And that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.
76 Let, I pray, Your merciful kindness be for my comfort,
According to Your word to Your servant.
77 Let Your tender mercies come to me, that I may live;
For Your law is my delight.
78 Let the proud be ashamed,
For they treated me wrongfully with falsehood;
But I will meditate on Your precepts.
79 Let those who fear You turn to me,
Those who know Your testimonies.
80 Let my heart be blameless regarding Your statutes,
That I may not be ashamed.
Each of the verses in the tenth stanza of Psalm 119 starts with the letter Yood. Because the letter Yood means the hand, these eight verses tell us that when we know the hand and the work of God, how He made and fashioned us, we will be able to trust Him to work faithfully in times of trouble. Those who trust in the hand of God trust in His lovingkindness.
He is Faithful
by Anita Vincent
He is faithful
Faithful to help
Help see beyond the problems of life
Looking into the perfection of peace and joy
He is faithful
Faithful to help carry them in his mighty hands
The same hands that measured the waters
Even that which makes up the oceans
If he carried that, surely, all my problems he could
Never mind the mocker
Who finds talking to God ridiculous
He is a sucker for the known, a rocker to ungodliness
A reprobate mind he has got
To know the living God he cannot
Till the veil over his soul is lifted
By the One he mocks in ignorance
The true living God
I know God is faithful
To pardon the years of ignorance
To wipe away tears that flowed night and day
To strengthen faith in love
Which had caused death by its flight
He is faithful I am sure
For all things are subject to him
So He controls all my plights
It is real
The passion sealed
I in Him and He in me
Love me ever
Leave me never
A heartfelt cry of mine
Always answered with the gentle tug of His Spirit
I just know that He is faithful
-Raquel
Hebrew Word Pictures
by Dr. Frank T. Seekins
The letter Yood is used in the Hebrew words for: Fear-Awe, Straight-Upright, Despair, Capable-Able.
Psalm 119:73-80
73 Your hands have made me and fashioned me;
Give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments.
74 Those who fear You will be glad when they see me,
Because I have hoped in Your word.
75 I know, O LORD, that Your judgments are right,
And that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.
76 Let, I pray, Your merciful kindness be for my comfort,
According to Your word to Your servant.
77 Let Your tender mercies come to me, that I may live;
For Your law is my delight.
78 Let the proud be ashamed,
For they treated me wrongfully with falsehood;
But I will meditate on Your precepts.
79 Let those who fear You turn to me,
Those who know Your testimonies.
80 Let my heart be blameless regarding Your statutes,
That I may not be ashamed.
Each of the verses in the tenth stanza of Psalm 119 starts with the letter Yood. Because the letter Yood means the hand, these eight verses tell us that when we know the hand and the work of God, how He made and fashioned us, we will be able to trust Him to work faithfully in times of trouble. Those who trust in the hand of God trust in His lovingkindness.
He is Faithful
by Anita Vincent
He is faithful
Faithful to help
Help see beyond the problems of life
Looking into the perfection of peace and joy
He is faithful
Faithful to help carry them in his mighty hands
The same hands that measured the waters
Even that which makes up the oceans
If he carried that, surely, all my problems he could
Never mind the mocker
Who finds talking to God ridiculous
He is a sucker for the known, a rocker to ungodliness
A reprobate mind he has got
To know the living God he cannot
Till the veil over his soul is lifted
By the One he mocks in ignorance
The true living God
I know God is faithful
To pardon the years of ignorance
To wipe away tears that flowed night and day
To strengthen faith in love
Which had caused death by its flight
He is faithful I am sure
For all things are subject to him
So He controls all my plights
It is real
The passion sealed
I in Him and He in me
Love me ever
Leave me never
A heartfelt cry of mine
Always answered with the gentle tug of His Spirit
I just know that He is faithful
Sunday, September 19, 2010
To Surround (Part 2)
In the Tet stanza, we see the Psalmist eagerly surrounding himself with the goodness of the Lord. May we have that same eagerness to surround our lives with nothing but the Lord's goodness so that we may be great witnesses of His wonderful Word!
-Raquel
The Treasury of David
by Charles Spurgeon
Psalm 119:65-72
65 You have dealt well with Your servant,
O LORD, according to Your word.
66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge,
For I believe Your commandments.
67 Before I was afflicted I went astray,
But now I keep Your word.
68 You are good, and do good;
Teach me Your statutes.
69 The proud have forged a lie against me,
But I will keep Your precepts with my whole heart.
70 Their heart is as fat as grease,
But I delight in Your law.
71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted,
That I may learn Your statutes.
72 The law of Your mouth is better to me
Than thousands of coins of gold and silver.
In this ninth section the verses all begin with the letter Teth. They are the witness of experience, testifying to the goodness of God, the graciousness of his dealings, and the preciousness of his word. Especially the Psalmist proclaims the excellent uses of adversity, and the goodness of God in afflicting him. The sixty-fifth verse is the text of the entire octave.
-Raquel
The Treasury of David
by Charles Spurgeon
Psalm 119:65-72
65 You have dealt well with Your servant,
O LORD, according to Your word.
66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge,
For I believe Your commandments.
67 Before I was afflicted I went astray,
But now I keep Your word.
68 You are good, and do good;
Teach me Your statutes.
69 The proud have forged a lie against me,
But I will keep Your precepts with my whole heart.
70 Their heart is as fat as grease,
But I delight in Your law.
71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted,
That I may learn Your statutes.
72 The law of Your mouth is better to me
Than thousands of coins of gold and silver.
In this ninth section the verses all begin with the letter Teth. They are the witness of experience, testifying to the goodness of God, the graciousness of his dealings, and the preciousness of his word. Especially the Psalmist proclaims the excellent uses of adversity, and the goodness of God in afflicting him. The sixty-fifth verse is the text of the entire octave.
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