Read Psalm 119 at Bible Gateway.
psalm 119 introduction 2014 sep 29
psalm 119:1-16 chiastic structure 2014 sep 30
psalm 119:17-32 chiastic structure 2014 oct 01
psalm 119:33-48 chiastic structure 2014 oct 02
psalm 119:49-64 reverse parallelism 2014 oct 03
psalm 119:65-72 reverse parallelism 2014 oct 20
psalm 119:73-80 reverse parallelism 2014 oct 21
psalm 119:81-88 reverse parallelism 2014 oct 22
1a) Psa 119:89, Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven;
1b) Psa 119:90-91, The eternal faithfulness of God:
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;
1c) Psa 119:92a, Unless Your law had been my delight;
1d) Psa 119:92b, I would then have perished in my affliction;
1e) Psa 119:93a, I will never forget Your precepts;
1f) Psa 119:93b, For by them You have given me life;
2f) Psa 119:94a, I am Yours, save me;
2e) Psa 119:94b, For I have sought Your precepts;
2d) Psa 119:95a, The wicked wait for me to destroy me;
2c) Psa 119:95b, But I will consider Your testimonies;
2b) Psa 119:96a, I have seen the consummation of all perfection;
2a) Psa 119:96b, But Your commandment is exceedingly broad. {p}
A pair: The word of the Lord is limitless respective of time (Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven) and space (Your commandment is exceedingly broad – spacious, expansive).
B pair: The Hebrew of 2B is difficult, even for Hebrew scholars. The Hebrew Bible in English translates it, “I have seen an end to every purpose.” Rabbi Benjamin Segal translates it, “For all that wastes away, I have seen the limit.” As it is paired with 1B, with the theme of the eternal faithfulness of God, my sense of 2B is the limit of His creation. He is eternal, His creation has its end. It makes sense also when you consider verse 96 as its own unit: That which is created has a limit, and end point; His commandment (which created and upholds that which is created) has no limit, no boundary.
C pair: I delight in Your law, I consider Your testimonies. D pair: I would have perished / Since the wicked lie in wait to destroy me. E pair: I will never forget Your precepts / I have sought Your precepts. F pair: By them You have given me life / Save me.
Does the Psalmist mean by vs 93, “I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have given me life,” that obeying precepts secures us salvation? I think it means that the blessing of life on this side of heaven comes upon the one who does not forget the Lord’s precepts. His precepts, statutes, and commandments express His wisdom, which, if followed, causes crooked paths to straighten and helps us to avoid cursed pitfalls of our own making. Do not fear to walk in the wisdom of the Lord’s ways expressed by His commandments! For His commandment is eternal, settled in heaven, and exceedingly limitless! ♥
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