Read Psalm 119 at Bible Gateway.
psalm 119 chiastic structure, part one 2014 nov 05
psalm 119 chiastic structure, part two 2014 nov 06
psalm 119 chiastic structure, part three 2014 nov 07
The additions to the structure we are making today are from Psa 119:45-64, the zayin + heth stanzas, and Psa 119:129-144, the pey + tsadde stanzas.
introduction) Psa 119:1, Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord!
1a) Psa 119:1-3 + 1-16 central axis, aleph + beth Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart; With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!
1b) Psa 119:7 + 14, I will praise You with uprightness of heart, when I learn Your righteous judgments; I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches;
1c) Psa 119:18-23 (repeated in 25-31), gimel + daleth My soul longs to understand Your wonderful law / Princes also sit and speak against me;
1d) Psa 119:33-48, hey + vav I shall keep Your law forever / Your mercies + salvation;
1e) Psa 119:53, zayin Indignation has taken hold of me because of the wicked, who forsake Your law;
1f) Psa 119:55-64, zayin + heth I remember Your name / cords of the wicked + Your law / teach me Your statutes:
1) Psa 119:55, I remember Your name in the night, O Lord, and I keep Your law;
2) Psa 119:61, The cords of the wicked have bound me, but I have not forgotten Your law;
3) Psa 119:64, The earth, O Lord, is full of Your mercy; teach me Your statutes; {p}
2f) Psa 119:132-135, pey Those who love Your name / oppression of man + Your precepts / teach me Your statutes:
1) Psa 119:132, Look upon me and be merciful to me, as Your custom is toward those who love Your name;
2) Psa 119:134, Redeem me from the oppression of man, that I may keep Your precepts;
3) Psa 119:135, Make Your face shine upon Your servant, and teach me Your statutes;
2e) Psa 119:139, tsadde My zeal has consumed me, because my enemies have forgotten Your words;
2d) Psa 119:145-160, qoph + resh Truth + eternity of God’s word / Salvation + Your tender mercies;
2c) Psa 119:161, shin + tau Princes persecute me without a cause; but my heart stands in awe of Your word;
2b) Psa 119:162 + 164 (repeated in 171-175), I rejoice at Your word as one who finds great treasure; Seven times a day I praise You, because of Your righteous judgments;
2a) Psa 119:176a, tau I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek Your servant; {n}
conclusion) Psa 119:176b, For I do not forget Your commandments. {p}
The E pair: It is normal and right for those who love the Lord, who love His name, and who love His words, to feel zeal and indignation when the wicked forsake His law. We live in a culture where we have been taught it is wicked to love the Lord’s law. But it is not.
The F pair: Notice that teaching and learning the Lord’s statutes are joined with the acknowledgement of His mercy and the request for His blessing and favor to be upon His people? It is my belief that His law is, in fact, an expression of His mercy and favor. He has revealed His wisdom to His people by way of commandment, which, if paid heed to, will cause the good consequence in a person’s life instead of the evil consequence. ♥
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