THE LORD SPOKE (August 29)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Psalm 119

It’s a good way to learn the Hebrew alphabet. Did you know the word “alphabet” comes from Hebrew? See the first two letters? Aleph + Beth = alphabet. It’s an acrostic abecedary! (Look it up - that’s in the dictionary too.) Every group of eight verses begins with the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet. There are 22 Hebrew letters so 22 X 8 = 176 verses in the psalm. Can you imagine eight verses starting with “x”? And it doesn’t sound like Dr. Seuss at all.

More important that structure is the content of this psalm. Though it picks up a number of the subjects common in the other psalms, the dominant theme is the word of God. Most of its lines are addressed to God though many are exhortations to the reader. The very form as an alphabetic acrostic suggests instruction and memorization.

If you will write 176 verses about God’s word, you’ll soon be shopping for synonyms. Even a quick glance at the synonyms used here is instructive. There are eight principle terms used. Is that maybe why the author decided on eight verses in each group? Some of the stanzas actually employ all eight terms:

davar = word, promise (as in “give your word”)
edot = statutes, testimonies
hukim = decrees, laws
imrah = word, promise, saying
mishpatim = ordinances, judgments
mitzvot = commandments
pikudim = precepts
torah = teaching

The semantic range of each word frequently overlaps and none of our English translations perfectly reproduce the nuances. “Law” or “laws” is often the default translation for each of them. For example, torah is frequently translated “law” and the “Torah” is “The Law”, the five books of Moses that stand first in the Old Testament. But if you see them primarily as Law, you’ve really missed it! They contain laws but they also have so much more. The word torah comes from the root word yarah which means “instruction”. True, if God gives instruction it bears the weight of law. But the basic meaning of torah is closer to “teaching”.

Check out how many times the psalmist says that his delight is in the law of the Lord. Here are some other favorites:

Ps. 119:9-11 - “How can a young man [it works for old men too!] keep his way pure? By living according to your word.... I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”
Ps. 119:105 - “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”
Ps. 119:130 - “The unfolding of your words give light, it gives understanding to the simple.”

Try unfolding some of Scripture today!


New Testament: Revelation 4

Apocalyptic literature! In one sense it’s gotten easier for us to visualize such scenes with the advent of modern cinematography. Special effects have given us many more visual images to work with and it isn’t hard to create a mental picture of apocalyptic proportions. Film series such as Lord of the Rings even give us some graphic cosmic magnitude.

On the other hand, special effects have also tended to make us skeptical. When we see something fantastic we try to figure out, “how did they do that?” Our dubious bone has grown and we’ve become cynical or even agnostic towards anything that might seem fanciful.

That’s a real problem when it comes to reading the book of Revelation. John is describing as best he can the things he saw. Words and human language often fail him as he attempts to chronicle his inspired visions. We might tend to block out or do a reality check on the sensational details. Our sales resistance kicks in at the sight of such “special effects”.

When that happens, we view the scene as something less than real. But God and His throne in heaven are very real! The majesty of His throne room is staggering. With flashes of lightning and peels of thunder, the throne (it’s mentioned 11x in this and the next chapter!) is set before a crystal sea and shrouded in a rainbow. Numerous creatures, human, angelic, and otherwise chant without end the praise of the One who sits on the throne, for it is not empty.

All the focus is on that One. He is thrice holy, eternal, and worthy. He is the creator and sustainer of all things. To Him are ascribed glory and honor and power. We’re not there yet but we can sing...

O Lord, our Lord
How majestic is Your name in all the earth.
O Lord, our Lord
How majestic is Your name in all the earth.

O Lord, we praise Your name!
O Lord, we magnify Your name;
Prince of Peace, Mighty God,
O Lord God Almighty.