PSALM 119:25-32 |
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PSALM 119 THE PATHWAY FILE: Verses 25-32 The letter, daleth, represents a door. It speaks of choosing the right pathway in life. The word, derek (way) occurs 5 times in this file. The issue is to have a proper standard to determine proper attitudes and behavior in life. Verse 25 - The Physical Life Entry: The believer depends on the principles and promises found in God’s word in order to trust in God’s preservation of His physical life in the face of persecution. 1. My soul: nephesh refers to
the inner man where the real issues in life are determined. A. The pressure of
darkness viewpoint in general. 3. Revive me: piel imperative
of chAyAh has the idea keeping alive, to let live, to restore to life. 4. According to your word: dAbhAr – It is God’s word that contains the principles and promises concerning God’s plan for the believer. The believer can trust in God and His word, that his physical life will be maintained according to God’s perfect wisdom and timing. 5. This believer uses this verb 9 times as a piel imperative. Depending on the context, the focus is either on - (1) keeping the believer alive
in the face of persecution (verses 25, 88, 107, 149, 154, 156, 159). a. Verse 25: Keep me alive
according to your word (dAbhAr) b. Verse 37: Maintain my
quality of life in the sphere of your ways 6. Two times he uses the piel perfect to express the past and present reality of God’s preservation of both physical and abundant life blessings (“You have revived me,” verses 50 and 93). The translators want to limit the use of the piel stem to just abundant life blessings, for the rendering, “revive and revived” indicates that, and does not allow for a reference to physical life. However, the passages above listed in point 5.(1), clearly refer to the preservation of physical life in the face of violent persecution. Accordingly, I cannot accept the rendering, “revive” at all of its occurrences. But it is also clear that there are times when the focus is on the preservation of quality of life reality; the abundant life. 7. Five times in the qal imperfect, the focus is on PHYSICAL life (verses 17, 77, 116, 144, 175). Verse 26 – The Study Entry 1. I have told: sAphar as a piel perfect means to count out in a detailed manner. I have declared
A. Lay it all on the
table in order to compare it with God’s standards. 2. My ways: Derek refers to the attitudes and actions which express the person’s outlook on life.
A. We must recognize the
existence of human viewpoint. Pr. 14:12; 16:2 3. You have answered me: this indicates that the counting out is actually an appeal to God for him to evaluate. 4. And then, once the evaluation is made, humility accepts it, and expresses teachability.
A. Teach me: lAmadh as a
piel imperative. (qal stem means to learn)
B. Your statutes: choq -
decrees for moral and spiritual living. Verse 27 - The meditation entry 1. Make me understand: biyn - hiphil imperative. The hiphil stem is CAUSATIVE. That means then that the verb biyn (to understand) has the idea of CAUSE me to understand. It is simply repetition of the teaching and perception issues. 2. the way: derek-way of life. GOD’S way of life. Thus the value system and modus operendi for the Christian way of life. 3. Of your precepts: piqqudh-that which God has appointed or assigned as the standards for his entire creation. 4. Notice the CONTRAST between “my ways” and God’s way. 5. THE DIVINE VALUE SYSTEM
A. The principle: 1 Sam.
16.7 with Is. 55.8-9 (Thus John 7.24) 5. So (actually, and) I will meditate: The verb is siyach. This is the natural result of fully understanding the Divine value system. It Fulfills Josh. 1.8-9 and Psalm 1.2. 6. On your wonders: pAlA as a Niphal participle makes it a noun. The miraculous things God does in order to provide Divine benefit for his creation. Verse 28 - The Stability entry 1. My soul weeps: nephesh + dAlaph as a qal perfect. It means to drop or drip. It is used for a house that leaks. A soul that weeps is a soul in depression. 2. Because of grief: The noun, tugAh is an unpleasant situation in life which causes some degree of suffering. A. grief situations in life cannot be avoided. 1. The consequences of the fall: a. Gen. 3. 16 - The woman b. Gen. 3. 17-18 - The man c. Rom. 8.20-23 - The physical creation 2. Persecution: Philippians 1:29; 1 Peter 1:6 3. tugAh: Proverbs 10:1; 17:21; 14:13 4. Personal acts of sin can also be viewed as a grief situation.
B. The real issue is how
you handle these situations. Romans 8:18; Philip. 4:6-7; 1 Peter 5:7
C. This
believer recognizes the reality of grief situations in lie and the potential
for depression in his own D. But he also recognizes the basis for stability; God’s word in the soul. 3. Strengthen me: stabilize. The verb is qum as a piel imperative.
A.
in the qal it means to rise up or to stand. Ps. 119.62 4. According to your word: dAbhAr. Only bible truth-learned and applied win give the soul what it needs for stability in any grief situation. Verse 29 – The Correction Entry 1. Remove: sur as a hiphil imperative. Cause to depart – thus, remove or take away.
A. Indicates total
dependence on God’s provision to expose darkness viewpoint and guide in
B. There is natural progression from the previous verses.
Verse 26 - evaluation
through study
C. The way of deception:
derek + sheqer = falsehood and/or deception darkness viewpoint which 2. And grace your law to me:
A. chAnan as a qal
imperative. This verb means to express favor or to be gracious; to grace
someone B. To grace someone is to provide what they need based on the standards in your own soul.
C. God's grace is the
expression of his love and wisdom (compassion) without reference to human
merit
1. Common grace:
Mt- 5.45
E. Further growth is in
view here with the word torah; instruction Verse 30 - The dedication entry 1. I have chosen: bAchar as a qal perfect. This is the word of personal freedom and volition. 2. the way of faithfulness: - derek ’emunAh - communicates dedication to the divine value system.
3. I have placed before me:
shAwAh - piel perfect. – Something is put in the place of priority and value.
4. Your mishpAt - standards of justice
A. The real evidence of
dedication to God is an occupation with his word.
B. The believer who
emotes and claims faithfulness but is not in an active pursuit of learning
God's word Verse 31 - The confidence entry 1. I cleave: dAbhaq as a qa1 perfect means to cling to or embrace. 2. your testimonies 0 Yahweh: `āduth, again, refers to principles of truth which bring attention to the reputation of God; either his character or his works.
3. do not put me to shame:
bosh - hiphil imperfect + negative. A. You shall not let me be ashamed.
B. This is based on the
dynamics of truth in the soul. When those dynamics are in control, then
nothing Verse 32 - The obedience entry: the result of the previous entries 1. I shall run: ruts as a qal imperfect. 2. the way of your commandments: derek mitswAh. This is the way of life that is dictated by God’s commandments; His commanded policies for worship and morality. 3. For: kiy – because. This explains the basis for obedience. 4. you will enlarge: rAchabh as a hiphil imperfect. 5. My heart: interesting image occurring only 4 times.
A. Isaiah 60:5 -
enlarged from the joy of prosperity. SUMMARY OF THE PATHWAY FILE 1. Verse 25, THE PHYSICAL LIFE ENTRY: The believer depends on the principles and promises found in God’s word in order to trust in God’s preservation of His physical life in the face of persecution. 2. Verse 26, THE STUDY ENTRY: learning involves replacing your old human viewpoint way of life with the perspective from God's decrees. 3. Verse 27, THE MEDITATION ENTRY: Only through understanding the Divine viewpoint way of life can one truly meditate on the progress of God’s plan. 4. Verse 28, THE STABILITY ENTRY: God's word is the only stabilizing factor for dealing with grief situations in life. 5. Verse 29, THE CORRECTION ENTRY: Only through God's graciously provided truth can the believer cleanse and protect himself from the way of deception. 6. Verse 30, THE DEDICATION ENTRY: dedication to the Divine viewpoint way of life is measured by faithfulness in learning and fol1owing God's truth. 7. Verse 31, THE CONFIDENCE ENTRY: Occupation with the character and plan of God is, the basis for personal stability and confidence in life.
8. Verse 32, THE OBEDIENCE
ENTRY: Consistent obedience to the Divine viewpoint way of life is based
on knowledge content in the heart. | ||
©Ron Wallace, http://www.biblefragrances.com.
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