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(See: pronunciation guide
for the Hebrew vowels)
PSALM 119:129-136
The pā file. Every verse
begins with the letter pā, which means mouth. It thus communicates the idea of
sustenance. Spiritual sustenance depends on intake of Bible truth.
Verse 129, The Study Entry
1. Your testimonies are
wonderful: God’s testimonies (`āduth)
are truths about God’s character and deeds.
Wonderful, is the word, pele and means magnificent and of a supernatural
quality.
It thus has great value for the believer as he dedicates himself to the
acquisition and application of God’s word.
VALUE FACTOR: God’s word is divinely supernatural. That quality is described
at Hebrews 4:12, “The word of God is living and energizing; and sharper than
any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit;
of both joints and marrow; and is a critic of the thoughts and motivations of
the heart.”
2. Therefore (al kān) my soul has observed them: Soul is nephesh and refers to
the REAL person and the totality of one’s being.
The verb is nAtsar as a qal perfect. The perfect tense speaks of both a past
and a present activity, and should be translated as “has observed.” The word
means to examine, scrutinize, pursue, guard, watch over. It speaks of both
perception and obedience.
The supernatural quality of God’s word elicits the pursuit
and application of God’s word.
Verse 130, The Insight Entry
- The unfolding of your
words (dAbhAr – plural) gives light: the word, pātach
means an opening or revealing.
It is a good word to express the successful communication of God’s truth to
the believer.
Successful indicates not only accurate communication but the acceptance of
the teaching by the believer. Only then will the truths communicated produce
the stated result.
The verb is ’Or, as a hiphil imperfect, which means to give light. In this
case, it is spiritual insight into all the issues of “life” and “worship”
that are revealed in God’s word.
- It gives (lit: giving)
understanding to the simple: The verb is biyn as a hiphil participle; giving
understanding.
The word, simple, is pethiy. It means someone who is EMPTY in the mind.
Sometimes it communicates the idea of naïve – but not stupid. It refers to
someone who is EMPTY of content and therefore “uninformed” but not stupid
unless they reject teaching.
Accordingly, when the “naïve,” who is empty of knowledge, responds to the
teaching of the word of God, his emptiness is replaced with the light of
truth and he gains INSIGHT (understanding) into the things of God and the
spiritual realm.
- See Topic: ORIENTATION
TO THE NAÏVE
- VALUE FACTOR: God’s word
gives valuable knowledge content to the believer.
Verse 131, The Desire Entry
1. I opened my mouth and
panted: The verb is pA`ar as a qal perfect with mouth, which means to open
wide. It communicates a soul that really understands its need.
The verb, panted, is shA’aph as a qal imperfect/consecutive which continues
the COMPLETED action idea. It communicates a natural and uncontrolled physical
need. But it is used to indicate his intense spiritual hunger for God’s word.
2. Because (kiy) I longed for your commandment: The verb is yA’abh (occurs
only here), as a qal perfect to indicate very strong desire. This strong
desire accounts for the physical symbol of panting to communicate his
consistent search for more and more knowledge of God’s word.
As the human body PANTS for physical food when in need, so the soul pants for
spiritual food because the need is so great. The word commandment is mitswAh
in the singular to communicate in general the truths that God has designed as
commanded policy for His people.
Verse 132, The Justice Entry
1. Turn to me and be
gracious: The verb is pAnAh, which means to turn the face toward, and
indicates personal attention. Be gracious, is chAnan, which refers to the
provision of Christian way of life resources. Both are imperatives to express
the humility command of dependence on God for everything in life based on
fellowship and sinless consistency.
2. According to the standard of justice expressed toward those who love your
name: The preposition, ke (according to the standard of) plus mishpAt
(justice). Then the preposition, le (toward) plus the verb ’Ahabh as a qal
active participle (love). The object of love is “your name” and refers to the
character, reputation and deeds of God.
There is a unique quality of life available to those who love God; who
maintain sinless consistency, which is not available to those who do not.
See Topic: Loving God
Verse 133, The Fellowship Entry
1. Establish my footsteps in
your word: The verb is kun, as hiphil imperative. It means to stabilize and
speaks of consistency. Again, the believer repeats the commands of humility
dependence on God. The idea of footsteps (pa`am) refers to repetitive steps.
It emphasizes the overt life and speaks of moment by moment living as in “one
step at a time.”
In your word is the preposition, be + ’imrAh and means, “in the sphere of your
word.”
The only way that our STEPS can be stabilized and experience sinless
consistency is through knowledge and application of God’s word.
2. and do not let any iniquity (sin) have dominion over me: The verb, shAlat,
means to have dominion. The hiphil imperative + the negative preserves the
command expression that comes from this believer’s humility orientation to the
character and plan of God.
Iniquity is ’Awen, and means sorrow, trouble or that which CAUSES sorrow and
trouble. Thus, it does carry the idea of sin or evil – which is basically,
that which is HARMFUL.
( It is a different root from `AwOn, which is usually translated as iniquity)
The word occurs 84 times. A few passages to summarize the meaning.
Job 5:6; 15:35; Ps. 5:5; 6:8; 7:14; 10:7; 36:3-4; 66:18; Prov. 6:12, 18; 22:8;
Is. 10:1-2; 59:3-8.
Psalm 66:18 is especially significant, “If I regard (allow) iniquity (sin) in
my heart, the Lord will not hear me.”
This should NOT be translated as iniquity as in the NASB, but “sin” expresses
the idea of this believer’s concern much better. That concern is sinless
consistency, which is the evidence of fellowship with God.
Verse 134, The Deliverance Entry
1. Redeem me: The verb is pAdAh as a qal imperative – the command of humility
dependence on God. It means to ransom, pay the price for something. It is
used to communicate ownership deliverance. It is not a salvation from SIN,
idea, but simply a rescue and deliverance from danger and death as this and
the following passages indicate.
1K. 1:29; Job 33:28; Psalm 26:11; 31:5; 44:26; 55:18; 69:18; 71:23.
2. from the oppression of men: the `Osheq of ’AdAm indicates the persecution
oppression of the spiritual rebels. It comes from the verb `Ashaq, which means
to oppress or extort. The noun then has the idea of oppression and extortion.
The extortion idea goes with the “purchase” idea of the verb, to ransom. The
oppressors seek to possess the victim, but God OWNS the believer, and protects
that which He owns.
3. So that I may keep your precepts (piqqudh): The verb is shAmar as a qal
imperfect with WE in front to indicate the functional result of the believer
who is rescued from the persecutors.
The trusting believer depends on God for protection from the violent
persecutors and as a result will continue to promote God’s word in his life.
Verse 135, The Growth Entry
1. Make your face shine upon your servant: This is very similar to verse 132.
Here, the noun, face (pAneh) is used instead of the verb. The verb, make
shine, is ’Or as a hiphil imperative.
It still communicates personal attention. At verse 132, the focus was on the
GENERAL provision from God based on His perfect justice. Here the focus is on
the continued teaching of divine truth, personally from God, as the believer
has been accustomed to; verse 102, 171.
Servant (`ebhed) repeats the service humility of this believer.
2. and teach me your statutes: The verb is lAmadh as an imperative expressing
the humility/command toward God. Statutes is chOq, which usually refers to
principles of truth for orientation to God’s plan.
Of the 10 times that TEACH ME occurs in this psalm, 8 times it is STATUTES
that are taught (verse 12, 26, 33, 64, 68, 124, 135, 171).
One time it is ordinances that are taught, verse 108.
And one time it is, “teach me good discernment and knowledge,” verse 66.
At verse 18, we find, “open my eyes that I may behold miraculous things from
your law.”
At verse 27, we find, “make me understand the way of your precepts.”
The humility/command of “give me understanding” occurs 5 times, verses 34, 73,
125, 144, 169.
The provision of God’s word to His people has always been based on His
personal attention and favor.
Verse 136, The Dedication Entry
1. my eyes cry steams of water: This is an expression of desire for maximum
promotion of God’s viewpoint as well as emotional concern for the spiritual
rebel.
2. because they do not keep your law: The reason for this strong emotional
expression is the continued rejection of truth by the spiritual rebels. The
verb is shAmar + the negative, LO, which indicates a FAILURE to learn and
follow God’s word.
Law (tOrAh) refers to the whole body of revealed truth.
The truly grace-oriented
believer is genuinely concerned for the those who rebel against God.
SUMMARY OF THE SUSTENANCE
FILE
Verse 129
The supernatural quality of God’s word elicits the pursuit and application of
God’s word.
Verse 130
When the “naïve,” who is empty of knowledge, responds to the teaching of the
word of God, his emptiness is replaced with the light of truth and he gains
INSIGHT (understanding) into the things of God and the spiritual realm.
Verse 131, The Desire Entry
As the human body PANTS for physical food when in need, so the soul pants for
spiritual food because the need is so great.
Verse 132, The Justice Entry
There is a unique quality of life available to those who love God; who
maintain sinless consistency, which is not available to those who do not.
Verse 133, The Fellowship
Entry
The only way that our STEPS can be stabilized and experience sinless
consistency is through knowledge and application of God’s word.
Verse 134, The Deliverance
Entry
The trusting believer depends on God for protection from the violent
persecutors and as a result will continue to promote God’s word in his life.
Verse 135, The Growth Entry
The provision of God’s word to His people has always been based on His
personal attention and favor.
Verse 136, The Dedication
Entry
The truly grace-oriented believer is genuinely concerned for the those who
rebel against God.
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