Tag Archives: Hebrew alphabet

Apr 1 2013

Psalm 119:89-96; Psalm 52 – The Steadfast Love of God Endures

lamedhToday’s stanza of Psalm 119 is brought to you by the letter Lamedh, the twelfth letter of the Aleph-bet.  It’s pictographic representation is that of a shepherd’s staff.  This stanza praises God for his perfection that is without limits, and for His enduring faithfulness to His promises throughout all generations.

Psalm 52 is a song of David that, according to the superscript, was written when Doeg the Edomite had betrayed David, lied to Saul, and slaughtered the priests of Nob ( Psalm 22:6-20).  Verse one would seem to be a very sarcastic statement concerning Doeg being a mighty man, as the act certainly displayed extreme cowardice.  Verses 2-4 refer to Doeg’s false report to Saul.  Ahimelech had been led by David to believe that he was on the king’s business (1 Samuel 21:1-3), yet Doeg reported it as a conspiracy between the two (1 Samuel 22:9-10).

The remainder of the psalm praises God for His righteousness and justice, declaring that people like Doeg will get their just rewards for their works of destruction.  But David expresses his confidence in trusting in God – that the faithful, who wait on Him will be vindicated and cared for.

Read or listen to audio of ESV version of this selection from this link.

/Bob’s boy
___________________
some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog.  All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility.  When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com.  For questions and help, please see the “FAQ” and “Summaries” pages there.

Mar 25 2013

Psalm 119:81-88; Psalm 45

kafToday’s stanza of Psalm 119 is brought to you by the eleventh letter of the Aleph-bet, “kaph” or “kaf.”  In the first three verses the psalmist’s endurance is running low and he prays for God’s help and strength in his persecution.  A wineskin is a “bottle” made of leather or some other skin for holding wine.  The analogy of the wineskin being dried up in smoke is in relation to his distress and sorrow.

Psalm 45 has in its superscript a musical direction to sing the psalm to the tune of a song called “Lilies.”  The king in this psalm clearly points to the Messiah, and his princess bride is His church.  Verse 2 begins with a description of Him that is also referred to in Isaiah 33:17, and Paul refers to the second part of the verse (“God has blessed you forever”) concerning Jesus in Romans 9:5.  Verses 6-7, referring to His throne lasting forever, are cited by the Hebrew writer in Hebrews 1:8-9.  In verse 10, “Forget also thine own people, and thy father’s house” is just what Jesus said to his disciples in Luke 14:26, 33.  Verses 13-15 refer to the end of days when the saints will join the Savior in heaven, and is prophesied also in Isaiah 35:10.

Read or listen to audio of ESV version of this selection from this link.

/Bob’s boy
___________________
some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog.  All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility.  When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com.  For questions and help, please see the “FAQ” and “Summaries” pages there.

Mar 18 2013

Psalm 119:73-80; Psalm 39 – The measure of my days

yodhToday’s stanza of Psalm 119 is brought to you by the letter Yod (or Yodh).  The 10th letter of the Hebrew Aleph-bet is the equivalent of the Greek Iota, and is what is referred to in Matthew 5:18, where Jesus says “For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.”  In the King James version, it is a “jot” or a “tittle” – jot being the Anglicized word used for iota.  In either case, it is the smallest letter, and the tittle refers to a small stroke that is merely a part of a letter.  In verse 75 of this stanza, the psalmist recognizes that there is value to the soul to be had in the trials of life.

The superscript in Psalm 39 has the familiar “to the choirmaster” notation, but with “To Jeduthun” as the instruction.  While the exact meaning of this is not clear, we do know who Jeduthun was.  He is mentioned also in Psalm 62 and Psalm 72, and was one of David’s three Music leaders, the other two being Asaph and Heman (1 Chronicles 16:37-42). He was also the King’s Seer (2 Chronicles 35:15).

The exact occasion of this psalm is not known, but David does indicate his distress at the Lord’s rebuke of him for his sins (verses 10-11).  Verses 4-6 have him asking God for the measure of his days.  But notice as he makes general observances about man’s brevity of life, that the second part of verse 6 sounds an awful lot like Solomon’s words in Ecclesiastes.  Compare “man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather” to Ecclesiastes 2:18,21, and 26 part of which says: (“I hated all my toil in which I toil under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to the man who will come after me”).

Read or listen to audio of ESV version of this selection from this link.

/Bob’s boy
___________________
some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog.  All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility.  When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com.  For questions and help, please see the “FAQ” and “Summaries” pages there.

Mar 10 2013

Psalm 119:65-72; Psalm 36 – With You is the Fountain of Life

tethToday’s reading of the ninth strophe of Psalm 119 is brought to you by the letter “teth” or “tet.”   The psalmist continues to praise God’s word, but here he acknowledges his sins and  his tendency to be ensnared by wicked ways.

Of verse 66 (“Teach me good judgment and knowledge”), Spurgeon, who advocated David as the author, said: “Since God had dealt well with him, he is encouraged to pray for judgment to appreciate the Lord’s goodness. Good judgment is the form of goodness which the godly man most needs and most desires, and it is one which the Lord is most ready to bestow. David felt that he had frequently failed in judgment in the matter of the Lord’s dealings with him: from want of knowledge he had misjudged the chastening hand of the heavenly Father, and therefore he now asks to be better instructed, since he perceives the injustice which he had done to the Lord by his hasty conclusions.”

Psalm 36 – This psalm is most often labelled a lament, but it is more importantly a prayer and song of praise.  It starts in verses 1-4 with the description of deeply sinful people who know better.  They flatter themselves that they will not be found out, have stopped trying to act wisely or to do good, for sin has penetrated their hearts.  In verses 5-10, David thanks God for His steadfast love, the refuge of His loving wings, and the abundance of His love and mercy.

“For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light do we see light”

This fountain of life makes us think of Jesus at the well with the Samaritan woman in John 4:10, and his light of John 8:12: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Read or listen to audio of ESV version of this selection from this link.

/Bob’s boy
___________________
some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog.  All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility.  When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com.  For questions and help, please see the “FAQ” and “Summaries” pages there.

Mar 4 2013

Psalm 119:57-64; Psalm 32 – The Earth is Full of Thy Mercy

hethToday’s reading of the eighth strophe of Psalm 119 is brought to you by the letter “heth” or “het.”   regarding verse 64, Spurgeon summons this poem

“Why bursts such melody from tree and bush,
The overflowing of each songster’s heart,
So filling mine that it can scarcely hush
Awhile to listen, but would take its part?
It is but one song I hear where ever I rove,
Though countless be the notes, that God is Love.
“Why leaps the streamlet down the mountainside?
Hasting so swiftly to the vale beneath,
To cheer the shepherd’s thirsty flock, or glide
Where the hot sun has left a faded wreath,
Or, rippling, aid the music of a grove?
Its own glad voice replies, that God is Love!”
“Is it a fallen world on which I gaze?
Am I as deeply fallen as the rest,
Yet joys partaking, past my utmost praise,
Instead of wandering forlorn, unblessed?
It is as if an unseen spirit strove
To grave upon my heart, that God is Love!” Thomas Davis, 1864

Psalm 32 is a psalm of thanksgiving for God’s forgiving grace. David speaks in verses 3-4 of how heavily the burden of guilt weighed upon him before he acknowledged his sins to the Lord (verse 5), and he praises God’s steadfast love and forgiveness.  He then turns in verse 8 to those he would instruct, to rejoice and trust in the Lord.  Spurgeon wrote of the forgiveness which David refers to here:

“We may lull the soul asleep with carnal delights, but the virtue of that opium will be soon spent. All those joys are but stolen waters, and bread eaten in secret—a poor sorry peace that dares not come to the light and endure the trial; a sorry peace that is soon disturbed by a few serious and sober thoughts of God and the world to come; but when once sin is pardoned, then you have true joy indeed. ‘Be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee (Matthew 9:2).'”

Read or listen to audio of ESV version of this selection from this link.

/Bob’s boy
___________________
some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog.  All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility.  When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com.  For questions and help, please see the “FAQ” and “Summaries” pages there.

Feb 25 2013

Psalm 119:49-56; Psalm 26 – Your Promise Gives Me Life

ZayinToday’s stanza of Psalm 119 is brought to you by the seventh letter of the Aleph-Bet, Zayin.  The pictograph is sometimes represented as a sword with a crown or sometimes as a plow or a sickle .   It is interesting that in light of the fact that most commentators disagree on the time frame for authorship of this psalm, some cannot even agree with their own assessment.  Adam Clarke, for example, was convinced at one point that it was written during Babylonian captivity, yet at other times thought that it may well have come from David’s hand after all.  Both views have merit especially in this stanza, or strophe.  Verses 49-50 certainly hint at one who is eagerly looking forward to the promised return from captivity, which is his comfort in this time of affliction.

It is better in our case to apply it to ourselves as was no doubt the intent in the first place.  We take comfort in the promises that God has made to us all in His Son, Jesus Christ.  It is His victory over death that should make the promise of eternal life a burning fire within our souls.    And our love for the Lord should give us righteous indignation at a wicked world that ignores His commandments and glorifies sin as if it were something to be admired.

Psalm 26 is sometimes thought to be written by David when he was accused of treachery against then king, Saul.  He prays to the Lord for vindication against his accusers, and declares his adherence to God’s rule and to his own integrity, which he refers to again in verse 11.  He humbly pleads with the Lord to “Prove me, O Lord, and try me; test my heart and my mind.”  Integrity is a watchword for David in many of his psalms, and it comes through loud and clear in this one, as he expresses his confidence in his commitment to it, all made possible by the faithfulness of the Lord and His graciousness to his servant.

Read or listen to audio of ESV version of this selection from this link.

/Bob’s boy
___________________
some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog.  All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility.  When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com.  For questions and help, please see the “FAQ” and “Summaries” pages there.

Jan 20 2013

The “Golden Alphabet” Psalm

Note: Every Monday in 2013, along with another short chapter from the Book of Psalms, we are reading a stanza from Psalm 119.  

Hinterglasbild Psalm 119, 22 (Text) Hammerhof,...

Hinterglasbild Psalm 119, 22 (Text) Hammerhof, Deggenhausertal (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Psalm 119 is the longest Psalm, as well as the longest chapter in the Bible (176 verses), and is a literary marvel of God’s majestic word.  If you use a search engine on the Internet, you will find many interesting things about this psalm of all psalms.  Charles Spurgeon, in his seven volume “Treasury of David,” said “The Germans called it ‘The Christian’s golden A B C of the praise, love, power, and use of the Word of God’.”  It is the ultimate acrostic, separated into 22 stanzas (or strophes), each containing eight verses.  Each of those stanzas begins every single verse of the stanza with the same letter of the Hebrew alphabet, using all 22 letters of that alphabet in succession.  In most translations, the name of the Hebrew letter that a stanza represents serves as a heading over each stanza (Aleph, Beth, Gimel, Daleth, Heh, Vav, Zayin, Cheth, Teth, Yod, Kaph, Lamed, Mem, Nun, Samekh, Ayin, Peh, Tzaddi, Qoph, Resh, Shin, Tav).

The author and date that the psalm was written is unknown.  Spurgeon, Matthew Henry, and others extolled it as the work of David.  Others place the date sometime after Ezra, or in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah.  Still others (such as Adam Clarke) favor at least a pre-Exilic date, if not Davidian authorship.  Some commentators have stated that the rigid acrostic structure which the author imposed upon himself made it difficult to maintain continuity of thought and theme.  Others who have been more diligent in their study come to a very different conclusion!

The structure makes it in actuality a compilation of 22 psalms that come together in harmony with one central theme.  It contains ten synonyms for the “law” or word of God (eleven, if you count “truth”) that are repeated in almost every single verse.  It is a guide-book to God’s word,  It teaches us (among other things) about the love of God, what His word is, what it means for us, how we should live in view of His word, how our lives are affected by it, and how others are affected by the way we treat God’s word.

Hebrew children in Jesus Christ’s time and before were taught to memorize this great psalm; and the acrostic structure, along with the element of song, made that task easier.  If God had so much work put into writing something as complex as this psalm, He must have had a good reason.  He did indeed.  A careful study of this psalm over the course of this year – or any year – will be certain to enrich your life!

Summing Up

Each weekend, I post a small PDF of one week of chapter summaries (on the website’s “Summaries” page), current to the beginning of the previous week.  I have posted the summary for Week 2 (January 2013 Week 2) of the schedule I am following this year.  This short PDF documents contains condensed comments about Proverbs 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, with hyperlinks to the ESV version of each chapter for listening or reading, and joins the summaries for other weeks already posted there.

/Bob’s boy
___________________
image © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog.  All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility.  When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com.  For questions and help, please see the “FAQ” and “Summaries” pages there.

Jan 14 2013

Psalm 119:1-8; Psalm 1 – The Way of the Righteous

English: Aleph is the first letter of hebrew A...

English: Aleph is the first letter of hebrew Alphabet Deutsch: Aleph ist der Erste Buchstabe des Hebräischen Alphabets (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Today we begin our reading of Psalm 119 with the first 8 verses.  It is the longest chapter in the Bible (176 verses), and it is one of a few acrostics in the Bible, employing all 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet in its structure.  We will have more to say about this incredible structure in this weekends preview of the coming week.  But for now we’ll focus on the Scripture itself.  These eight verses are brought to you by the letter “Aleph.”

As with the other 21 stanzas, these eight verses employ different synonyms for the word “law” (testimonies, precepts, statutes, commandments, rules).  These verses declare not only that God wants us to be diligent in keeping His commandments (verse 4), but also that by doing so our lives are blessed, and we can worship Him with our hearts in the right place.  It doesn’t mean that we can ever be truly blameless,  but our intentions to live according to His word will give us an “upright heart” (verses 5-7).

Psalm 1 begins in the first verse speaking instead on the path that the righteous do not take.  Two kinds of people are spoken of throughout the Bible – the servants of God and the enemies of the Lord.  It is the heart that chooses which of those paths one will not take that makes him part of the other group.  There is no middle ground.  Those who choose not to take the advice and example of the wicked are happy living under God’s law (verse 2).  Their lives endure the test of time by choosing righteousness (verse 3), but evil will not triumph in the long course of time (verses 4-6).

Read or listen to audio of ESV version of this selection from this link.

/Bob’s boy

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___________________
some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog.  All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility.  When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com.  For questions and help, please see the “FAQ” and “Summaries” pages there.