Bill Miller, Board Member Setting Captives Free
Grace, mercy, and peace be with you all.
I have been leading the adult study at church and have started a 22-week series going through Psalm 119. This week's lesson focuses on verses 25-32.
Jesus grew up learning this Psalm as a child. Every eight verses of the Psalm begin with the same letter of the Hebrew alphabet. א Aleph 1-8, ב Beth 9-16, and continues for each of the 22 letters. Every Jewish child was taught and memorized this acrostic Psalm. This Psalm (like most of the Psalms) is a series of prayers. Many one-sentence prayers that one would rely upon while living and walking with the Lord.
While prepping, I noticed some repeating words: Then discovered that each one was the first word in the Hebrew text: ד Daleth.
Way (H-1870) used 5x in this section (26, 27, 29, 30, 32)Clings (H-1692) used only 2x in Psalm 119 (25, 31)Melts (H-01811) (28)
Then I plotted out these verses and noticed this chiastic structure.
A - My soul clings to dust – revive Me (25)
B - My way, Your way (26, 27)
C - My soul melts with heaviness – strengthen Me (28)
B' - My way, Your way (29, 30)
A' - I cling to Your testimonies, I will run Your way (31, 32)
I was excited. I saw Jesus and the Cross in these verses. Jesus meditated on these verses all His earthly life. (As He did with all the Old Testament.) And Jesus applied all the Scriptures to His purpose in life: to redeem a people for Himself.
The A – B - C – B' - A' structure of these verses pointed me straight to the Cross.
Look at the A – C – A' verses first.
As Jesus' life clings to the dust of death, He prays to be revived by the Father with the resurrection. (v 25) Jesus sees His life melting under the burden of the Cross as He carries our sins, He prayers for strength to endure. (v 28) Jesus clings to the Father's words and purposes to do the Father's will and not His own. (vs 31-32)
Jesus prays: Enlarge My heart (v 32)
Then you shall see and become radiant, and your heart shall swell with joy; Because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, the wealth of the Gentiles shall come to you. (Isaiah 60:5 NKJV)
looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the Cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2 NKJV)
Do you see Jesus praying with you in mind? – Enlarge My heart with joy as I go to the Cross. Enlarge My heart as I have compassion for those who have believed and trusted in Me. Enlarge My heart with more grace and mercy to give to My people. Enlarge My heart.
Dear ones – look at the Cross and see Jesus whose heart was enlarged with joy. Yet, that heart was pierced with the spear and out poured water and blood for you.
We could spend hours reflecting on the verses that began with the word – "way." דֶּרֶךְ derek – way, a road trodden, course of life, journey, the direction in life
B - My way, Your way (vs. 26, 27)
B' - My way, Your way (vs. 29, 30)
Jesus also prayed these verses while here on earth. Jesus chose the way of the Cross – The Father's judgment fell upon Him.
"For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me." (John 6:38 NKJV)
Then Jesus said to them, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things." (John 8:28 NKJV)
"I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do." (John 17:4 NKJV)
As you think about God's Word in your life – is this time in the Word causing you to deepen your walk with the Lord? Is your heart enlarging, filled with more and more Jesus? Are the main things you think about Jesus, His Cross, His burial, and His resurrection? Is your heart so enlarged with the love of the Gospel – if someone poked you with a pointy stick – only the Gospel would come out? (^:
Be encouraged. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1:7 NKJV)
In His Care for His Glory
Bill