Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord! Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways! You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently. Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes! Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments. I will praise you with an upright heart, when I learn your righteous rules.
Psalm 119:1-7
Psalm 119 is famous for being the longest chapter in the Bible and for coming at about its half-way point. It is attributed to King David, who throughout his life composed many psalms, or songs, that not only praise God but give expression to life’s highs and lows. But Psalm 119 also has an undeserved reputation for being one of the most tedious passages to study because of what appears to be, at least at first sight, needless repetition. It is, however, seriously misunderestimated (to borrow President Bush’s distinctive verb)!
It has been called the Psalm of the law. This is accurate but misleading if we think of ‘the law’ in a strict, legalistic way. The word translated ‘law’ in the Psalm refers to the Torah, the ‘law’ contained in the first five books of the Bible, which are attributed to Moses. But we must remember that when we first began to translate the Bible into English, the word ‘law’ had a much more flexible meaning than today because England had a system of Common Law.
Unlike countries that have a formal, structured Civil Code at the heart of their law, England evolved a system of law from commonly accepted standards of right and wrong behaviour. This evolution was overseen by the law courts, where judges would consider cases of doubt or difficulty to bring clarity and certainty.
The Torah, therefore, is less like modern legislation and more a way of life. But even when Jesus of Nazareth taught in Israel 2,000 years ago, it was being interpreted as a strict code, especially by many Pharisees, and this gave it an bad reputation that still lingers today. But where those Pharisees saw rules and regulations to be strictly adhered to, creating an intolerable burden for people, especially the poor, the author of Psalm 119 saw something very different. He saw the sanctity, beauty and practicality of God’s ways; he found life-enhancing guidance and counsel given by a loving Creator; he talked about walking in a ‘wide place’, not a restricted lifestyle.
Unlike countries that have a formal, structured Civil Code at the heart of their law, England evolved a system of law from commonly accepted standards of right and wrong behaviour. This evolution was overseen by the law courts, where judges would consider cases of doubt or difficulty to bring clarity and certainty.
The Torah, therefore, is less like modern legislation and more a way of life. But even when Jesus of Nazareth taught in Israel 2,000 years ago, it was being interpreted as a strict code, especially by many Pharisees, and this gave it an bad reputation that still lingers today. But where those Pharisees saw rules and regulations to be strictly adhered to, creating an intolerable burden for people, especially the poor, the author of Psalm 119 saw something very different. He saw the sanctity, beauty and practicality of God’s ways; he found life-enhancing guidance and counsel given by a loving Creator; he talked about walking in a ‘wide place’, not a restricted lifestyle.
We will pick up this thought tomorrow but, in the meantime, consider whether your own view of God’s ways are more like the Pharisees’ interpretation or the delight of the writer of Psalm 119.
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Copyright © All Souls Clubhouse Community Centre & Church and Philip Evans 2013.
Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Handling money and dealing with debt can be complicated and neither the author nor anyone else involved in the production of these Reflections is responsible for any action you take, or fail to take, based on what is written here. You are invited to put a link on your website to these Reflections. You are welcome to copy these Reflections for personal study or for circulation to family and friends on a non-profit basis. For any other purpose, whether or not for profit, you will require written permission in advance from the author before copying, reproducing or transmitting extracts in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or using any information storage and retrieval system.
Copyright © All Souls Clubhouse Community Centre & Church and Philip Evans 2013.
Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Handling money and dealing with debt can be complicated and neither the author nor anyone else involved in the production of these Reflections is responsible for any action you take, or fail to take, based on what is written here. You are invited to put a link on your website to these Reflections. You are welcome to copy these Reflections for personal study or for circulation to family and friends on a non-profit basis. For any other purpose, whether or not for profit, you will require written permission in advance from the author before copying, reproducing or transmitting extracts in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or using any information storage and retrieval system.
