Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes; and I will keep it to the end. Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart. Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it. Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain! Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.
Psalm 119:33-37
As the Torah was not meant to be interpreted narrowly like modern legislation, Psalm 119 uses a variety of words to describe God’s ways and how they can be known.
- Statute: like the word ‘law’, this refers to something more like the English Common Law, commonly accepted and well established standards of right and wrong, than modern Acts of Parliament.
- Rules: referring to judgments, like court judgments, that bring clarity and certainty to situations of difficulty or doubt.
- Ordinances: what we might today also call statutory instruments and by-laws, for specific people, places or times.
- Commandments: particular orders for specific situations, such as a policeman might give when taking control of a difficult situation.
- Testimonies and Word: direct revelations of God’s will, perhaps through a prophet.
The writer of Psalm 119 also uses a variety of words to describe his response to these expressions of God’s ways: walk in, keep, fix his eyes on (or ‘respect’ in older translations), meditate on and observe. The writer sees this lifestyle as much more profitable than any material wealth he might get by doing his own thing and going his own way.
In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches… The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces… Therefore I love your commandments above gold, above fine gold… I rejoice at your word like one who finds great spoil (or treasure).
This brings me back to a point I emphasised during the Advent Reflections; a point that shines through Jesus of Nazareth’s Sermon on the Mount: that money is a secondary consideration in life. But, of course, this does not mean that money is unimportant or can be used carelessly. I will conclude this brief reflection on Psalm 119 tomorrow.
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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.
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