Psalm 119:81-96 NKJV
כ KAPH
81 My soul faints for Your salvation,
But I hope in Your word.
82 My eyes fail from searching Your word,
Saying, “When will You comfort me?”
83 For I have become like a wineskin in smoke,
Yet I do not forget Your statutes.
84 How many are the days of Your servant?
When will You execute judgment on those who persecute me?
85 The proud have dug pits for me,
Which is not according to Your law.
86 All Your commandments are faithful;
They persecute me wrongfully;
Help me!
87 They almost made an end of me on earth,
But I did not forsake Your precepts.
88 Revive me according to Your lovingkindness,
So that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth.
ל LAMED
89 Forever, O Lord,
Your word is settled in heaven.
90 Your faithfulness endures to all generations;
You established the earth, and it abides.
91 They continue this day according to Your ordinances,
For all are Your servants.
92 Unless Your law had been my delight,
I would then have perished in my affliction.
93 I will never forget Your precepts,
For by them You have given me life.
94 I am Yours, save me;
For I have sought Your precepts.
95 The wicked wait for me to destroy me,
But I will consider Your testimonies.
96 I have seen the consummation of all perfection,
But Your commandment is exceedingly broad.
Each section of Psalm 119 (proceeding chronologically) was given a specific Hebrew letter — and each verse, then, was to begin with that same letter (one would have to view the Hebrew to truly see the challenge). Although this presents an interesting poetic challenge to the inspired writer — the arrangement, nonetheless, also serves an important theological purpose.
Psalm 119 is concerned entirely with the Law of God (also called the Torah) and its structural use of the alphabet serves here the purpose of asserting that the Law of God is the inner core and essential substance of human language. It’s a very deep reflection. But, which ones aren’t, right?
Language is, clearly, a gift from God. Its primary function is not so that we may simply talk to each other (although that is obviously important), but, according to God’s Word, it is the formation of thought in accord with reality — and the world’s deepest reality is God! The eternal Law of God, the Torah, reflects in turn the very being of God, and language leads man’s thoughts to the knowledge of God.
The eternal Law is derived from God’s eternal thought and that thought is His Word, the same Word that for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven. The Torah, then, speaks of Christ, the Law of God points to Christ and is fulfilled in Christ, so the ultimate purpose of language is that men may know Christ. All through this psalm, then, the Law of God is described as the path to knowledge of the truth. The Law “is a lamp unto my feet” (119:105), that “gives light to my eyes” (19:8), “my meditation all the day” (119:97) “sweeter than honey to my mouth” (119:103) and “better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.” (119:72)
As a way of remaining focused on Christ, one may pray this psalm as the prayer of Jesus to His Father, filled with the resolve to do in all things the Father’s will, the faithful servant of God, obedient unto death; the model and author of our faith.
Let us pray: O Lord, ever-keep us Christ-focused. Amen.