Psalms 119 "A Lamp for Our Feet"

Introduction

Introduction

• Psalm 119 is going to provide us with an outline for this Bible study. By going through this psalm in a systematic way, we are going to learn some important things about how we should approach Scripture, and how to best study the Bible.
• Although Bible chapters and verses are man-made, in the case of Psalm 119, the verses follow the organization on a scroll. There are 176 lines and there are 176 verses.
• The lines (verses) are grouped in eights. Each group of 8 is a stanza, and is organized under a Hebrew letter of the alef-bet, which are grouped in order, beginning with alef and ending with tav. 22 letters = 22 stanzas of 8 lines each = 176 lines (verses).
• Each line (verse) begins with the stanza’s Hebrew letter, and each line is tied thematically to the Hebrew letter pictographically. The psalm consistently employs Hebrew parallelism (e.g. Prov 3:13-26)
• Psalm 119 is not the only Scripture that uses alef-bet or parallelism. This structure is not meant merely as poetic device as many think. Scripture is not just ‘pretty words’ – it is always about revelation of a Person.
• Psalm 119 uses 10 key words that are found in each verse except verse 122. These 10 key words give insights into G-d’s Word itself:
• Torah = instruction; Edut = testimonies, witnesses; Derek = way; Pikudim = precepts; Chokim = statutes; Mitzvot = commandments,  ordinances; Mishaptim = judgments, ordinances; Davar = word; ‘Imrah = word; Tzedek = righteousness.

Revelation of a Person, Messiah

• All Scripture serves as HaShem’s self-revelation. Every word, every letter serves this purpose.
• The revelation begins with the Torah of Moses. John 5:39-40; 46. Yeshua is not only prophetically foretold in the Torah, He is revealed. Not every verse prophesies of Him, but every verse is self-revelation.
• The Prophets and the Writings continue the revelation of Messiah. Luke 24:25-27; 32; 44-45.
• All the TaNaKh (Torah, Nevi’im, Ketuvim = Torah, Prophets, Writings) is the self-revelation of Messiah.
• Matthew 5:17-18: Every yod and every tittle [stroke] are important.
• Deut 6:4: "Hear, O Israel: HaShem our G-d, HaShem is One [echad]!"
• echad, or achar ? Only a stroke of the pen makes a difference between “One” [echad] and “Another” [achar]. All the universe dangles on this one stroke (a dalet only has a small stroke that distinguishes it from a resh).
• All Scripture points to Him, He is the goal of all Scripture. Rom 10:4 (not ‘end’ – telos = ‘goal’ or destination)

Our Response to Revelation

• 2Tim 3:16: With each word we read, we must ask questions:
• How does this reveal the character of G-d?
• Is this something that G-d does for me?
• Is this something that G-d wants me to do in response to Him?
• Is this something that G-d wants me to do with Him?

Summary                                                               

• Psalm 119 will give us an opportunity to see Messiah unveiled (2Cor 3:18).
• It will give us an opportunity to learn how G-d’s Word is to be more than ‘bread’ to us.
• It will give us an opportunity to ask the questions, that invite our response to His self-revelation. All our Bible study should be result in a response on our part.