Gimel
“[Gad’lu l’HaShem] Oh, magnify HaShem with me, and let us exalt His name together.”
Psalms 34:3 (34:4 in Hebrew)

Introduction

• Last week we saw the second stanza’s 8 verses begin with bet – pointing to the fact that what is inside is what defines a person, or a family. It is only by G-d’s hand that the inside of a person can be shaped and changed.
• derekh = way. First used in Gen 3:24, the way to the Tree of Life.
• torah = instruction. First used in Gen 26:5, Abraham kept G-d’s instructions.
• edut: testimonies, witness, sign commands. First used in Gen 21:30 Abraham/Abimelech covenant signs.
• pikudim: precepts, to number, to visit, to muster. Like a soldier’s duty. First used in Ps 19:8, the pikudim of HaShem bring joy to the heart.

Gimel: G’mol = “Deal bountifully” (Verses 17-24)

• Gimel = walk, gather, lift up, to benefit, self-will or pride
• Picture = foot, camel
• Spelling = gimel-mem-lamed
• Value = 3
• Sound = g as in “gate”
• Meaning = G-d lifts up to either reward, or to rebuke.
• This stanza shows G-d reveals truth to His “sojourners” – and that He lifts up men and either rebukes, or rewards them.

Gimel Words

gimel words italicized
17 Deal bountifully with Your servant, that I may live and keep Your Davar.
18 Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your Torah.
19 I am a stranger in the earth; do not hide Your Mitzvot from me.
20 My soul breaks with longing for Your Mishpatim at all times.
21 You rebuke the proud—the cursed, who stray from Your Mitzvot.
22 Remove from me reproach and contempt, for I have kept Your Edut.
23 Princes also sit and speak against me, but Your servant meditates on Your Chukim.
24 Your Edut also are my delight and my counselors.

Key Words

• chukim: Statutes, royal decrees. From chakak, to inscribe, to engrave. Commands that often do not make sense (to man).  Examples: Commands regarding the Ashes of Red Heifer, the declaration of the clean leper, etc.
• Found 22 times in Ps 119. v 5, 8, 12, 16, 23, 26, 33, 48, 54, 64, 68, 71, 80, 83, 112, 117, 118, 124, 135, 145, 155, 171.
• First usage: Gen 26:5 (chukot: feminine). Abraham kept them.
• Examples: Ex 12:24: Passover is a torah, an edah, and a chok. Lev 6:18: minchah offering (grain).Num 30:16: a wife’s or a daughter’s oaths/vows. 1Chron 16:17: The Land given to Israel – forever. None of these make sense to man.
• Gen 49:10: Messianic implication. Messiah is the Chakak [M’chokek], the One Who issues inscribed royal decrees.
• mitzvot: Commands. Ordinances. From tzava, to command, to give an order. Directly tied to ahav [love]. Also a generic word for all of G-d’s instructions.
• Found 22 times in Ps 119. v 6, 10, 19, 21, 32, 35, 47, 48, 60, 66, 73, 86, 96, 98, 115, 127, 131, 143, 151, 166, 172, 176.
• First usage: Gen 26:5: Abraham kept them.
• Deut 4:2: Do not add to, and do not diminish.
• Ex 20:6: Obedience to HaShem’s mitzvot is a love response.
• John 14:15: Yeshua connects obedience to mitzvot as evidence of love.
• 1John 5:2-3: Keeping HaShem’s mitzvot are evidence of our love for each other. They are not burdensome.
• Matt 5:19; Rev 22:14: Kingdom relationship.

Our Response

• 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                                                              

• Gimel is the letter of grace, and the gifts our Redeemer has given to us.
• Verses 17-24 show that G-d reveals truth to His “sojourners” – and that He lifts up men and either rebukes, or rewards them.
• HaShem graciously gives us mitzvot and chukim, so that we will be marked as His royal subjects. They are our love response to Him, Who has done so much for us.