Psalm 119 Introduction

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Psalm 119 Introduction

Biblical Acrostics

Intro to Psalm 119

Text: Psalm 119:1-3 “Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD. 2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. 3 They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.”

Intro: As we start this study, there are a couple of things I want to begin with:

  • First, it is like any other study, it is not a end all be all study.

    • It is not my desire, expectation, or even will to cover every aspect of Psalm 119.

    • just like in any other study, it is my desire to prime the pump so to speak. To encourage the student to want to study more and deeper.

    • As if often said, it is like traveling to a favorite place, and knowing on the onset that we will not visit all the attractions, or do all the place has to offer.

    • We hope to get to come back, and have deeper experiences in the future.

  • The second thing is, It is not about learning the Hebrew language.

    • Even tho we will be spending a good amount of time on the Hebrew alphabet, this is not to teach us all the rules of the Hebrew.

    • It should also be understood, that no matter what we discover a particular letter or word means in the original language, or in the pictograph, we still interpret it in light of the Scriptures.

      • The word of God is our ultimate authority, and we want to deal with it in an honest, cleat and deliberate way.

We want to add texture and color to the language of the Hebrew, as well as learn what Psalm 119 is about.

  1. What is an Acrostic?

    1. Definition- a poem, word puzzle, or other composition in which certain letters in each line form a word or words

      • simply put, it is like the word scuba- self contained underwater breathing aperitifs,

      • we use it as a memory aid, or even a tribute to someone:

        • Edgar Allen Poe had a poem that was an acrostic to “Elizabeth”

        • There is another one, you may or may have not seen:

          • ICHTHYS- means fish, such as when Jesus feed the multitude, he used two ichthys, but has been used to represent Christ:

          • I- Jesus, Ishuah

          • CH- Christ

          • TH- Theous- Of God

          • Y- ios- son

          • S-Soter- savior

          • together Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Savior.

      • There is a fun one located in Louisville, Cave hill cemetery. It is one of the adjacent plots to Col. Sanders,

        • it was legally bought by PETA, and it is a poem about the Kind Friend of Chickens,

          • as you read it, the first letters spell out “KFC Tortures Birds” Anyway…

    2. Acrostics are NOT, hidden codes,

      • secret codes, or other hidden meanings.

      • As with most things, people can and do go overboard with the concept of bible codes.

        • The reason to use an acrostic, is to make it easier to remember things.

  2. Acrostics in the Bible,

    1. there are several examples of Acrostics in the Bible,

      • Most of them are located in the Psalms, which would be what one would expect, being it is a song book.

      • Psalm 37, 112&113, 119, even

      • Proverbs 31, the virtuous woman, from vs 10 to 31 does the same thing, A-Z

    2. The Book of Esther,

      • it is interesting that the book of Esther has no direct reference to the proper name of God, or does it?

      • It is accepted by many Jewish scholars that the name of God does appear 5 times in the book.

        • However it is contained in the book as Acrostics.

          • Two times forward, two times in reverse, and one time, the name “I AM”

      • there are also other occurrences in the Old Testament, such as in Lev. And Deu.

      • So even tho it is not something we use often, it would have been highly beneficial to a people who most had no way of writing or recording the scriptures, (oral history)

  3. The Letters of the Hebrew,

    1. The Direction from Right to Left

      • the reason most ancient languages went from right to left as opposed to the other way is simpler than you may think.

        • Most people are right handed, so when we right with ink, paint, or lead, we pull our hand away from the Writing, thus, from left to right,

        • but the Hebrew was original written with chisel and hammer, and the right handed person would hold the chisel in the left hand, and hammer with the right, making the stroke from right to left.

    2. The Letters and their basic meaning:

      • Letter Picture symbolic meaning

      • Alef Ox or Bull Strength, leader, first

      • Bet Tent or House household, in family, into

      • Gimel Camel lift up, pride, benefit

      • Daleth Door pathway, enter

      • Hey Man with arms up Behold, to reveal

      • Vav nail, peg add, secure,

      • Zayin Ax (weapon) cut, cut off

      • Chet Fence private, separate

      • Tet Snake surround, coil, wrap

      • Yood, Closed hand work, deed, make

      • Kaf, Open hand cover, allow, to open

      • Lamed, Shepherds cane control, authority, tongue

      • Mem Water liquid, massive, chaos

      • Noon Fish swimming activity, life

      • Samech Prop, staff support, turn,

      • Ayin Eye see, know, experience

      • Pey Mouth to speak, word

      • Tsade Fishhook catch, desire, need

      • Qoof Back of head behind, last, least

      • Reysh Front of head person, head, highest

      • Sheen Teeth consume, eat, destroy

      • Tav Cross seal, covenant, sign

        • We will look at each of these letters in the next few weeks

  4. Take Home assignment, Match the word with the Definition:

  1. Alef – Bet 1. Proud

  2. Alef– Lamed 2. Son

  3. Alef – Sheen 3. God

  4. Bet – Reysh 4. Father

  5. Bet – Qoof – Reysh 5. Redeem (ransom)

  6. Lamed – Bet 6. Nomad (foreigner)

  7. Gimel – Reysh 7. Judge

  8. Gimel – Alef – Hey 8. Morning

  9. Gemel – Alef -Lamed 9. Heart

  10. Dalet – Noon 10. Fire

(SPOILER ALERT- ANSWERS) 1-4, 2-3, 3-10, 4-2, 5-8, 6-9, 7-6, 8-1, 9-5 (notice the two words, lift up and God), 10-7

So Why Study Psalm 119?

  1. First, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (II Timothy 3:16&17)

    1. because it is part of the cannon of scriptures we use, we should have a desire to study, and learn it.

  2. Second, Because it is an Acrostic, it gives us an opportunity to open the scope of our understanding of the Hebrew language,

    1. Not that we are looking for hidden messages, or secret meanings, but to add some color to an otherwise black and white picture.

  3. Third, it is full of lessons for us to learn, such as: the importance of the word, reading, understanding, and keeping it.

    1. It should be obvious that because it was written in an acrostic, it was something that was important enough to learn.

      • As stated, the acrostic was a pneumatic device to help someone remember.