As I prayed in preparation for our weekly reminder I was blasted with many FB notices about fasting to lose weight. Heaven knows I need to do that but it is far from the reason we fast as I shared a few weeks ago. I have been studying Psalm 119, of course, I have read it many times before wondering if it would ever end, but this time I decided to study it and I may be in that endeavor for the duration. I learned several things on the way to the forum. It is the longest chapter in the Bible which is probably the reason Bishop George Wishart in the 7th century chose it for his hanging. The custom was that the one being hanged could choose one Psalm to be sung before the gallows. Before it could be completed his pardon came through sparing his life. It is divided into 22 separate stanzas, one for each of the characters in the Hebrew alphabet. Each section has the same number of verses (8) and in the first section, Aleph begins with a theme that repeats throughout the work.
“Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord! Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, Who seek Him with the whole heart! They also do no iniquity; They walk in His ways. You have commanded us to keep Your precepts diligently. Oh, that my ways were directed to keep Your statutes! Then I would not be ashamed, when I look into all Your commandments. I will praise You with uprightness of heart, when I learn Your righteous judgments. I will keep your statutes; Oh, do not forsake me utterly!” Wow, let’s read that again!
Isn’t it interesting that right here in almost the middle of the Bible on page 759 we find the road map to righteous living? Many prominent men memorized this chapter (the whole thing). William Wilberforce who ended slavery in England did it and repeated it on the way to his job in the legislature every day.
I can’t help wonder what our world would look like today if this had been taught to our young people. But for the closing statement of Jesus in Revelation (the end of the book), I would be concerned. Write these words on your heart and remember that Jesus condensed the entire law down to two. Love God with all you got and love your neighbor as yourself. And preach this as often as possible.
May God bless you and keep you, Jim
LIFE does not meet tonight, see you next Tuesday.