I'm still pondering, and reading, and rereading Psalm 119. If you're not familiar with this Psalm, it is divided out into eight verse stanzas. The footnote in my Bible says that in Hebrew, it was organized in such a way that each line in a stanza began with the same Hebrew letter. Which is why you have the funny headings above each stanza. Those "headings" are how we spell the names of the Hebrew letters (aleph, beth, gimel, etc.). Notice how in the first three stanzas there is a give and take happening. The Psalmist says, "I will do..." (marked in blue) and then he requests that God do something (marked in red).
Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD!
Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart,
who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways!
You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently.
Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes!
Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.
I will praise you with an upright heart, when I learn your righteous rules.
I will keep your statutes; do not utterly forsake me!
How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.
With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!
I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
Blessed are you, O LORD; teach me your statutes!
With my lips I declare all the rules of your mouth.
In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches.
I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.
I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.
Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and keep your word.
Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.
I am a sojourner on the earth; hide not your commandments from me!
My soul is consumed with longing for your rules at all times.
You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones, who wander from your commandments.
Take away from me scorn and contempt, for I have kept your testimonies.
Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statutes.
Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors.
Psalms 119:1-24
There is a lot of blue in these verses. The Psalmist is making some pretty big promises. He says he'll "keep", "delight in", and "meditate on" God's word. And he'll "fix his eyes" on God's ways. In the next stanza we get a bit of a shift. The light of God's law shows him the sin in his heart.
My soul clings to the dust; give me life according to your word!
When I told of my ways, you answered me; teach me your statutes!
Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works.
My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word!
Put false ways far from me and graciously teach me your law!
I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your rules before me.
I cling to your testimonies, O LORD; let me not be put to shame!
I will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart!
Psalms 119:25-32
In the fifth stanza the shift completes itself as the Psalmist recognizes his utter inability to keep the law. And he does the only thing a believer can do when faced with his sin. Rest in the mercies of God.
Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes; and I will keep it to the end.
Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart.
Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it.
Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!
Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.
Confirm to your servant your promise, that you may be feared.
Turn away the reproach that I dread, for your rules are good.
Behold, I long for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life!
Psalms 119:33-40
Because Christ fulfilled the law in the place of His people, and bore the wrath for the sins of His people, we have forgiveness and fellowship with the Holy, Holy, Holy God. Rather than it being a relationship of "give and take" (I give some, He gives some.). It is a relationship of He "gives" and I "take", and then live my life with gratitude in the grace He supplies.
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved-- and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 2:4-7
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Romans 8:1-4
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