Studying Psalm 119:2

Studying God's Word includes connecting to the story of God.

Take Psalm 119:2 - in Hebrew:

אַשְׁרֵי, נֹצְרֵי עֵדֹתָיו;    בְּכָל-לֵב יִדְרְש לב

When I first looked at Hebrew, I thought...no way!  But it's not as difficult as you might think (at least until you get to the tenses)

Here's how it breaks down:

Blessed    

Eh’-sher

אַשְׁרֵי  

they that keep (add the verb 'are')

naw-tsar’

נֹצְרֵי

 his testimonies (precepts for living)

ay-daw’

עֵדֹתָיו

All (whole)

Kole, kole

בְּכָל-לֵב

Seeking

Daw-rash’

יִדְרְש

Heart

labe

לב

The English Standard Version (a literal translation) says:

Psalm 119:2: Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with their whole heart.

 What story is behind these words?

Remember the story about the people of Israel?  They left Egypt after God sent the plagues which made it so the Egyptians were willing (and ready) to let them go.  

The people of Israel crossed the Red Sea.  

They entered the wilderness.

Moses went up the mountain (Mt. Sinai or Horeb) and God gave him His precepts (10 Commandments).

Those precepts came straight from God and they were intended to protect his people.  God knew if they stayed close to Him and continued to keep Him with their whole hearts they would be okay.  God also knew if they turned from Him, they would stumble and fall.  

God's desire is that we would stay close to him...Abba, Jesus called Him, and hold His precepts close to our hearts. 

Keep No other Gods before me (God) was the first precept.  

Respect God's holiness (don't use God's name in vane)

Keep the Sabbath holy (celebrate rest)

Honor Mother and Father (listen and honor their words)

Don't kill (end a life)

Don't take another man's wife (be faithful)

Don't steal (take what isn't yours)

Don't lie (tell the truth)

Don't want a wife that is not yours (covet - desiring something God doesn't want for you - desire God's way)

Don't want possessions that are not yours (covet - your neighbor's house - be grateful for what God has provided for you).

Remember that God spoke this to the Hebrew mind - the original reader was Hebrew.  They were a communal people - set apart - and God's desire was that they would cling to HIM alone.  

Now go back to Psalm 119:2 and make it your story.  What does God want for YOU?  The precepts are still applicable today, for you.  How do they apply to your life? 

Exercise:  Write your story keeping Psalm 119:2 in mind.  Ask the Spirit to help you write about what God HAS for you.