Give Me Understanding and I Shall Live!
August 31th: TODAY WE ARE READING & PRAYING PSALMS 119-125
References:
Psalm 119 is one of the Psalms in scripture that is written in an acrostic form. There are 176 verses divided into 22 stanzas, one for each of the 22 characters of the Hebrew alphabet. Each stanza contains 8 verses and begins with with a letter of the Hebrew aleph bet in sequence. Verse 1-8 begins with the letter Aleph, verse 9-16 begins with the letter Beit, etc.
Since we are about to enter into the Biblical New Year of 5781, with the ’80’s being the decade that we are in, let’s concentrate our prayers today on verses 129-144.
Peh is the 17th letter of the Hebrew alphabet and has a numerical equivalency of 80. The peh represents the mouth, speech, expression, to speak, proclaim, to open, an open word, i.e., prophecy.
Psalm 119 is presented below with each word that begin with the letter peh identified. For those that are not familiar with the way in which this Psalm is written (in acrostic form) I thought it might be helpful to see why these 8 verses are so closely connected /associated with the letter peh.
Before we pray, read through the entire Psalm and see how the letter peh is emphasizes words that express speech. In verse 1 we find that the very first word that begins with the letter peh is ‘wonder’ peh-lah; peh’la’oht is the plural form of peh-lah; our translation being, ‘wonderful’.
It just so happens that if you look at the ending of peh’la’oht and allow it to stand on its own, you have the word, ‘light’. Is, instead of just seeing the plural form, ‘peh’la’oht, you can see two words, peh’lah and owt; speech and light!
Doesn’t it stand to reason that ‘wonders’ would be formed from a combination of speech and light? Can you imagine the impact, if your speech brought forth light?
GOD’s Word does exactly that!
Your testimonies, LORD are wonderful, they are Your speech and light to us! My soul is drawn toYour Word, by virtue of Your Light. My soul shall keep them near, as precious treasures. The entrance of Your WORD into my life, brought light! You gave me understanding as a gift. You are the GOD that gives understanding to the humble, the innocent.. everyone who comes before You without guile in their heart.
Guide my footsteps LORD, that I may walk in your words. Please LORD< do not allow my feet to go where wherever I want to go. Take me to your house of study, take me to Your Torah!
Frustration, provocation, anger, malicious behaviors, all do their utmost to take me off the path to Your Presence. They pursue me steadily, to harass, cause mischief, distract– anything to pull me out of Your Presence, to get me in the flesh, to cause any type of situation that draws me away from the House of GOD, Your House of study, The place where I can hear from you.
But I yearn to be in the Beit Midrash (House of Study) with You. Like David, my footsteps would go toward the torah. No, I should run to the Tent to study and learn and restore my spirit. You Word restores my soul, and prevents me from walking with my evil inclinations.
Evil can not follow into Your House. Sin must lie at the door waiting, counting the minutes to I leave my place of peace, recovery and restoration.
But I will run to the House of the LORD, where evil can not enter. I shall be refueled and refreshed while sin will languish and perish outside the door. All my thoughts are purified by Your Word. Nothing that is not of You can hold sway over me.
Everything of this world that seeks to frustrate the plans You have for me LORD, draw them away from my path. Allow me to revive myself again, in Your Word, make Your House of Study my habitation.
Help me to walk with a sense of awareness of Your Presence and Your Word, greater than last year. Like David I long for your instructions, your teachings, Your directions, Your Commands.
Turn Your Face toward me each day and be merciful to me, as You do for all that love Your Holy Name! Order my steps, that iniquity will have no dominion over me, my family, my household, my friends, and all those that belong to me.
Deliver me from evil LORD and all those that practice it’s ways. Speak LORD and darkness must fall away, light is revealed and revelation is open to us.
Every WORD of torah is Your Name, every Word of scripture is a way to call to You on High! I Thank You LORD, that every WORD in Your Book, is a Name for Hashem, every verse of scripture paves the pathway to Your Throne Room.
Your WORD pulsates with Light and Life, and Truth.
Here I am LORD, in the House of Prayer and Study again!
AMEN
Psalm 119
129 Thy testimonies are wonderful (peh‘la’oht): therefore doth my soul keep them.
130 The entrance (peh‘tah) of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple (peh‘ta’yeem).
131 I opened (pah‘ar’tee) my mouth (peh), and panted: for I longed for thy commandments.
132 Look (p‘nay) thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, as thou usest to do unto those that love thy name.
133 Order my steps (peh‘a’my) in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.
134 Deliver (puh‘de-mee) me from the oppression of man: so will I keep thy precepts (pikkood).
135 Make thy face (puh-nay’kha) to shine upon thy servant; and teach me thy statutes.
136 Rivers (pal’gay) of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law (torah).
137 Righteous art thou, O Lord, and upright are thy judgments.
138 Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful.
139 My zeal hath consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten thy words.
140 Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.
141 I am small and despised: yet do not I forget thy precepts (pikkood).
142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law (torah) is the truth (eh’meth).
143 Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: yet thy commandments are my delights.
144 The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live.
Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth (peh) : for thy love is better than wine. Song of Solomon 1:2
