Psalm 119 is known as an alphabet acrostic poem as each section begins with a different letter of the Hebrew alphabet. In Hebrew it is referred to as ashrei temimei derech meaning “happy are those whose way is perfect.” It is the prayer of one who delights in and lives by the Torah, God’s teachings and instructions.
Hebrew letters have pictures attached to them. For example, the alef, or first letter, is a picture of an oxen’s horns and means ‘strong’ or ‘first.’ Tav, or the last letter, is a picture of crossed sticks and means ‘sign’ or ‘covenant.’ One way to count 22 days of the omer is to read one section of Psalm 119 each day along with a complimentary verse or two from the Gospels, words spoken by Yeshua. For a little more in-depth look at the Hebrew letters, click on the letter.
Counting the Omer – Day 1
“How happy are those whose way of life is blameless, who live by the Torah of Yahweh” (Psalm 119:1).
“Yeshua told him, “‘You are to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.’This is the greatest and most important commandment. And a second is similar to it, ‘You are to love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Matthew 22:37-39).
Counting the Omer – Day 2
“I seek you with all my heart; don’t let me stray from your commandments. I treasure your word in my heart so that I won’t sin against you” (Psalm 119:11).
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21).
Counting the Omer – Day 3
Gimel – Camel: Self-will or Pride – ג
“Open my eyes, so that I will see wonders from your Torah…. You rebuke the proud, the cursed, who stray from your commandments” (Psalm 119:18, 21).
“But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear” (Matthew 13:16).
Counting the Omer – Day 4
Dalet – Door: Path or Door – ד
“Keep deceitful ways far from me, and favor me with your Torah…. I choose the way of trust; I set your rulings before me. I cling to your instruction….” (Psalm 119:29-31).
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).
Counting the Omer – Day 5
“Teach me Yahweh, the way of your laws; keeping them will be its own reward for me. Give me understanding; then I will keep your Torah; I will observe it with all my heart” (Psalm 119: 33-34).
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever – the Spirit of truth” (John 14:16-17).
Counting the Omer – Day 6
“May your grace come to me, Yahweh, your salvation (Yeshua), as you promised; then I will have an answer for those who taunt me; for I trust in your word. Don’t take away completely my power to speak the truth; for I put my hope in your rulings; and I will keep your Torah always, forever and ever” (Psalm 119:41-44).
“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:19).
Counting the Omer – Day 7
Zayin – Weapon, Sword: To Cut or Pierce – ז
“Though the arrogant scorn me completely, I have not turned away from your Torah. I remember your name, Yahweh, at night; and I observe your Torah. This comfort has come to me, because I observe your precepts.” (Psalm 119:51, 55-56).
“You, therefore, pray like this: ‘Our Father in heaven! May your Name be kept holy” (Matthew 6:9).
Counting the Omer – Day 8
Chet – Fence: Protect or Guard – ח
“Even when the cords of the wicked close around me, I don’t forget your Torah. At midnight I rise to give you thanks because of your righteous rulings” (Psalm 119:61).
“At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect” (Matthew 24:23-24).
Counting the Omer – Day 9
“Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies, I keep your precepts with all my heart…. The Torah you have spoken means more to me than a fortune in gold or silver” (Psalm 119:72).
“You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44).
Counting the Omer – Day 10
Yod – Hand (closed): A Completed Deed or Work – י
“Your hands made and formed me; give me understanding, so I can learn your commandments. Let your grace comfort me, in keeping with your promise to your servant …. for your Torah is my delight” (Psalm 119:73, 76-77).
“As he spoke, a could came and enveloped them … and a voice came out of the cloud saying, ‘This is my Son, whom I love chosen. Listen to him!” (Luke 9:35-37).
Counting the Omer – Day 11
Kaf – Hand (open like a palm): To Allow or Cover – כ
“The arrogant have dug pits for me to fall in; this is not in keeping with your Torah! All your commandments show your faithfulness; they are hounding me with their lies. Help me!” (Psalm 119:85-86).
“Let them be. They are blind guides. When a blind man guides another blind man, both will fall in a pit” (Matthew 15:14).
Counting the Omer – Day 12
Lamed – Shepherd’s Staff: To Prod or Urge Forward – ל
“Your Word continues forever, Yahweh, firmly fixed in heaven; your faithfulness through all generations; you established the earth and it stands. Yes, it stands today, in keeping with your rulings; for all things are your servants. If your Torah had not been my delight, I would have perished in my distress” (Psalm 119:89-92).
“Yes indeed! I tell you that until heaven and earth pass away, not so much as a yod or a stroke will pass from the Torah – not until everything that must happen has happened” (Matthew 5:18).
Counting the Omer – Day 13
“How I love your Torah! I meditate on it all day. I am wiser than my foes because your commands are mine forever. I understand more than my elders because I keep your precepts” (Psalm 119:97-98).
“Yeshua answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water…. Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:10-14).
Counting the Omer – Day 14
“Lord, give me life, in keeping with your word…. I am continually taking my life in my hands, yet I have not forgotten your Torah” (Psalm 119:108-109)
“Yeshua said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26).
Counting the Omer – Day 15
Samech – Prop: Support or Encourage – ס
“I hate double minded people, but I love your Torah…. Support me; and I will be saved, always putting my attention on your laws” (Psalm 119:113, 117).
“Yeshua also said to them, “Pay attention to what you are hearing! The measure with which you measure out will be used to measure to you — and more besides! For anyone who has something will be given more; but from anyone who has nothing, even what he does have will be taken away” (Mark 4:24-25).
Counting the Omer – Day 16
Ayin – Eye: See or Understand – ע
“My eyes fail from longing for your salvation (Yeshua) and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise. … The time has come for Yahweh to act, because they are breaking your Torah” (Psalm 119: 123, 126).
“But Yeshua came and touched them. “Get up! he said, “Don’t be afraid.” So they opened their eyes, looked up and saw only Yeshua by himself” (Matthew 17:7-8).
Counting the Omer – Day 17
Peh – Mouth: Speak or Open – פ
“My mouth is wide open, as I pant with longing for your commandments. …Rivers of tears flow down from my eyes, because they don’t observe your Torah” (Psalm 119:131,136).
“Man does not live by bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of Yahweh” (Matthew 4:4).
Counting the Omer – Day 18
Tzadik – Fishhook: Pull Toward, Desire – צ
“Your righteousness is eternal righteousness, and your Torah is truth. Trouble and distress have overtaken me, but your commandments are my delight” (Psalm 119: 142-143).
“Set them apart for holiness by means of the truth – your word is truth” (John 17:17).
Counting the Omer – Day 19
Koof – Back of the Head: Past, What Follows – ק
“The pursuers of carnality are getting close; they are distancing themselves from your Torah. You are close by, Yahweh, and all your commandments are truth. Long ago I learned from your instruction that you established it forever” (Psalm 119:151-152).
“…And many people’s love will grow cold because of increased distance from Torah. But whoever hold out till the end will be delivered” (Matthew 24:12-13).
Counting the Omer – Day 20
Reysh – Head: Highest, Most Important Person – ר
“Look at my distress, and rescue me, for I do not forget your Torah. Plead my cause, and redeem me; in keeping with your promise, revive me” (Psalm 119:153-154).
“I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given to me, because they are yours. …I pray not only for these, but also for those who will trust in me because of their word…” (John 17:9,20).
Counting the Omer – Day 21
Shin – Tooth: Consume or Destroy – ש
“Those who love your Torah have great peace, nothing makes them stumble” (Psalm 119:165).
“How blessed are those who make peace! for they will be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9).
Counting the Omer – Day 22
Tav – Sign, Mark: Sign, Seal or Covenant – ת
“I long for your deliverance, Yahweh; and your Torah is my delight. … I strayed like a lost sheep; seek out your servant for I do not forget your commandments” (Psalm 119:174,176).
“Come, celebrate with me, because I have found my lost sheep!” (Luke 15:6).
All Scriptures from New International Version or Complete Jewish Bible (David Stern).
©2013 Tentstake Ministries Publishing, all rights reserved. No copying or reproducing of this article without crediting the author or Tentstake Ministries Publishing.
Shalom and blessings! Thanks, this looks good, but what happens from day 23 onwards?
Shalom … good question. Count the Omer with Psalm 119 is just an idea of Scripture that can be read for 23 days of the omer. Many also read the book of Ruth during this time, see Counting the Omer – Ha Sefirat for more suggestions. Psalm 19 also speaks of the blessing of Torah. Perhaps I should include some more? Thanks for your suggestion and imput. Chag Sameach.
will be nice to have the 50 days of omer. ty.
Thank you sharing this great idea! This takes care of half the Omer. Or, one can use each section for 2 days to stretch it out, and the repetition helps the words take a deeper root. I love this idea as I am new to this practice and tend to forget to count. I think this will be very helpful. All the Father’s best to you all as you continue to trust and obey Him!!
Reading the book of Ruth during the omer is another way to ‘count the days’ as the events surrounding Ruth and Boaz happened during the counting of the omer. I have also found that putting out a jar and placing some barley in it helps to remember too. May the LORD bless you as you grow in these new practices that are a vision of the Messiah.