Psalm 119 is about loving God’s Torah, His statutes, commands and precepts. It is broken up into sections with strange looking words or letters which are the Hebrew alphabet. In the Hebrew Scriptures, each line of each section starts with a word beginning with this letter. This is called an acrostic poem. Each Hebrew letter also has a word picture associated with it giving greater meaning and symbolism to each line of the specific letter-ed section.
ש Shin – A Tooth
To Consume or Destroy
The letter Shin also represents ‘the divine presence of God’ or the Shekinah.
“Princes persecute me for no reason, but my heart stands in awe of your words. I take joy in your promise, like someone who finds much booty. I hate falsehood, I detest it; but I love your Torah. I praise you seven times a day because of your righteous rulings. Those who love your Torah have great peace; nothing makes them stumble. I hope for your deliverance, Adonai; I obey your mitzvot. My soul observes your instruction, and I love it so much! I observe your precepts and instruction, for all my ways lie open before you.”
Hebrew Word Pictures
Shalom – שלום
Sש hin – A Tooth means ‘consume’ or ‘destroy.’
ל Lamed – Shepherd’s Staff means ‘urge forward.’
ו Vav – A Nail means ‘binding.’
ם Mem – Water means ‘chaos’ or ‘mighty.’
The Hebrew Word Picture for shalom: destroy, consume and bind, the one urging forward chaos.
“Those who love your Torah have great peace; nothing makes them stumble.” The Hebrew word for ‘peace’ is shalom. The Hebrew Word Picture above gives more insight into the spiritual meaning of shalom.
The one who urges the world forward into ‘chaos’ is the Adversary. Those ‘princes’ who persecute and judge our walk of faith cause chaos in our lives. The Hebrew word for ‘prince’ is sar and means ‘official,’ ‘captain,’ or ‘ruler.’ It is the leaders who persecute those who keep Torah for no reason except that they hate the Truth.
The ‘destruction of the one who causes chaos’ comes from loving God’s Torah and living an obedient life through His precepts and commandments. Submitting to God’s Torah brings great shalom and nothing, not even lies and deceptions, can make you stumble. This is the reason David’s heart fears and respects God’s Word –– it keeps him from stumbling.
David rejoices in the promises of God for they are a great treasure to him. Yeshua compares this ‘treasure’ to the coming Kingdom: “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for fine pearls. On finding one very valuable pearl he went away, sold everything he owned and bought it” (Matthew 13:45-46). Seven times a day David halal or praises God for His righteous rulings. The Hebrew word halal means celebrate, give glory, sing, be worthy of praise, and shine. From halal comes halleluyah or Praise Yah.
David’s last statement, “for all my ways lie open before you,” reveals a man who is not afraid of being open and honest with God. He is not afraid of being convicted of his sin nor his need to repent. When the prophet Nathan confronts him about his adulterous relationship with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband, David immediately repents and writes Psalm 51. The Torah pointed out his sin; it also brought joy when he received salvation.
David hopes for salvation or yeshua. In that verse, the Hebrew uses yod-hey-vav-hey for Adonai meaning that ‘salvation’ is from yod-hey-vav-hey. This salvation is desired for the immediate struggles in his life, but also for the future promise of an eternal kingdom.
God is going to raise King David from the dead in the Messianic Era; “they will serve Adonai their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them” (Jeremiah 30:9). King David will be prince over Israel while Yeshua rules the nations of the world from Jerusalem. Those who are like King David, who consume and devour the Torah of God, will experience the first resurrection and reign with Messiah for one thousand years (Revelation 20:6). King Yeshua and his priesthood, King David and his priesthood will bring forth the covenant of shalom and proclaim God’s righteous rulings (Numbers 25:12, Hebrews 13:20).
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