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.
Yod – Hand (closed)
A Finished Work, A Deed Completed
“Your hands made and formed me; give me understanding, so I can learn your mitzvot. Those who fear you rejoice at the sight of me, because I put my hope in your word. I know, Adonai, that your rulings are righteous, that even when you humble me you are faithful. Let your grace comfort me, in keeping with your promise to your servant. Show me pity, and I will live, for your Torah is my delight. Let the proud be ashamed, because they wrong me with lies; as for me, I will meditate on your precepts. Let those who fear you turn to me, along with those who know your instruction. Let my heart be pure in your laws, so that I won’t be put to shame.”
The Hands of God formed each one of us for a purpose –– to glorify Him (Isaiah 64:7). When we walk by faith in the Torah of Adonai, those who fear Him will rejoice when they see us. They will look to us, along with others who know God’s instructions, as examples of a righteous life like Yeshua.
God’s grace is more than a saving grace according to King David, it is a comforting grace. God is faithful to forgive our sins and purify us from everything that contaminates our walk of faith (1 John 1:9).
David says that he will live because the Torah is his delight. God told Israel that if they would obey Torah, they would live and be blessed (Deuteronomy 30:16). Yeshua responds with the same words to the rich man who asks how to get eternal life:
“Just then a man came up to Yeshua and asked, “Rabbi, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”
“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Yeshua replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”
“Which ones?” he inquired.
Yeshua replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself’” (Matthew 19:16).
When this encounter between Yeshua and the ‘rich man’ are taught, the focus is on the man’s wealth. However, before Yeshua reveals the rich man’s heart condition regarding the idol of wealth, he tells the man that in order to enter eternal life, he must keep the commandments. The only commandments Yeshua ever referred to were in Torah. Several verses after the encounter with the rich young man, Yeshua says, “All the Torah and the Prophets ‘hang’ on loving God and loving our neighbor as ourself” (Matthew 22:40). The Ten Commandments are the Table of Contents for Torah and Yeshua’s response for how to enter eternal life.
David understands and knows both his present and eternal life is found in honoring the commandments of God. Unlike the rich young ruler, David didn’t count the cost of following Messiah; he didn’t turn from God’s command and walk away sad. We must be like David and not like the rich man. We must be willing to give up our idols –– the lies we have been taught, and the pride and arrogance we have embraced through deceiving teachings. We must allow God’s Spirit to write His Torah on our hearts, then He will complete the work He began in each of us.
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