I have gone astray like a lost sheep - Psalm 119

[Mendalla]

When I mentioned backstage the idea of doing this psalm, @jimkenney12 told me that it is the longest single chapter in The Bible. No, I did not check this out for myself but at 176 lines, it is certainly lengthy. And rather repetitious, too, though I think that's natural to its purpose. While this has elements of a psalm of praise, it seems to me to lean more to being didactic poetry, i.e. it has a message and is trying to teach.

Bible Gateway passage: Psalm 119 - New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

Psalm 119 The Glories of God’s Law - Happy are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD. Happy are those who keep his decrees, who seek him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong but walk in his ways. You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently. O that my...

www.biblegateway.com

Some thoughts and questions to kick off discussion.

Some key phrases come around again and again in this psalm. "teach me your statutes" and variations thereof is a big one. "I delight in your law" and variations is another. What does this repetition mean? Are these key to understanding the message? Is this, as I suggest, didactic poetry?

Who is speaking here? The poet talks about various forms of persecution ("The arrogant smear me with lies", "The wicked lie in wait to destroy me"). At times, we get echoes of Psalm 94, even, with lines like "When will you judge those who persecute me?" The speaker also shows great faith and trust in The Lord, " You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word." There is also the idea of God as the source of wisdom, "Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is always with me." "I live as an alien in the land; do not hide your commandments from me," suggests an exile or migrant so maybe this was written (or written down at least) during the Exile?

What is the law/statues/ordinance? Is it the literal law of Leviticus et al. or a more symbolic idea of God's wisdom and guidance? What does it mean for us today and does it mean the same as for the psalmist?

What, if anything, does this psalm mean to you and how does it inform your spiritual life?

There are affinities with both previous psalms we looked it in how it talks about the wicked and also how it calls on The Lord for aid and wisdom.

And, of course, any other thoughts you have on this psalm.

And, please, lets keep the focus on this psalm, even if we bring in other passages as part of how we explore its meaning.

 

[Luce NDs]

Are the letters a scattered protocol for equitability that has become, because of avarice, inequitable for the populace?

Inequitable: unfair; unjust.

Thus much remains un gathered by scattered tribes, etc. Can this be, while balanced thoughts are denied by gross strategist (strait edgy st; razor)?

Then, the great choice ... to be or not to be equitable ... and lo' something profound is lost! Follows ... the definition of profound and deep soul ... something degraded by virtue, or vice as the item of interest is squeezed into un thinking dominions ... Julian or Judy 'n Punch ... djinns? In essence ... loss of literacy of ancient comprehension? Then there is the disease of the primal mind ... pons and attachments ... pituitary, amygdala, etc.

These are said to control the stress hormones ... but severely coded ... cor tis al ... endocrinology is tough due to so many opposing alchemy! They hate anything to do with relativity! Thus outliers in the entire pile of notes and letters ... eternal wanderers ... up there fiddling without actual touch! Eire huh?

Are we cognizant that there are only 13K Hebrew words with almost infinite interpretations and improvisors? That's potent, or as the Sami notes from out there in the Kohl, that Jude (in Hebrew powerfully buried in the legend). May explain the diving swine ... explaining the ups and downs in the Aramaic cursive ...

I've even been asked if I am real ... given I haven't attended och'd fiord and read strange tongues there ... I do at at home with assistance of toe*ms ... piggy's of medium nature? Some marketable and some alternate ...

Ever heard of water intoxication? Primal ale ... (a lift)? Then there are those million pound clouds ... Freudian vapours are heavy stuff ...

I read on ... regarding things out there! Hoo wrote that book on outliers? A test! Consider it a gentile exam ... to see what' Cin there ... Cinq ante is like quintessence ... that alternate hand, beyond the even ones as odd ...

 

[Luce NDs]

Was Freud well juiced in powerful Judean works or literature? Hyped ... then deeper archetypical pools ...

 

[unsafe]

Who is speaking here?

This Psalm 119 many Scholars believe it is a Psalm of David ----but there is nothing to prove that so many say the author is unknown ------so we don't know for sure who the author is ----

My view
The Theme of this Psalm is to celebrate God's word and His instruction to His people ---

Verse 97 --I think sums it up in my view -----

Oh, how I love your teachings! They are in my thoughts all day long.

So to this person God's laws ---Teachings ----are not a burden or a restraint to him but a comfort and a delight -----The Word Love here is a deep heart felt Love for God and His word -----this is no flimsy love here ----this is a deep rooted love that this person has for God and His word ------

This Psalm gives us a complete reason to delight in God and His word ------

The way of Sin is a wrong way ---and the more understanding we get by God's instructions on how to stay on the right path the more grounded and rooted we become to keep temptation away from us ----

I think the repetition is there so it stands out and creates emphasis on what we need to know and do to stay on the right course -----God says to meditate on His word Day and Night ---this ensures we become grounded and rooted in Him and His Word so when the storms comes we can stand firm and stay strong in Him and and His word ----

I found this on Google and thought I would post it -----

Psalm 119 uses 8 words to describe God’s Word. The Psalmist covers the theme of God’s Word from many different angles. Each has its own unique meaning and nuance. Just as a guitarist will know there are many different types of guitars and each has its own unique tone and use, the Psalmist describes his passion for God’s Word in many different ways.

8 Words to Describe God’s Word in Psalm 119	Meaning/Nuance
Law	God’s instruction for His people
Word	God’s thoughts and speech
Testimonies	God’s ways written down as a witness and reminder to us
Ways	How God wants the journey of our lives to be lived out
Precepts	God’s order, the way He has made life to work
Statutes	The law or ordinance that will bring a blessing if it’s followed
Commandments	God action God wants us to do
Rules	What is the just and the right thing to do

 

[Luce NDs]

I spoke of this in regarding to the conflict in ancient icons causing confusion over "nu" and "rho" and even more in other traditions turng Dav' into Dan and the myth of Tuatha Danann in Celtic lowland theory!

Where the powers on high dunk their spore for seasoning ... i.e. maturation through pain in the wasteland?

Maybe some relation to recent unravelling of the y chromosome! Manly powers don't like it that women gets two mysterious chromos ... for purpose yet unknown to the divine? Prepare for exploding blossoms ... fields of daffy dils forming Wahls of yeller ... because of the brute besties?

Why intelligence of sex is curtailed in education ... hard to teach some folk anything regarding alchemy and onus about response ability ... so they don't ask about positioning! Thus relating is almost irrational ... with a determined man with one leg lost on Mari awe ... Ave Pat i.e nce? What's a'nce?

That was the former bug ... scratch urge? Ithchi as red fish, blue fish ... there is a distant resolution! Exam of naivete as they look at themselves ...

 

[paradox3]

So interesting to reflect on God's law as a blessing.

 

[Luce NDs]

The blessing of reflection ... some don't as it was once deemed that mental processes and knowledge were evil ... thus some folk did without ... composed little, r nothing as the trend grows!

There we lose it ... a mysterious function of souls ... when the passion hits ... funny sinking sensation ... may be rabid and catching! Implications to the impact?

Then it strikes you ... onus regarding the unseen anon ... sometimes comes to that kind of wipe out ... and then Gone With the Wind! Something got ta burn ...

 

[Mystic]

The Psalms, including this one, are unique in stressing the importance of "meditation" and not just "prayer." As Richard Foster discusses, the Hebrew word for "meditate" is based on the image of a cow chewing and then regurgitating its cud. So the thought is that we "chew over" the imagery of God's revelation and then let it regurgitate by observing the images and insights that surface that aid and bless our spiritual journey.

I'm reminded of Jesus' refusal to explain His parables to outsiders. Jesus feels that spirituality is better caught than taught. He wants His hearers to chew over the parabolic stories in their imagination to see what insights come up for them about the kingdom of God that He has been preaching. The Jesuit method called the Ignatian way takes this approach as its starting point.

 

[BetteTheRed]

Very similar to the process known as lectio divina.

 

[Luce NDs]

Thus we gnosh and gnoch it about! Oh K? Never expose intellect in an overly emotional domain ... the irrationality of mob morel! Toad stool ...

Mind your words or they can run away with something critical ...

 

[Mystic]

The short simple, but beautiful little chorus, "You Are My Hiding Place" was inspired by this verse:
"You are my hiding place and my shield, I hope in your word (119:114)."

I love the thought of "hding" in God's presence, i. e., making myself vulnerable to God by presenting aspects of my true self that I might conceal from others. Do you sing it in your church?

When I was a UMC minister, my services had a central Prayer Time unit that was structured this way:
Expression of Joys and Concerns (both planned and spontaneously shared by the congregation)
Prayer Chorus (short beautiful choruses like "You are My Hiding Place" selected to awaken a sense of longing, awe, and wonder to create a contemplative mood in preparation for prayer)
Silent Prayer (c. 2 minutes: Many parishioners are uncomfortable with silence in church because listening for God's guiding and comforting voice is alien to their experience. So I considered this a vital component of the worship service.)
Pastoral Prayer (My prayers took up the concerns expressed and other concerns of the church.)
The Lord's Prayer (Frankly, I included this only because its regular recitation was so meaningful and desirable for many in the congregation._

 

[Luce NDs]

The short simple, but beautiful little chorus, "You Are My Hiding Place" was inspired by this verse:
"You are my hiding place and my shield, I hope in your word (119:114)."

I love the thought of "hding" in God's presence, i. e., making myself vulnerable to God by presenting aspects of my true self that I might conceal from others. Do you sing it in your church?

When I was a UMC minister, my services had a central Prayer Time unit that was structured this way:
Expression of Joys and Concerns (both planned and spontaneously shared by the congregation)
Prayer Chorus (short beautiful choruses like "You are My Hiding Place" selected to awaken a sense of longing, awe, and wonder to create a contemplative mood in preparation for prayer)
Silent Prayer (c. 2 minutes: Many parishioners are uncomfortable with silence in church because listening for God's guiding and comforting voice is alien to their experience. So I considered this a vital component of the worship service.)
Pastoral Prayer (My prayers took up the concerns expressed and other concerns of the church.)
The Lord's Prayer (Frankly, I included this only because its regular recitation was so meaningful and desirable for many in the congregation._

Like an alien shard 've soul immersed in the body of humanity ... a cruel thing for critters no wishing any sentient consciousness! Areos ... Eros ... maybe pain or the Arche 'R! There are several metaphors attached ... even Robin ... as a sign or Zion of subsiding emotions ... subtle? One has to stop, look and think sometimes ... its biblical like bilabial ... root of lips ink!

 

[Mystic]

I'm struck by the image of feeling lost and being found by God, when one feels unable or unwillin to seek God:

"I have gone astray like a lost sheep. Seek out your servant, for I do not forget your commandments (119:176)."

As a 6-year old, I hated church and grasped none of its significance. So my frustrated parents stayed home, leaving me to bomb up and down my block on my tricycle. On one of these trips to the end of my block, an unexpected transforming moment of being found by God: I felt an inner prompting to look up at a patch of blue near the sun. When I did, I was engulfed by wave after wave of liquid love and suddenly realized how much God loved me. Parents of my little playmates later approached my parents to say how moved they were by reports from their young children of the testimony I shared with them, though I have no recollection of any such sharing.

When I was baptized by immersion at age 11, my pre-baptismal classes were not at all child-friendly. I waded out in the huge tank behind the platform before 1,500 people, the last to be baptized and the only child of 12 adults to be baptized. I felt humiliated because I stood out as the only one too nervous to share a personal testimony just prior to being dunked. I felt lost and just wanted to get my ordeal over with. But as I emerged from being dunked, I suddenly saw a vision of a smiling Jesus empathizing with my plight--the only waking vision I've ever had! In one of my life's most treasured moments, this lost young boy again felt "found" by God in a way that again made me feel like my life had significance to God.

 

[Luce NDs]

Why do people enshrined in church have the pride that they know everything in theory?

It is something to break out of that grind ... like wisps in a desert ..