Aleph -- Psalm 119:1-8

The first letter of the Hebrew alphabet is the Aleph.  Originally, this character was shaped rather like the head of an ox but it changed to its present shape after the exile to Babylon in 586 B.C.  Biblical Hebrew does not use numerals and each letter is assigned a numerical value.  The Aleph, then, represents the number 1 and represents an ox or symbolically, strength.  Let us bring these ideas with us to the text (keep in mind that each line in the Hebrew text begins with the letter Aleph):

          Happy are those whose way is blameless, who follow the teaching of the LORD.
          Happy are those who observe His decrees, who turn to Him wholeheartedly.
          They have done no wrong, but have followed His ways.
          You have commanded that Your precepts be kept diligently.
          Would that my ways were firm in keeping Your laws;
          then I would not be ashamed when I regard all Your commandments.
          I will praise You with a sincere heart as I learn Your just rules.
          I will keep Your laws; do not utterly forsake me.

     Verses 5 and 6 stand out to me right way: "Would that my ways were firm in keeping Your laws; then I would not be ashamed when I regard all Your commandments."  In this instance "were firm" is a verb and not an adjective.  The verb carries the meaning of "made to stand upright; fixed or steadfast."  Our lives will never be made fast until our lives are fixed upon the keeping of Yahweh's laws.  Psalm 40:9 says, "to do what pleases You, my God, is my desire; Your teaching is in my inmost parts."  The Biblical ideal is for God's Word to be so entrenched in our heart that EVERYTHING in our life is colored by it and is filtered through it.  The Bible says that if this is true we will not only be fixed and steadfast, but also we will not be ashamed when the truth of the Scriptures reveals what is really inside our hearts (see 2 Tim 2:15 and Heb 4:12)
     I am also caught by the verbs: God's Word is to be followed, observed, turned to, kept, regarded, and learned.  Each verb has a subtle nuance differentiating it from the next and all are fashioned so there is no loophole with regard to our relationship to God's teachings, decrees, ways, precepts, laws, commandments, and rules.  God's Word cannot have first place among a list of several or many things; it claims that is must be the only thing on the list and everything else in our lives emanates from it!
     Finally, verse 1 says, "Happy are those whose way is blameless".  The word for blameless also means whole, complete, upright, righteous, and describes relationships.  Most curiously, in over half of its uses in the Old Testament it also refers to an animal sacrificed as an offering to the Lord.  Remember, the pre-eminent offering was that of an unblemished bull--or ox!  Metaphorically, "way" refers to the entire path of our life.  One can almost read this verse to say: "Happy are those whose entire life journey or path is sacrificed to the LORD and are made whole, complete, and upright by following His teachings."  Wow!
     Let us spend some time confessing our lack of putting God's Word in the place it should occupy in our lives and reinvest ourselves in making the Bible the foundation and strength for our lives.  As often as I can, I'm going to include a song you can play to prepare your heart or to help you focus as you meditate on these Scriptures.  Turn to Him wholeheartedly and resolve to make His statues, laws, and decrees your all!


** Author's Note: I am going to use the JPS Tanakh as the source for the Old Testament Scripture in these blog entries.  The JPS Tanakh is a Jewish translation of the Masoretic Text into modern English.  Jewish Publication Society, Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures (Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1985), Ps 119:1–8.

Link to a song for this devotion