Ps. 119:41-56, Additional Thoughts on “Waw” and “Zayin”

From time to time we post short devotional thoughts on the Psalms.  Here are a couple additions to our posts on two of the stanzas in Psalm 119.

Additional thoughts on 119:41-48 (waw).

This is the “waw” stanza (pronounced “vav”).  As you know, each verse of a stanza begins with the letter from the Hebrew alphabet attached to it.  The waw is inserted at the beginning of a verb and is translated “let,” “so,” also,” and “and.”  It is a connecting letter.  It looks like a lower-case English “l” with a baseball hat on, looking left (if your Bible is like my NKJV the letter is placed at the beginning of the stanza).  In essence, it looks like a tent peg.  And that speaks to its significance.  “Let” something be added.  Here is a truth, “so” do this.  Do this “and” this “and” this,” etc.  I am reminded of 2 Peter 2:5-7: add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, and so forth.

In this stanza, v41-43 speak of things God needs to do in our lives.  v44-48 is a string of things with repeated “ands.”  Perhaps this will remind us that the life we have in Christ is called the “abundant” life (Jn. 10:10).  He makes it so!

 

Additional thoughts on 119:49-56 (zayin).

First the Psalmist prays, “Lord, remember Your word on which You have cause me to hope” (v49).  Then he says, “This is my comfort in affliction” (v50).  He sees his situation as hopeless in terms of him figuring out a way of escape.  He is left with nothing but to trust God’s word.  God puts us in situations to bring us to the end of ourselves, to where we will have no option but to hope in His word.  Paul said this in 2 Cor. 1:9: Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead.  Again, But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us (2 Cor. 4:7).

To experience the power of God’s word in our affliction we must remain in the refuge of His word.  If we go out on our own or take a shortcut not given to us by God, we will forfeit His comfort.  So, in Ps. 119, in vs. 51-55, the Psalmist assures us, or perhaps himself, that he is, in fact, in God’s refuge.  Derision did not turn him from God’s word (v51).  The thought that there might be a new path to take, that God’s promises are ancient and not valid today, he ways, I remembered Your judgments of old, O LORD and have comforted myself (v52).  He does not allow the peer pressure of the wicked around him to lure him, but rather is indignant against such evil (v53).  He makes himself comfortable and joyful in God’s word, taking it into his soul by singing the words (v54).  In the night, when he is awakened by thoughts of his trial, he uses the opportunity to call out the name of the LORD (v55).  He remains surrounded by the fortress of God’s word, hidden in the cleft of the Rock, sheltered under the shadow of His wings.

The result?  It is that his hoping in God’s word is not just mental; it is deep in His heart.  It is his possession (v56).  This shows us how the renewal of our minds leads us to being transformed, so we know and do His perfect will (Rom. 12:2).  This is how God’s word can do its work in our lives as well.  This is how the Bible can bring comfort to the soul.