Sunday, September 29, 2019

Psalm 119 - KAPH (Hebrew Alphabet)

by Angie Ouellette-Tower for https://www.godsgrowinggarden.com/ photo SundayPsalm119KAPH_zps6uhjykzm.jpg
KAPH - Psalm 119: 81-88

The longest chapter in the Bible is Psalm 119.  If you turn to Psalm 119 in your Bible you will notice that there is a strange word every 8 verses.  These "strange" words are the letters of the Hebrew alphabet.  David wrote this chapter in an acrostic pattern and every letter of the alphabet is followed by 8 verses.  It is a chapter full of praise and worship.  I thought it would be fun to study Psalm 119 by summarizing each alphabetic section in an acrostic format.

I did not know anything about the Hebrew language, so I did a little research.  The Hebrew language is written from the right to the left - opposite of the English language.  There are 22 letters to the Hebrew alphabet.  Today we continue studying with the eleventh letter KAPH.
I am also NOT a poet, so I had to research what an acrostic pattern meant.
An Acrostic Poem - is a poem where certain letters in each line spell out a word or phrase.
Example below.
by Angie Ouellette-Tower for https://www.godsgrowinggarden.com/ photo SundayPsalm119_zpszhagaoxw.jpg

KAPH - Keep me sAfe, Preserve my life;  I place my Hope in your Word.

Last week we focused on God's unfailing love and how He takes care of us.  This week our focus is kind of the opposite - it's about enduring the difficult times.  During those rough patches, have you ever felt as if God has abandoned you?  I know I have felt that way but later I realize that God was carrying me through those horrible times. 

"..God has said, 'Never will I leave you;  never will I forsake you.' "  
Hebrews 13:5

by Angie Ouellette-Tower for https://www.godsgrowinggarden.com/ photo SundayPsalm119KAPH2_zpsvees99ps.jpg

Look at David's frustrations and struggles in these eight verses:
IMPATIENCE
UNFAIRNESS
PERSECUTION

IMPATIENCE

"..WHEN will you comfort me?" (verse 82)

David states that he has been looking for God's promises and fails to find them.  He is being impatient and asking WHEN.  Maybe God is saying "not yet" or "wait".  We must be prepared to accept an answer of "wait", which requires patience.  And David continues:

"HOW LONG must your servant wait?" (verse 84)

This desperation is almost getting to the point of a child throwing a temper tantrum.  How long?  As long as it takes for God's plan to come to fruition.

UNFAIRNESS & PERSECUTION

"The arrogant dig pits to trap me
(verse 85)
"....I am being persecuted without cause"

 (verse 86)
"They almost wiped me from the earth"

 (verse 87)

I know that it seems as if you won't be able to make it through the rough patches in life but God will NEVER allow us to go through more than we can handle.  Upon reflection, after you have endured difficult times you will realize that God NEVER left you.

How does David respond to these difficulties?:
HE REMAINS STEADFAST (STRONG IN THE LORD).

"I do not forget your decrees"
 (verse 83)
"All your commands are trustworthy"

 (verse 86)
"I have not forsaken your precepts"

 (verse 87)
"that I may obey the statues of your mouth"


 (verse 88)


Let's remain strong in the Lord, even during the difficult times (or especially during hardships)!  God will carry you through!




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1 comment:

  1. Thank you,for this beautiful example.
    I just read Psalm 119.
    How wonderful his love,how great his Glory.

    ReplyDelete

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