Psalm 119:153-160: God's Word requires a heavy choice

Psalm 119:153 “Look on my affliction and deliver me, for I do not forget your law.”
Psalm 119:160 “The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.”

I just love how the Bible has so many interesting things in it. Did you know that there is foreshadowing of Jesus' statement in Matthew 19:30, about the last being first and the first being last? Yes! The Hebrew alphabet contains twenty two letters, the 19th and 20th are Qoph and Resh. Last week we discussed Qoph, which is the idea of Holiness, but is formed in the idealized pictograph of the back of a head (Moses was allowed to see God's back, remember? Exodus 33:19-22) Its also denotes “Last” as well as Holiness. Resh means “First” and can also denote the head of something or leader. Resh has one other very interesting connotation. It connotates the point of choice, the point at which no matter what is decided everything else will change or must change - there is no middle ground or continuing on as before.

Now why this tepid, boring lecture on the intricacies of the Hebrew alphabet? First of all, “First” follows “Last” in the alphabet, rather than the normal and standard approach of “First” being first. Jesus used this idea when He gave His parable about the field workers and their wages. Secondly, the Psalmist's writing in this section (v.153-160) actually precedes the preceding section (v.145-152). The earlier section was about Davids earnest seeking after holiness and deliverance while this section is David crying out initially for help. In a way this section is about David's choices that led to the rest of this Psalm. Extrapolating further, it was David's choice stepping out on this road of relying totally on God rather than himself for deliverance, uprightness, loyalty, perseverance, etc. that leads to all the other psalms that he wrote. He wrote that at the beginning of this adventure in serving God Most High, he understood that all of God's words were true, and all of God's commands and precepts were immutable. He wrote that he chose to willingly and eagerly follow God's way without recourse to his own. He wrote that he was totally surrendered and committed to God to the point that he was unable to stand anyone who would willfully chose against God's ways. He was happy with his choice no matter what, despite the results of alienation from his family, being hunted down by his King, hunted by the enemies of his people (who also had rejected him despite his endeavors on their behalf),having his wife leave him while he was on the run, and even having one of his son's lead a coup against him. He was content with his choice to absolutely without reservations follow God's word. He considered it the best way a person could live – the best choice that could be made.

That is a challenge to us. Do we live out our choice like David did? Do we see things in the same light? Sure we have our problems, but do they compare to David's? Do they compare to Job's? No, not really. We are not fugitives in our own land with a price on our head. We have not lost our family and friends because of following God. We have not lost everything because we chose God. We have not faced the issues Job faced, let alone David. That in itself should encourage us. The sum of God's word is truth, and thus worth observing. Lets make a renewed effort to seek after God's ways and not our own despite the headaches and heartaches we will face.

Faith is a living power from Heaven
That grasps the promise God hath given,
A trust that cannot be o’erthrown,
Fixed heartily on Christ alone.