Understanding the Word is the Greatest - Lamedh - Psalm 119:89-96

Lamedh (Verses 89-96)

Lamedh is an ox goad that is used to get an ox moving. It can mean learning or teaching. When Jesus said to Paul, “It is hard for you to kick against the goads,” he may have been referring to Paul coming against the Scriptural teaching concerning the Messiah with a traditional Jewish understanding of the Messiah. The word also refers to correction, learning and the fear of God. Lamedh is the tallest and the middle letter of the Hebrew alphabet, so it appears to tower over the other letters as central and most important.

89 Your word, Lord, is eternal;
     it stands firm in the heavens.
90 Your faithfulness continues through all generations;
     you established the earth, and it endures.
91 Your laws endure to this day,
     for all things serve you.
92 If your law had not been my delight,
     I would have perished in my affliction.
93 I will never forget your precepts,
     for by them you have preserved my life.
94 Save me, for I am yours;
     I have sought out your precepts.
95 The wicked are waiting to destroy me,
     but I will ponder your statutes.
96 To all perfection I see a limit,
     but your commands are boundless.

The tallest letter of the Hebrew alphabet is used to head a set of verses that attest to the established, eternal and enduring Truth of God’s Word (89). Understanding of the Word is essential, since all things are based on it (90-91), and without it, we perish in both time and eternity (92-93). God has revealed himself in the Scriptures, but also in his created universe. Because this general revelation is available in nature, all mankind can seek, study and apply many of God’s eternal principles (90-91), and this understanding is of utmost importance. Throughout the psalmist’s life the precepts of God’s eternal Truth have preserved him
(93). The last verse in this section makes a distinction between created things that are limited and the eternal (“boundless”) Truth of God (96).Knowing, understanding, and applying this boundless Truth in a universe with limits, delivers us and preserves our life in time and in eternity when the wicked seek to destroy it (95). This is the greatest Truth.


Galyn Wiemers
Generation Word
http://www.generationword.com