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א (Aleph): The Joy of Walking in the Lord’s Way
Series: Finding the Gospel in Psalm 119ーA Hymn to the Law 1/22
Psalm119:1-8, Luke 6:20-26
Andy Nagahara
Psalm 119 is the longest psalm, even longer than the previous one, which was longer. The Japanese Bible describes it as an alphabetical song. The eight verses are grouped together, and the same letters are used at the beginning of each of the eight verses. The 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet are used in order, so for example, in today’s section, the letter of א (Aleph) is placed at the beginning of every sentence in all eight verses in the original text. Unfortunately, of course, the Bible translated into other languages cannot reproduce this style in the same way.
But the subject of this psalm 119 is clear. It is “The Law”. It has the distinction that, with the exception of one verse (verse 122), every verse contains either “The Law” or one or more words translated as “statutes,” “ways,” “precepts,” “decrees,” “commands,” “laws,” “your word,” or “commandment,” which represent the Law.
So we can ask the question of the nature of the “law” through this psalm 119. We tend to see the “law” in a negative light as an old evil that has been overcome by the “gospel of Jesus”. In fact, Jesus also condemned the religious leaders of his time, calling them “legalists”. But it was never the “law” itself that Jesus condemned, but the religious leaders who applied it. They systematized the law, added commentary, and turned it into a strict set of rules. However, the “Law” was originally God’s ” talk/word” to the Jewish people. In other words, it should have been the “gospel” before He came as Jesus.
Therefore, in this series of psalm 119, we would like to rediscover the excellence of the gospel of Jesus through reviewing aspects of the “law” that was the good news/gospel from God. Let us now turn to today’s portion, the first eight verses in which א (Aleph Aleph) is placed at the beginning of each sentence. The first part of the text is a good example of the overall tone of the text. That is, “God gave us the law so that we might walk in the way of happiness.
Aleph
1 Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD.
2 Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart.
3 They do nothing wrong; they walk in his ways.
4 You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed.
5 Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees!
6 Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commands.
7 I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws.
8 I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me.
1. The Law as a way for us to walk (1-3)
Now read verses 1-3 again.
1 Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD.
2 Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart.
3 They do nothing wrong; they walk in his ways.
There is no one who does not want to lead a blessed life, but each person has his or her own way of feeling blessed.
Some people have a lot of things and feel unhappy with themselves, while others do not have a lot and feel they are happy. Are there objective criteria for a happy person?
God teaches here through the psalmist, “He who goes in the ways of blameless, who walks according to the law of the Lord, who keeps His statutes, who seeks Him with all his heart.” When we hear of the blameless/perfect way, we may think of how we are and feel that it is “impossible,” but actually this is exactly what causes the law to be transformed into legalism. People are not capable of being perfect and complying with God’s requirements on their own, and God does not want them to be. It is an invitation to walk the “perfect way,” not to be a “perfect person.”
The misunderstanding of the Old Testament people can also happen in modern Christianity. Jesus said He is the way, and He invited everyone to follow Him, those who had been cut off by the religious leaders of the Old Testament as unqualified to walk in God’s ways.The perfect way is Jesus Himself. We are helpless and small. So unless we continue to “seek the Lord with all our hearts,” we will stray from the blessed way. According to verse 3, it is not to neglect the pursuit of righteousness, but to walk in the way of love that does not forsake those who suffer because of injustice. That is the essence of the Law.
2. What did Jesus command us to do? (4)
You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed.
God’s law, or ” precepts,” in this verse, were misunderstood and passed on, as I told you at the beginning. And I think we can say that Jesus came to clear up that misunderstanding. In a word, it is “to love,” or more broadly, it becomes YourChurch Covenant to “love God, love each other, and love the world.
We are the ones who are freed from the regulations in the law that no longer lead us to love God and others. Jesus revealed that the various regulations were rather inhibiting people and therefore he ignored them. It was not because he had disrespected the Law, but it was a protest against a religion that had perverted the meaning of the Law, and an attempt for him to reclaim the original Law. There is no provision required of us other than to love God and to love people as He loves them.
But this is easily misunderstood among us, and unfortunately there are those within the Christian church who say that doing xx is not appropriate for a Christian, or that LGBTQ+ is a sin. This is a backsliding into the legalism that Jesus warned us to stay away from, and should not be called Christianity.
3. Look straight ahead and proceed without straying (5,6, Luke 6:20-26)
Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees!
Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commands.
There is a church in the United States named “The Church on the Way,” yet all churches are also on the way. And each of us is also on the way of life. It is a way of life that is not satisfied with the status quo, but at the same time, it is a way of life that does not despair of the status quo. This is well expressed in the following teachings of Jesus.
Looking at his disciples, he said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets. “But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets. (Luke 6:20-26)
We will remain on the way until the end of the day, that we are not informed of, comes. The important thing is to keep walking with Jesus, without being satisfied and without despair. That is the only way to be with Jesus. That is the only way to be blessed. So please keep walking on this way.
4. Our thanks, resolve, and desire (7,8)
Let’s read the remaining two verses.
I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws.
I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me.
What do these mean? And what have we been taught at Your Church that should be the top priority in our lives? It is not Bible study. It is worship. Worship is the way we give thanks, express our commitment, and ask for what we want. However, worship is not a one-way time. For at the same time, God speaks His thoughts, compassion, and encouragement into our hearts. I mean, it is not a one-way time from us, nor is it a one-way time just to listen to a message. After this talk, we sing a few songs together to God. That is the time of worship. From the bottom of our hearts, let us sing our thanks to the Lord, our lamentations, our appeals, our resolutions, and our confession of love. At the same time, however, with the expectation that God will speak to our hearts.
(Prayer) Dear God, thank you so much for inviting us to walk through life with you. You came to us who were unloving, and you loved and accepted us. As we walk with you, we are filled with your spirit and are gradually being transformed into people who love like you. We thank you that you not only for teaching us but for filling us with the Holy Spirit so that we’re able to love like you. We ask you, please give us strength and let us walk in your ways this week. With thanksgiving and hope, we pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Summary
The essence of the law is not a set of rules, but an invitation from God that says, “Walk with me.” But over time, people have understood the law to be a set of rules to follow. God came into the world as Jesus to correct this misconception and to help us become people who walk with the Lord.
For Discussion
1. What separates the law from legalism?
2. Why did the law become “rules”?