the word in poetry

Good morning friends,
There's an interesting structure going on here too. Psalms are poems or songs, so the structure of the verses is often very carefully arranged. This section is sort of like a ring or a pyramid with verses 76 and 77 at the top because the first and second half mirror each other. The middle two verses both ask for God's mercy or steadfast love, in verse 76 on the basis of God's promise and in verse 77 because the psalmist delights in God's word. Working down the pyramid verses 75 and 78 talk about humility and arrogance: Lord I know you humbled me out of faithfulness/let the arrogant be put to shame because of their deceit. Still further from the center verses 74 and 79 talk about how others who fear God will rejoice about God's love for the psalmist/come to the psalmist for instruction. Finally at the base of the pyramid the asks for a clean heart and understanding.

Structure is important to Psalm 119 in general. The whole psalm is an acrostic with each line in a section beginning with the same Hebrew letter and each section following a letter in the Hebrew alphabet. I don't know that the structure changes the way we understand the word; maybe it's just for fun. At the same time the structure can lead us to spend more time meditating on God's word in poetry, and that's really the point.
May the word be sweet in your mouth and nourishing to your soul,
Sam


Psalm 119:73-80

73Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.

74Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice, because I have hoped in your word.

75I know, O Lord, that your judgments are right, and that in faithfulness you have humbled me.

76Let your steadfast love become my comfort according to your promise to your servant.

77Let your mercy come to me, that I may live; for your law is my delight.

78Let the arrogant be put to shame, because they have subverted me with guile; as for me, I will meditate on your precepts.

79Let those who fear you turn to me, so that they may know your decrees.

80May my heart be blameless in your statutes, so that I may not be put to shame.