Day 19 of the 119th Psalm, verses 145-152.
“Qoph
“145 With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O YHWH! I will keep Your statutes.
“146 I call to You; save me, that I may observe Your testimonies.
“147 I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in Your Words.
“148 My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on Your promise.
“149 Hear my voice according to Your steadfast love; O YHWH, according to Your justice give me life.
“150 They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose; they are far from Your Law.
“151 But You are near, O YHWH, and all Your commandments are true.
“152 Long have I known from Your testimonies that You have founded them forever.”
– Psalm 119:145-152
THE BREAKDOWN
Verse 145: God promised to answer us when we cry out to Him. And the greatest commandment is to love God with our whole heart. That would include keeping His statutes.
Verse 146: This is more of a cry for saving one’s life rather than crying out for salvation. With longer life, we can guard and keep the testimonies of God.
Verse 147: The writer rises before dawn to pray for help because he has put his hope in the Words God spoke.
Verse 148: I must admit, I am stumped with this one. The watches of the night were threefold, each four hours long. Is the writer saying he is awakened every four hours to meditate on God’s promise? Other translations say that he stays awake all night. Or, some say that he anticipates the night hours to meditate. The KJV says, “My eyes have prevented the night watches.” Prevented, how? The YLT and LSV say, “Mine eyes are gone before the night watches.” Does that mean his eyes were shut to meditate, or did he fall asleep while meditating so that he could dream about the last thing he thought about? Regardless of the when, the writer is concerned with meditating on the promises of God.
Verse 149: The writer is praying for mercy and correction so he may live according to the commandments.
Verse 150: Those who persecute God’s people are definitely far from His Law.
Verse 151: God promises to be near. Yeshua said in the Great Commission, “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20b). And His commandments are true!
Verse 152: Indeed. His testimonies are forever. He is faithful always.
Lord, give me long life that I may tell of Your testimonies. Give me correction when I need it so I may keep Your Law. Your commandments are true. Amen.
Shalom.