Dear Rose Park,
Throughout scripture different literary devices are used to awaken our senses to the presence of God. For example, the Gospel of John is filled with metaphor (e.g. in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God) and many of the prophets are filled with foreshadowing. In the book of Psalms (which is one part of the Biblical Wisdom Literature) we see a particular literary device that is quite rare: an acrostic.
Psalm 119 is an acrostic poem where the 22 sections (8 verses in each) align with the 22 letters of the Hebrew bible and each section starts with the next letter in the alphabet. This makes Psalm 119 the longest psalm in the entire bible. It also makes Psalm 119 a bit odd to read because each section of 8 verses is separate from the other sections; the sections and verses are not like a chain, where one link is connected to the other, but like a string of pearls were each pearl has equal, but independent value.
This is all to say, I’d encourage you to read one section a day for the next 22 days. It’s only 8 verses. For example, the following 8 verses are the Lectionary passage for today:
ל Lamedh (HEBREW LETTER)
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.
8 verses, that’s it. I worry that sometimes we think in order to study or engage with God’s Word we have to read multiple chapters or books at a time, but what if we started with just 8 verses for 22 days in a row. Imagine how our eyes and hearts might be more open to the Holy Spirit if we were to begin our day meditating on the faithfulness, majesty, wisdom, justice, and perfection of God.
Maybe you already have a daily commitment to reading and engaging with God’s Word, if so, then keep it up. But if you don’t, then maybe start with a string of pearls like Psalm 119, one section of 8 verses at a time.
Grace & Peace,
Pastor Mark