Old Testament reading: Psalm 119:1-88
Psalm 119 is far and away the longest chapter of the Bible. The Psalm is an acrostic poem, with each section of 8 verses beginning with the same Hebrew letter, usually designated at the beginning of each section (aleph, beth, gimel, etc). There are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet, thus there are 176 verses in the chapter. The singular theme of this Psalm is the word of God. All but 8 verses contain some reference to God’s word, which number is reduced to 6 if you include God’s “way(s)” in verses 3 and 37 as referencing His word. These references include God’s word, law, commandments, statutes, judgments, precepts, testimonies, and ordinances. Those verse without any reference to such are 84, 90, 121, 122, 132, 149. Admittedly, the reading at first appears redundant, but I believe the Psalmist is desiring to show the relevance of God’s word in every situation. Thus, I believe there is intended nuance in the form of the text and not vain repetition. Even if one were to reject this assessment, it is impossible to overstate the beauty and beneficence of God’s word.
New Testament reading: Acts 20-21
What truly breaks your heart? As we read Psalm 119, we see David weep for his sins and even the sins of his enemies. Acts 20 provides an account of the Ephesians who, unlike David, wept most over the wrong thing. In Acts 20:25-38, we see Paul telling the Ephesian elders that they would not see his face again (v 25). Moreover, he admonished them to be diligent concerning themselves and the charge they had been given to the church (v 28). Finally, Paul warned that some of them would eventually forsake the faith and divide the church (vv 29-30). As Paul departed, they all wept and prayed together (vv 36-37), but the Ephesian elders wept most of all that they would not see Paul again. There was certainly nothing wrong with being sad over their separation from Paul, but what was this in comparison to his words that they would forsake the faith, lose their own souls and take others to hell with them! Those who strive to have the mind of Christ will not only mourn appropriately, they will also rejoice and take pleasure in what is proper.
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