The Daily Office for September 12, 2012
Scripture Readings
Old Testament
Psalm
New Testament
Gospel
Reflection
Psalm 119 is dedicated to the praise of God’s Word. This is the longest and most elaborate of the alphabetic psalms. While there are eight other acrostic psalms (9, 10, 25, 34, 37, 111, 112, and 145), this one far exceeds the others in splendor. The psalm is arranged in twenty-two stanzas, corresponding to the twenty-two letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Each stanza is composed of eight verses, each verse having but two members. The first line of each couplet begins with a letter of the alphabet and each of the eight verses in that stanza begins with the same letter. In our English Bibles the word supplied on top of each stanza is the name of that Hebrew letter, by which the Hebrews both wrote and counted.
With this acrostic arrangement and a predetermined length for the psalm, including each stanza, the author is remarkably unshackled from a mechanistic poetry. However, apart from the continuous praise of the Word of God, little or no theme can be discerned running through its verses. While the author is unknown, the song is Davidic in tone and expression and connects with David’s experiences at many interesting points.
In the opening of the passage for today's reading, verses 49–52, the psalmist requests that the Lord remember His promises to the faithful and he reminds God that he himself has remembered the very principles of His government. It is the Word of God that brings him comfort, and contintues to bring comfort to believers today.
Collect for the Day
Almighty God, whose only Son has opened for us a new and living way into your presence: give us pure hearts and steadfast wills to worship you in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.