Psalm 119: א Aleph(a)

1 Happy are those whose way is blameless,
    who walk in the law of the Lord.
2 Happy are those who keep his decrees,
    who seek him with their whole heart,
3 who also do no wrong,
    but walk in his ways.
4 You have commanded your precepts
    to be kept diligently.   [NRSV]

What a way to start… Right off, we are clearly expected to embrace a very counter-cultural position as fact.  While it is easy to identify with the 4th verse (God as authoritarian), the first 3 verses just don’t seem to jive with the reality I see from day to day.  I know that I identify more with the sentiment, “…. that’s what you get for trying to do the right thing.”

I try to live my life to be blameless.  I try to live my life to keep Christ’s decree to love my neighbor as myself.  I try to do no wrong.   But I fail miserably.

The first 4 verses seem to be more of a condemnation than one of hope…. but I have read ahead and I believe I know where this is all going.

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