Psalm 119: א Aleph(a)

Happy are those whose way is blameless,
    who walk in the law of the Lord.
Happy are those who keep his decrees,
    who seek him with their whole heart,
who also do no wrong,
    but walk in his ways.
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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