Hebrew Treasure - Aleph
Psalm 119:1-8
This is the first installment of Hebrew Treasure from Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible. Every other week I will be mining nuggets of gold from the original Hebrew and my goal is to make the riches of God’s Word more accessible to you—even if you don’t know any Hebrew!
1. Blessed are those whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of the Lord!
2. Blessed are those who keep his testimonies,
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.
5. Oh that my ways may be steadfast
in keeping your statutes!
6. Then I shall not be put to shame,
having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.
7. I will praise you with an upright heart,
when I learn your righteous rules.
8. I will keep your statutes;
do not utterly forsake me!
YOUR HEART CAN BE JOYFULLY SATISFIED
Ashrei (אַשְׁרֵי) is the first word of this psalm and this Hebrew word begins with the Hebrew letter aleph (א) – the 1st letter in the Hebrew alphabet. As an acrostic poem, each of the eight verses in every stanza of Psalm 119, begins with the same Hebrew letter. Furthermore, each stanza corresponds to the order of the letters of the Hebrew alphabet. In other words, aleph begins the first word in each of the first eight verses of Psalm 119, the next Hebrew letter, bet, begins the first word of each of the eight verses in the second stanza, etc.
In this first stanza, Ashrei is actually the first word in both verses 1 and 2 and while often translated “blessed,” actually describes a deeper experience of being “joyfully satisfied." Think about that. What makes you joyfully satisfied? Just as the entire Psalter opens with two introductory psalms, Psalm 119 opens with two introductory verses pointing us to this state of richest blessing that God desires for all His children. While ashrei sometimes gets translated as "happy,” this is a far too superficial description of the inheritance of our full blessing as a beloved child of God. For example, Psalm 1 also opens with the word ashrei as a description of the inheritance for the one who “delights in the law of the Lord” (Ps. 1:1). Similarly, Psalm 119 invites us deeper into God’s instructions as the pathway deeper into His heart of love.
Additionally, in the Sermon on the Mount, each of the eight verses of Matthew 5:3-10, begins with the Greek, makarios, or “blessed.” Better known by the Latin influenced term "beatitudes," makarios is actually a translation of the Hebrew ashrei. As God’s beloved Son, Jesus extended the Father’s covenant love to all with ears to hear, faith to believe, and a will to obey.
Go deeper into the Father’s heart today. Seek God’s voice through His Word – written and living – and the blessings of being joyfully satisfied in Him. Soul contentment through abiding communion with Jesus is the only path to true joyful satisfaction!
Hebrew Treasure excerpt written by Thomas Boehm.
From The Psalm 119 Journey by Steve Allen, ©2022.
Used with permission.
Also, check out the Parashah Project’s 2024-2025 (5785) Annual Reading Cycle to join in the weekly readings along with links to helpful commentary.
Shalom!
Thomas