#868 Qoph 100

Qoph

With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O Lord!

I will keep your statutes.

146 I call to you; save me,

that I may observe your testimonies.

147 I rise before dawn and cry for help;

I hope in your words.

148 My eyes are awake before the watches of the night,

that I may meditate on your promise.

149 Hear my voice according to your steadfast love;

O Lord, according to your justice give me life.

150 They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose;

they are far from your law.

151 But you are near, O Lord,

and all your commandments are true.

152 Long have I known from your testimonies

that you have founded them forever. Psalm 119: 145-152 ESV

A continuation of Psalm 119, the cry of the sincere is in accordance to God's word.

Qoph is the 19th letter of the Hebrew alphabet and has the numerical value of 100. The pictograph is thought by some to represent the eye of a needle, and word meaning ape or monkey. It is also thought to picture a sun with the line representing the horizon, and the root meaning a revolution or time.

…23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”… Matthew 19: 23-25

…21 All King Solomon’s drinking cups were gold, and all the utensils of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold. There was no silver, because it was accounted as nothing in the days of Solomon. 22 For the king had the ships of Tarshish at sea with Hiram’s fleet, and once every three years the ships of Tarshish would arrive bearing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks. 23 So King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom.… 1 Kings 10: 21-23

With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O Lord - Not so eloquent, almost desperate, and I have heard many a prayer that I was not sure if the person speaking was petitioning God or trying to teach Him. Maybe it was for my benefit, but if I believe the Bible to be God's word, then the whole of this 119th Psalm has taught me at least two things, God's word is significant, prayer is a sincere soulful endeavor, and to add a third, they are knit closely together. 

I call to you; save me, that I may observe Your testimonies - The reading, meditating and praying have all had a sense of obedience in themselves, for blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way with sinners, but his delight is in the law of the Lord and in His law doth he meditate day and night. A supplicant wanting to be saved yet unto obedience, and what a novel concept in our time, I dare say I haven't heard many if any a prayer like this. 

I rise before dawn and cry for help - Maybe this is the line representing the horizon, but how smart is he, he will not let the day start without first laying hold of the ear of God. Draw nigh to God and He will draw nigh to you, so why wait?

That I may meditate upon Your promise - What good is it to read through the Bible several times a year, does God check off such boxes? This man is so enthralled by God and His word that he lays awake, pondering it in the night.

- ii. Boice defines meditate: “Internalizing the Bible’s teaching to such an extent that the truths discovered in the Bible become part of how we think, so that we think differently and then also function differently as a result.” Boice

Hear my voice according to Your steadfast love - Not according to my goodness, but Your mercy.

- “Lovingkindness is one of the sweetest words in our language. Kindness has much in it that is most precious, but lovingkindness is doubly dear; it is the cream of kindness.” C. H. Spurgeon

O Lord, according to Your justice give me life - He asked for mercy, but this is interesting, it does not seem that the prior request desires, in any way, to diminish the law that he says he loves. He would have God remain Holy, and we know this to be satisfied in Christ, that while we were yet sinners, He died for us. He also wants to be saved to observe God's testimonies.

…19 because I know that through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, my distress will turn out for my deliverance. 20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have complete boldness, so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.… Philippians 1: 19-21

1 Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.… Romans 2: 1-2

They are far from Your law - His persecutors are not so for cause of the truth, that is not their real concern. 

But You are near, O Lord - What is it about these places in life? Maybe because I cannot convince, logic has no affect on them, nor right or love, but I find in these times a glowing sense of God. Why did I ever worry so much about how they considered me, seeing the men they are, I would not want their praise or company. It is my great joy and satisfaction that God is near and His word is true.

That You have founded them forever - How many ways can I say this, His word is not going away.