Heth - Wisdom, Righteousness, Grace and Life

Heth. The LORD is my portion; I have promised to keep Your words. I sought Your favor with all my heart; Be gracious to me according to Your word. I considered my ways and turned my feet to Your testimonies. I hastened and did not delay to keep Your commandments. The cords of the wicked have encircled me, but I have not forgotten Your law. At midnight I shall rise to give thanks to You because of Your righteous ordinances. I am a companion of all those who fear You, and of those who keep Your precepts. The earth is full of Your lovingkindness, O LORD; Teach me Your statutes. Psalm 119:57-64 NASB

Heth is the eighth letter in the Hebrew alphabet. It is the first letter in the Hebrew words for wisdom, righteousness, grace and life. The letter looks like a doorway. Does that represent a doorway to life? ח

One of many blue doors in Israel.

Will the "blue" really ward off evil?

A portion of this scripture passage in the New Living Testament includes the word mercy.

            With all my heart I want your blessings. Be merciful as you promised. Psalm 119:58 NLT

Mercy. In Hebrew it is eleeo, meaning to be compassionate, to spare, or console. Gracious. Here the psalmist David is reminding God that He has promised to be merciful. Note that the psalmist also promises God that he will be obedient because he wants God’s blessings. Great motivation for obedience.  

Psalm 119 is interesting to me for a couple of reasons—one, which with 176 verses it is the longest Psalm. Another reason is that this Psalm was written as an acrostic—in Hebrew of course. There are twenty-two letters in the Hebrew alphabet and each one is used to begin a new section of this Psalm. It loses that quality in the translation to English. Acrostics are like a puzzle—and it must have been a fun challenge for David to write this Psalm in that manner and then to sing it.

Are you in agreement with David?

Is the Lord yours?

Do you seek to please Him with all your heart?

Do you obey His words, i.e. the Ten Commandments? Promise?

Do remember His law—the directions by which He expects you to live?

Are you willing to get up in the middle of the night just to give thanks to the Lord?

Are your friends Christians who respect God and live according to His principles?

Are you teachable?

Prayer ~ Lord God, Be gracious to me according to Your word. I love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength. I want to keep Your commandment and live to please You in whatever I think, wherever I walk, and whatever I do. I Thank You morning, noon and night for Your goodness, love, and righteousness. Please continue to teach me more about yourself today…and every day, as long as I live.

Daily Bible Reading: Amos 1-5

© 2017 Text and photos by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.