Bride of Christ: Part Three - The Psalm 119 connection

In Part One we considered the typology of marriage as it related to Christ’s relationship to his Church.

In Part Two we tied this principle down to some specifics by looking at how Christ’s marriage to his Bride the Church is exemplified by the Proverbs 31 wife.

In both Parts One and Two, we made reference to the fact that Proverbs 31:10-31 is an acrostic, and, especially in Part Two, took a detailed look at how this was used to good effect by the Solomon. We also saw that the acrostic nature of the last twenty-two verses of Proverbs links it to another acrostic - Psalm 119 - and I promised we would come back to see the connection.

I also made a brief mention in Part Two of the significance in Hebrew numerology of the number nine, which is associated with the Fruit of the Spirit and Divine integrity from the Father.

As a reminder, the Fruit of the Spirit are mentioned in the following passage…

Galatians 5:22-26

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Eight, on the other hand, signifies new birth and new beginnings, which we see in Jesus’ resurrection on the first day of the week, which can also be reckoned as the eighth day, as well as in the last annual Sabbath in the Levitical Feast cycle…

Leviticus 23:37-44

“These are the appointed feasts of Yahweh, which you shall proclaim as times of holy convocation, for presenting to Yahweh food offerings, burnt offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings, each on its proper day, besides Yahweh's Sabbaths and besides your gifts and besides all your vow offerings and besides all your freewill offerings, which you give to Yahweh.

On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the produce of the land, you shall celebrate the feast of Yahweh seven days. On the first day shall be a solemn rest, and on the eighth day shall be a solemn rest.

And you shall take on the first day the fruit of splendid trees, branches of palm trees and boughs of leafy trees and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before Yahweh your God seven days.

You shall celebrate it as a feast to Yahweh for seven days in the year. It is a statute forever throughout your generations; you shall celebrate it in the seventh month.

You shall dwell in booths for seven days. All native Israelites shall dwell in booths, that your generations may know that I made the people of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am Yahweh your God.”

Thus Moses declared to the people of Israel the appointed feasts of Yahweh.

This was the same festival that featured in John’s Gospel where Jesus added to our understanding of its significance.

John 7:37-39

On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.

Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”

Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

In Part Three, therefore, we shall draw all of these elements together in order to shed new light on Psalm 119, not as it relates to what we have already learned in Part Two, but also in relation to how its acrostic structure connects it to Proverbs 31:10-31.

This article is somewhat different from my usual output for three reasons.

First of all, Psalm 119 is 176 verses long, which alone would commend brevity of comment. But also, as we shall see, the device of cross-connecting the two acrostics by index letter effectively provides its own commentary by allowing the text to speak for itself. Lastly, Part Two has already amounts to a commentary on the verses taken from Proverbs 31, thereby providing a basis for comparison with the corrsponding portions extracted from Psalm 119.

This is not re-writing Scripture (which is forbidden). It is merely re-clustering related verses for the purposes of teaching, offering a new way of looking at the existing scriptures by making certain connections between them clearer.

I am also mindful that the Holy Bible is not a plaything, and rearranging scripture in this manner is not to be embarked upon lightly or as some form of entertainment, but with appropriate reverence and reflection. Thus, I have gone to some lengths to make the process and the thinking behind it as transparent as possible. It is more than just a casual exercise in Bible ‘cut and paste’.

If you have not yet read Parts One and Two of this series and are wondering what an acrostic is, Chambers tells us it is this…

...a poem or puzzle in which the first or last letters of each line spell out a word or sentence

In the Bible this can include passages in which each verse or stanza forms an acrostic of initial listed in alphabetic order, probably the best known of which is Psalm 119.

The following scriptures are listed in acrostic-alphabetical order beginning with aleph, followed by the matching verse from Proverbs 31, and then by the corresponding stanza in Psalm 119.

This will result in a synthesised hybrid of nine verses where once there were eight. Hence the reason I mentioned the significance of both numbers earlier.

Ask most Christians who wrote the Book of Psalms and they will likely say that it was King David. However, of the 150 Psalms only 74 (fewer than half) are directly attributed to David himself.

Psalm 89 is attributed to Ethan the Ezrahite; Psalm 90 is described as ‘a prayer of Moses’; eleven of the Psalms are credited to ‘the sons of Korah’, while twelve are the work of Asaph. However, no fewer than forty-nine of the Psalms are ascribed to no-one.

Among those for which no author is named is Psalm 119, so we cannot say categorically whether David wrote it or not. But there are two (Psalms 72 and 127) that are actually credited to Solomon, the son of David and supposed author of Proverbs.

Scholars differ over whether Solomon actually wrote or just collated the Proverbs, and many point out that Proverbs 31 is attributed to King Lemuel, whose name means ‘For God’. However, it is still possible that Lemuel was in fact Solomon himself.

But when it comes to Psalm 119, the experts are even more widely divided over authorship. Many favour David, who, I have seen it suggested, wrote the Psalm to teach his son Solomon the alphabet.

Others see the hand of Asaph, Moses, or even the much later prophet, Ezra, while some have even conjectured that the Psalm is the work of 176 writers.

That is why I am willing to consider the possibility that Solomon himself may have written it. Or, if not Solomon, it nonetheless remains possible that Psalm 119 and Proverbs 31 were written by the same hand.

But whoever the author or authors were is a moot point, because the human provenance of neither is of any consequence if we believe them to have been written by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. One interesting consequence of this debate, however, is that we cannot automatically assume that Psalm 119 was written before Proverbs 31.

As we turn now to look at the Biblical texts in Proverbs 31 and Psalm 119, I should like to offer a brief explanation of Torah, which is mentioned frequently throughout Psalm 119.

Torah is often translated as ‘law’, but in fact is more literally rendered as ‘instruction’ or ‘direction’, and actually has several shades of meaning as it occurs in this particular Psalm.

It is often used synonymously of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible). It is also associated with the Ten Commandments, or the 613 laws that are the basis of Judaism. But it can also refer generically to the whole Tanakh (the Hebrew scriptures that contain what Christians call the Old Testament), because Torah is considered to embrace God’s complete revelation of who he is in character, in purpose and in being, as well as what he expects of us.

But even in its narrower guise of the law, Torah carries several subtle strands of meaning which are reflected throughout Psalm 119...

As God’s testimonies or the terms of the Covenant which apply to God’s people;

As God’s precepts which govern the minutiae of daily living;

As God’s commandments that express God’s will for his people to obey;

As God’s statutes that are his written rulings that govern specific circumstances;

As God’s ordinances which are God’s verdicts on specific instances.

When understood in this way - and when filtered through the lens of the New Testament - we see how Torah is still relevant to the New Covenant believer, because the basis of our faith remains our Covenant relationship with God, regardless of the form that that Covenant may take.

Under the old Covenant, man was obliged to observe God’s laws perfectly in order to earn righteousness through performance. Under the New Covenant, God has offered us his own righteousness as a gift, dependent only upon our faith in response to his grace as manifested in the finished work of his Son Jesus Christ.

However, there is still Torah in its wider sense, inasmuch as the testimonies, precepts, commandments, statutes and ordinances still apply - only in a New Covenant guise…

…in the commandment to walk in obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit whose desire is that we love one another, forgive those who have hurt us, bless our enemies, and walk in faith.

For this reason, wherever the word Torah occurs in Psalm 119 I have substituted the more common translation, ‘law’, with the more accurate rendering, ‘instruction’. As always, this in no way distorts the actual meaning, but remains wholly consistent with the original Hebrew.

The finished result of our synthesis of these two scriptures is a kind of dialogue, but one that is highly stylised in that it reflects two quite different ways in which the Bible presents the Church.

This is because the New Testament uses different language when describing the Church as a corporate entity, from when it discusses the role of the individual believers who comprise that collective.

The Bride of Christ is a collective noun that reflects its plurality of membership even while expressed in the feminine and in the singular. The identity of the individual believer, however, is expressed in the masculine reference to each as a son of God.

Thus, Proverbs 31 presents Christ’s Chuch in her feminine guise as his perfect Bride and in the third person, whereas Psalm 119 is a first person narrative that in what English grammar would call the common gender. Only once does Psalm 119 venture into a specifically masculine identity, in verse 10...

How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.

Notice, however, the narrative's momentarily switch from the first person to a more rhetorical third person form which is nonetheless consistent with the Psalm‘s first person narrative style in that it emanates as an interrogative from the psalmist - almost like a mother asking a question of her son.

An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.

Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the instruction of Yahweh!

Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, 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. Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes!

Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.

I will praise you with an upright heart, when I learn your righteous judgements.

I will keep your statutes; do not utterly forsake me!

The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.

How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.

With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!

I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

Blessed are you, O Yahweh; teach me your statutes!

With my lips I declare all the judgements of your mouth.

In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches.

I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.

I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.

She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.

Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and keep your word.

Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your instruction.

I am a sojourner on the earth; hide not your commandments from me!

My soul is consumed with longing for your judgements at all times.

You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones, who wander from your commandments.

Take away from me scorn and contempt, for I have kept your testimonies.

Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statutes.

Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counsellors.

She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands.

My soul clings to the dust; give me life according to your word!

When I told of my ways, you answered me; teach me your statutes!

Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works.

My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word!

Put false ways far from me and graciously teach me your instruction!

I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your judgements before me.

I cling to your testimonies, O Yahweh; let me not be put to shame!

I will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart!

She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar.

Teach me, O Yahweh, the way of your statutes; and I will keep it to the end.

Give me understanding, that I may keep your instruction and observe it with my whole heart.

Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it.

Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!

Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.

Confirm to your servant your promise, that you may be feared.

Turn away the reproach that I dread, for your judgements are good.

Behold, I long for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life!

She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens.

Let your steadfast love come to me, O Yahweh, your salvation according to your promise;

Then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me, for I trust in your word.

And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for my hope is in your judgements.

I will keep your instruction continually, forever and ever,

And I shall walk in a wide place, for I have sought your precepts.

I will also speak of your testimonies before kings and shall not be put to shame,

For I find my delight in your commandments, which I love.

I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes.

She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.

Remember your word to your servant, in which you have made me hope.

This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.

The insolent utterly deride me, but I do not turn away from your instruction.

When I think of your judgements from of old, I take comfort, O Yahweh.

Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked, who forsake your instruction.

Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my sojourning.

I remember your name in the night, O Yahweh, and keep your instruction.

This blessing has fallen to me, that I have kept your precepts.

She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong.

Yahweh is my portion; I promise to keep your words.

I entreat your favour with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise.

When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to your testimonies;

I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandments.

Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me, I do not forget your instruction.

At midnight I rise to praise you, because of your righteous judgements.

I am a companion of all who fear you, of those who keep your precepts.

The earth, O Yahweh, is full of your steadfast love; teach me your statutes!

She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night.

You have dealt well with your servant, O Yahweh, according to your word.

Teach me good judgement and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments.

Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.

You are good and do good; teach me your statutes.

The insolent smear me with lies, but with my whole heart I keep your precepts;

Their heart is unfeeling like fat, but I delight in your instruction.

It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.

The instruction of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.

Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.

Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice, because I have hoped in your word.

I know, O Yahweh, that your judgements are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.

Let your steadfast love comfort me according to your promise to your servant.

Let your mercy come to me, that I may live; for your instruction is my delight.

Let the insolent be put to shame, because they have wronged me with falsehood; as for me, I will meditate on your precepts.

Let those who fear you turn to me, that they may know your testimonies.

May my heart be blameless in your statutes, that I may not be put to shame!

She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.

My soul longs for your salvation; I hope in your word.

My eyes long for your promise; I ask, “When will you comfort me?”

For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke, yet I have not forgotten your statutes.

How long must your servant endure? When will you judge those who persecute me?

The insolent have dug pitfalls for me; they do not live according to your instruction.

All your commandments are sure; they persecute me with falsehood; help me!

They have almost made an end of me on earth, but I have not forsaken your precepts.

In your steadfast love give me life, that I may keep the testimonies of your mouth.

She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet.

Forever, O Yahweh, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens.

Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast.

By your appointment they stand this day, for all things are your servants.

If your instruction had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.

I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life.

I am yours; save me, for I have sought your precepts.

The wicked lie in wait to destroy me, but I consider your testimonies.

I have seen a limit to all perfection, but your commandment is exceedingly broad.

She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple.

Oh how I love your instruction! It is my meditation all the day.

Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me.

I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation.

I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts.

I hold back my feet from every evil way, in order to keep your word.

I do not turn aside from your judgements, for you have taught me.

How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.

Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land.

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to keep your righteous judgements.

I am severely afflicted; give me life, O Yahweh, according to your word!

Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O Yahweh, and teach me your judgements.

I hold my life in my hand continually, but I do not forget your instruction.

The wicked have laid a snare for me, but I do not stray from your precepts.

Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart.

I incline my heart to perform your statutes forever, to the end.

She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant.

I hate the double-minded, but I love your instruction.

You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.

Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commandments of my God.

Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live, and let me not be put to shame in my hope!

Hold me up, that I may be safe and have regard for your statutes continually!

You spurn all who go astray from your statutes, for their cunning is in vain.

All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross, therefore I love your testimonies.

My flesh trembles for fear of you, and I am afraid of your judgements.

Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.

I have done what is just and right; do not leave me to my oppressors.

Give your servant a pledge of good; let not the insolent oppress me.

My eyes long for your salvation and for the fulfilment of your righteous promise.

Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love, and teach me your statutes.

I am your servant; give me understanding, that I may know your testimonies!

It is time for Yahweh to act, for your instruction has been broken.

Therefore I love your commandments above gold, above fine gold.

Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right; I hate every false way.

She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them.

The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.

I open my mouth and pant, because I long for your commandments.

Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is your way with those who love your name.

Keep steady my steps according to your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me.

Redeem me from man’s oppression, that I may keep your precepts.

Make your face shine upon your servant, and teach me your statutes.

My eyes shed streams of tears, because people do not keep your instruction.

She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Righteous are you, O Yahweh, and right are your judgements.

You have appointed your testimonies in righteousness and in all faithfulness.

My zeal consumes me, because my foes forget your words.

Your promise is well tried, and your servant loves it.

I am small and despised, yet I do not forget your precepts.

Your righteousness is righteous forever, and your instruction is true.

Trouble and anguish have found me out, but your commandments are my delight.

Your testimonies are righteous forever; give me understanding that I may live.

Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:

With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O Yahweh! I will keep your statutes.

I call to you; save me, that I may observe your testimonies.

I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in your words.

My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promise.

Hear my voice according to your steadfast love; O Yahweh, according to your justice give me life.

They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose; they are far from your instruction.

But you are near, O Yahweh, and all your commandments are true.

Long have I known from your testimonies that you have founded them forever.

“Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.”

Look on my affliction and deliver me, for I do not forget your instruction.

Plead my cause and redeem me; give me life according to your promise!

Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek your statutes.

Great is your mercy, O Yahweh; give me life according to your judgements.

Many are my persecutors and my adversaries, but I do not swerve from your testimonies.

I look at the faithless with disgust, because they do not keep your commands.

Consider how I love your precepts! Give me life according to your steadfast love.

The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous judgements endures forever.

Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears Yahweh is to be praised.

Princes persecute me without cause, but my heart stands in awe of your words.

I rejoice at your word like one who finds great spoil.

I hate and abhor falsehood, but I love your instruction.

Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous judgements.

Great peace have those who love your instruction; nothing can make them stumble.

I hope for your salvation, O Yahweh, and I do your commandments.

My soul keeps your testimonies; I love them exceedingly.

I keep your precepts and testimonies, for all my ways are before you.

Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.

Let my cry come before you, O Yahweh; give me understanding according to your word!

Let my plea come before you; deliver me according to your word.

My lips will pour forth praise, for you teach me your statutes.

My tongue will sing of your word, for all your commandments are right.

Let your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts.

I long for your salvation, O Yahweh, and your instruction is my delight.

Let my soul live and praise you, and let your judgements help me.

I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for I do not forget your commandments.

The Proverbs 31 wife seems an impossible ideal which no woman could hope to perfectly emulate. Yet she has been presented to the Church since beyond remembering as a template for every Christian woman to aspire.

Yet, somehow it seems never to have occurred to anyone to ask why there was no corresponding Proverbs 32 husband. But, even as I pose that question now, let me also offer the solution…

Once we see that the perfect wife of Proverbs 31 is in fact the Church, then we need look no than Jesus Christ to find her perfect husband.

And once we understand God’s view of marriage - as an unbreakable covenant in which a wife takes her husband’s name, shares in all that he has, all his accomplishments, and reflects all that he is, we begin to see the Church in a new light - as God sees her…

…Beautiful, spotless, and without wrinkle or blemish.

And when we see his Bride as Jesus sees her, we begin to see God as he truly is…

And when we do that, Psalm 119 is transformed from an abstract expression of worship involving our adherence to the Old Covenant Law, to an exhortation to walk in obedience to the Holy Spirit, in a solid expression of love.