More than 3000 years ago, David penned his epic psalm praising God's Law in an acrostic psalm. What if we should update it to be an English language acrostic psalm? This is the first part of three that explores what it would sound like if David had written his psalm in English in the middle of the 21st Century.
Almighty God and Universe Creator,
great are all you ordinances.
All your laws are perfect
for they reflect your greatness!
Adoration and praise belong unto you, O Lord,
for all your creation is governed by your laws.
Authority and Dominion are your without end
for you rule your creation by your Word.
Awesome are all your decrees and deeds
since they spring from your commands.
Ashamed and acursed are any people
that follow not your perfect ways.
Answers are found in your laws
for in them is your embodied wisdom.
Ablaze with light and glory are your decrees,
and they provides light for my feet.
Bold am I when I walk in your ways,
for you strengthen all who obey your Word.
Be near to me by your Word;
I find great delight in all you command.
Bankrupt and defiled are all who dispise your laws;
in them is the way of your favor.
Before I followed your precepts I wandered away;
now I walk in the light of your fellowship.
Broken and confused are all who hate your Word;
but I rejoice in the counsel of your ways.
Breathe on me your life by your Spirit
that I may love your Law even more.
Bread is good to my body as
your Word is unto my soul!
By your Spirit do I understand your Law;
help me that I may hear and do.
Crystal clear are the ways you have directed;
I walk in the light of your counsel.
Christ is the accomplishment of the law;
righteousness is the end for all who believe.
Clean am I for I heed your Word;
Your Word, O Lord, is truth!
Comfort comes to me through your Law;
You are the God of all comfort!
Commands you have given unto the children of men;
In the keeping of them is life.
Come to me, my Lord and my God,
for I trust in your precepts.
Cheerful is the man who obeys your ordinances;
each of them points unto life.
Correction comes from your precepts;
in your path will I find my delight.
Delight and duty are found in your law;
mere listening alone brings a curse.
Dark was the night where your truth found me;
now I walk in the light of your law!
Deliverance comes from your glorious law;
I will rejoice in your great salvation.
Destruction awaits those who try to save themselves by your law;
but you enable all you save to delight therein.
Disclose to me the secrets of your will
for I attend unto your law.
Discipline is fitting for earning your praise;
let me follow your precepts closely everyday.
Discernment is abundant for those who study your law;
mere head knowledge gains not your approval.
Display your love unto me
for I treasure your ordinances more than fine gold.
Earth holds no treasure for me
since I have laid hold of your law.
Empty was my way of life
when I followed not your precepts.
East and west seek to find true wisdom;
in your ways alone it is found.
Encourage your servant according to your Words;
I take great delight in all your commands.
Envy rotted my bones
when I desired the way of the lawless.
Entire books and tomes could be written on your law;
matchless and awesome it is without equal!
Equip your servant to do your will;
Your rod and staff mark for me your ways.
Everlasting to everlasting shall sing your praises;
eternal and perfect are all your commands.
Faithful you are, O Lord,
and your precepts reflect your faithfulness.
Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
your laws instill understanding and fear of your name.
Finding your ways is of greater worth than gold;
I delight in the richness of your ways.
Forcefully your power comes in your Word;
and by your power you will raise us unto life.
Fill me with your knowledge and wisdom;
I love the glory of your holy laws.
Fellowship with your Spirit is most excellent;
your ordinances define how we may approach your throne.
Flawless are all your laws;
your Spirit gives power through your Word.
Freedom there is for those who walk in your laws;
I walk about in your ways and am free.
Glad was my heart when they said to me,
"Let us go and worship the Lord according to His commands!"
Grace is abundant in each of your precepts;
teach me to love them more than life.
God is not a distant God,
but has drawn close to His people by His laws.
Good is the way of the Lord
and each of His ordinances shows His care.
Gold there is in abundance and many precious gems,
but your Word is more to be treasured then them all.
Graves await all the children of men,
but those who walk in your ways will see the light of life.
Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised
for He has revealed His ways unto us.
Goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
because I have set His law as my guide.
Happy is the one whose refuge is the Lord;
in His Laws are the blessings of His favor.
How I long for your Word, O Lord;
when will the nations be turned to obey your voice?
Help me, O Lord, according to your promises;
let your commands be light to my life.
Honey is sweet and food brings delight;
your Word is sweeter and more delightful than all.
Honor and glory, power and dominion are yours;
within each letter of your law are they revealed!
Heart-knowing God, your law is a double-edged sword;
it pierces me deeply to know my thoughts.
Hymns of praise and thanks will I sing;
your Word, O Lord, is the richest of fare!
Hold me safe in your arms, O Lord,
for I trust in your everlasting precepts.
In the morning I awake to discover truth,
delighting in reading your Word.
In the evening I reflect upon your grace,
which strengthens me to obey your decrees.
Incline your ear to hear my prayer,
for it is rooted in the promises within your commands.
Infinite are all your attributes and perfections;
I see that from studying your law.
I see your beauty within your precepts;
teach my heart to run in your paths.
Indwell me by your Spirit;
write your law upon my heart.
Intrinsic to your Word are all your perfections;
they shine therein with the beauty of holiness.
Invariable and consistent is your law,
for you are unchanging and steadfast.
- D. Benning
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