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WAW

41 May your unfailing love come to me, Lord,

your salvation, according to your promise;

42 then I can answer anyone who taunts me,

for I trust in your word.

43 Never take your word of truth from my mouth,

for I have put my hope in your laws.

44 I will always obey your law,

for ever and ever.

45 I will walk about in freedom,

for I have sought out your precepts.

46 I will speak of your statutes before kings

and will not be put to shame,

47 for I delight in your commands

because I love them.

48 I reach out for your commands, which I love,

that I may meditate on your decrees.

 

“Waw” at the top of today’s reading is not a typo. It is a Hebrew letter, indicating that this psalm (the longest in the bible) is acrostic. In this 176-verse psalm, each letter of the Hebrew alphabet is given 8 lines– eight lines all starting with the same letter. Perhaps to aid in memory, this literary format helps give shape to a psalm that expresses the freedom that comes with following God’s commandments.

For today’s devotion, I have rewritten these versions into my own 8-verse acrostic. Since “waw” is the 6th letter in the Hebrew alphabet, I’ve chosen “F”, the 6th letter in our alphabet.

Fill me with your love, O God.

Forever help me trust in You.

Frenemies will not get the better of me,

For my hope is found in You.

Freedom comes as I follow Your ways.

Faithfully I will walk in Your commandments.

Feeling empowered, I will speak up without shame.

Fulfillment comes in following You.

 

I invite you to write your own acrostic.

Help me to feel the freedom that comes from following You.

Karen Landahl

karenowllandahl@gmail.com

 

Prayer Concern: For those who feel bound, rather than set free by Grace.