Each set of lyrics begins with a successive letter from the Hebrew alphabet. "A" (or Aleph) begins the first set, and each line of the first set also begins (in the Hebrew) with "Aleph." The second set begins with "B" (or Hebrew, "Beth").
Yes, this song was written to be memorized. All 22 stanzas. All 176 verses.
So, have you started yet? :-)
SOMETHING WORTH SINGING
The first 8-line lyric (Aleph) could not be more clear: Focus brings Blessing.
Blessed are those whose way is blameless
Who walk in the law of the Lord
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 rules
I will keep your statutes
Do not utterly forsake me
WHY NOT MEMORIZE?...Yep, you can, and here's why
It is interesting what happens when one takes the time to memorize 8 lines of a song. Admittedly, without the tune (which might make it easier, and fun...to make up a tune). But even without a tune, if you verbally (out loud) say these verses over and over again, so as to memorize, something very wonderful happens.
The out-loud repetition both reveals the meaning and imbeds the truth. There comes a moment along the way when you are saying this yet-again out loud that your head says, "Oh...I get it!" Diligent focus on God's word brings God's blessing ("Blessed are those who...).
But then, it moves from "those" to "me." A desire is created, personally, within. I want in on this. "Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes." Then the blessing, "Then I shall not be put to shame..."
Of course, it's not merely about hearing God's voice in God's word. The blessing comes when one "keeps" and "walks" (or lives) in alignment with God's directive voice, in the word. There is no hearing without doing. Biblically defined "hearing" was never merely listening.
A hint of warning arises at the end of the 1st set of lyrics. "Do not utterly forsake me." The alternative to not focusing on God's word is the possibility of missing blessing and finding, instead, a forsakenness in life.
A hint of warning arises at the end of the 1st set of lyrics. "Do not utterly forsake me." The alternative to not focusing on God's word is the possibility of missing blessing and finding, instead, a forsakenness in life.
For the next 22 days, let's sing together about how focus on what God has said can bring about blessing in the life God gives.
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