The Psalm
Stanza vv169-176
Verses 169-176 is the final “stanza” of Psalm 119 – that extremely long psalm. The longest. No one is going to read it from top to tail in one sitting, not even in a worship service! But, the beauty of this psalm is in its elegant simplicity.
In this stanz, the lines begin with the Hebrew alphabet “Taw”. Here, I won’t go into details of this as there is simply no room for it (nor time for me).
The elegant simplicity of this psalm, and this stanza, is against trumpeted in the idea of the psalmist relying totally on God for everything. When putting this to a new piece of music, in this case a hymn, is making use of the internal structure of the 2-verse structure: verses 169-170 is echoed by 173-174, and 171-172 by 175-176. Not entirely “clear cut”, but enough to set them with slightly different musical tone.
One question about this stanza might be verse 176. Yes, the final verse of this stanza. The words appear not to act n a “conclusion” manner, like the curtain coming down. It might even pose like opening a different topic, albeit related. What is the meaning of this verse, as it is, in this stanza, and in this psalm, is a subject of great many pages, internet bytes and books. But the English translations might have tried their best to keep to the spirit and text of the original text, as any slight “interpretation” is beyond the role of the translators in so far as English version readers could later feel they have been misguided. In a way, better to face some archaic sounding text than to have read a text without thinking too much about it, and thus missing its real essence, the world that gave rise to this text, and then what could be meanings for us.
Bear in mind that King David calligraphed this Psalm using a strict Hebrew alphabet scheme. It is very possible that he was doing two things here (as relevant to the discussion): (a) maintain the alphabet scheme, and (b) apply the closing formula. I speculate about the formula, something I need to determine further for myself. It’s possible – an assumption – that the text did demonstrate he succeeded in achieving both, but the English translation “does not convey” this. Remember, the purpose of the text is for our praise of God, not as a literature study.
One translation has this verse (176) as I have strayed off like a lost sheep. Come and seek your servant, because I have not forgotten your commands. I know the logic, linguistic or otherwise (and English or otherwise) seems to need more text to say what the logic really is. The crucial thing appears to be that I could well have lost my way. But God, I have not forgotten your commands, including your covenant with your people. “Lord, it is time for you to act” (v126, and the music title of Psalm 119:121-128): please come and get your servant.
A paraphrase
You hear me when I cry in my struggle,
God, your word will show me your right way.
You hear me when I cry in my struggle,
Help me resolve all them challenges.
All that comes out of my word is praises to you
Your way, your solution, is promises fulfilled, as promised.
My praises becomes songs of praise
Your word is truth, it is righteousness.
You help me by holding my hand
As you helped me obey your commandments
Your perfect way, my future new life
my salvation to be with you gives me delight.
You keep me safe and alive and I praise you
Your laws sustain me now and always
How do I know? The many times I lost my way without you
You kept your word, you came and found me.