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

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

163. I hate and abhor falsehood,
but I love your law.

164. Seven times a day I praise you
for your righteous rules.

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

166. I hope for your salvation, O Lord,
and I do your commandments.

167. My soul keeps your testimonies;
I love them exceedingly.

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

ShALOM

In Hebrew, the words for hello, goodbye, and peace are all the same word — Shalom (שָׁלוֹם) that begins with the second to last letter sin/shin (ש). Verse 165 begins with this word carrying the sense of peace. More than that, a great or abundant peace, shalom rav. In this verse, almost in the middle of the stanza, David connects this abundant peace to loving God’s law.

Surrounding this verse, David overflows with other descriptions of the fruits of God’s spirit accessible through a heart turned to God in faith. Specifically, David’s “heart stands in awe” of God’s words (v. 161), he “rejoice(s)” at God’s word (v. 162), is filled with “love” for God’s law (v. 163), and overflows with “praise”  for God’s righteous rules no less than seven times a day (v. 164). Furthermore, David is anchored with “hope” for God’s salvation (v. 166) and filled with “exceeding love” for God’s testimonies (v. 167). I want these descriptions to characterize my day today! It reminds me of Jesus’ invitation into abundant peace in Matthew 11:28-29: “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest…you will find rest for your souls.” What the Father offers you and me in the power of the Holy Spirit, through following His Son, the greater David, the Messiah and King Jesus, is abundant peace. Peace and rest in our souls.

But God is at work redeeming our big world, not just our small selves. There is a traditional Jewish prayer in the Ashkenazic tradition, called Shalom Rav (abundant peace), put to beautiful music in the Reform tradition. I actually sang this song at my Bar Mitzvah. The song is a prayer for God to put His abundant peace on Israel, His people, forever. God desires that your heart be filled with abundant peace today. But God has also commanded us to “pray for the peace (shalom) of Jerusalem” (Ps. 122:6) and to “give Him no rest until He establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth” (Isa. 62:7)!

Hebrew Treasure excerpt written by Thomas Boehm.
From The Psalm 119 Journey by Steve Allen, ©2022.
Used with permission.