URC Daily Devotion 8 February 2026

Aleph
 
They are happy whose life is blameless,
who follow God’s law!
They are happy who do his will,
seeking him with all their hearts,
who never do anything evil
but walk in his ways.
You have laid down your precepts
to be obeyed with care.
May my footsteps be firm
to obey your statutes.
Then I shall not be put to shame
as I heed your commands.
I will thank you with an upright heart
as I learn your decrees.
I will obey your statutes;
do not forsake me.
 
Beth 
 
How shall the young remain sinless?
By obeying your word.
I have sought you with all my heart;
let me not stray from your commands.
I treasure your promise in my heart
lest I sin against you.
Blessed are you, O Lord;
teach me your statutes.
With my tongue I have recounted
the decrees of your lips.
I rejoiced to do your will
as all the riches were mine.
I will ponder all your precepts
and consider your paths.
I take delight in your statutes;
I will not forget your word.
 
Reflection
 
Your challenge is to write a poem about God.
 
A big subject, so it’s going to have to be a long poem! Your poem needs to be so great in its composition that it will last for millennia. Oh, and each eight-line stanza needs each line to begin with the same letter of the alphabet, and each stanza uses a different initial letter, A through Z. Do you know eight different words beginning with X?
 
Psalm 119 fulfils this challenge, albeit with the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. That is what the headings ‘aleph’ and ‘beth’ refer to. 8 lines per stanza, times 22 letters = 176 verses. As with English, some Hebrew letters presented a greater challenge for the Psalmist!
 
For the next 10 Sundays, we will make our way through Psalm 119, two stanzas each week. You will notice that there are themes which run through the Psalm like words in seaside-rock: God’s law (Torah) – walking God’s way.
 
God’s testimonies – what God has already done and is recorded in Scripture. God’s precepts / statues / commandments / judgements – those things which God has set down for humankind to live out a Godly life individually and in community.
 
In ‘aleph’, the Psalmist reflects on the importance of keeping on the right track, and that God’s way illuminates the path. Maybe if the Psalmist had lived today, railway lines might be an apt metaphor – they determine the way to go and the signs alongside the track tell how to proceed safely to the destination. Quite abstract, though.

By contrast in ‘beth’, the Psalmist considers how a young person might best live out their life. There is repeated mention of the heart. An emotional response and outworking of the abstract concepts in ‘aleph’ – treasuring, rejoicing, delighting. But for the Psalmist, it is not enough to keep this hidden: speak out and tell others what God has taught and done. Let us do likewise!
 
Prayer
 
Creator God, we thank You for the gift of language.
We thank you for the timeless creativity of this Psalm.
Inspire us through its words to reflect on all You have taught us,
How we might best live out our lives.
Loving Jesus, You say to us: “I am the Alpha and the Omega” –
the Aleph and the Tav, the A to Z of all that is.
All glory be to You. Amen.