Translations
Psalm 119:20 (ESV) – My soul its consumed with longing for your rules at all times.
Psalm 119:20 LXX
επεπόθησεν η ψυχή μου του επιθυμήσαι τα κρίματά σου εν παντί καιρώ
[longed my soul]. to desire your judgements. at every occasion
Psalm 119:20 Interlinear from the Hebrew – Breaks my soul with longing for your Judgements at all times.
Connections
גָּרְסָ֣ה – ga-re-sah (to be crushed, to break) This same Hebrew word also appears in Lamentations 3:16 [ESV] He has made my teeth “GRIND” (גָּרְסָ֣ה) on gravel, and made me cower in ashes
επεπόθησεν epepothesev – longed for – In the New Testament the word used is (ἐπιποθέω) – to yearn or long for, desire greatly, have affection for. This word appears nine times and a good example is – Romans 1:11 [ESV]For I long to see you (ἐπιποθῶ), that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you –
Psalm 119:40 [ESV] Behold, I long for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life!
Psalm 119:131 [ESV] I open my mouth and pant, because I long for your commandments.
Psalm 119:174 [ESV] I long for your salvation, O Lord, and your law is my delight.
Psalm 42;1 [ESV] As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.
I think I love the depth of the Interlinear wording, where it opens with the idea of my soul breaking with longing. There seems such a depth of passion around this wording, that it’s hard to imagine a greater exclamation of a deep longing than is found in these words. I think that only a few times in my life could I have used this phrase about myself, and those times were times of desperate needs.
Reflections
Every human has a longing in them. And we are all looking to fulfill that sense of emptiness – God designed us to need him, and the best choice we can ever make is to allow Him to fill the longing in our lives. Our longing for connection, for purpose, and for value are all fulfilled in our relationship with God. Nothing else in the whole universe can do this so completely. The intimacy and fellowship we can have with God, and then through Him, with others, is the most valuable commodity on the planet. And yes, I know it’s not a commodity, but there is a struggle to find the right words to explain even remotely what it’s like to be connected to God.
Strength Coaches comment – The talent of Connectedness really leans into the idea of all things being connected, and as Christians this makes total sense to us – Colossians 1:16-17 [ESV] For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things were created through Him and for Him.. And he is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
Blessings
Allan