The Golden Alphabet

Oftentimes I carefully and prayerfully observe my children to evaluate their spiritual growth. Many times I am pleased and rejoice, while at other times I am arrested by the life or death responsibility that I have to teach them the ways of God.
Oh, if I could snap my fingers and they would instantly know and love the Word! But that is not the case. If I neglect to instill in them a pure love for God's Word, then have I accomplished anything at all as a parent? I have no greater daily task than to teach my children the ways of God and to see that they fall in love with His Word, and the privilege we have to obey it!

When I was a teenager, I listened to a sermon by Sis. Nona Freeman on cassette in which she issued a challenge to her hearers to pray Psalm 119 unto the Lord.
As I knelt in my messy bedroom, I did not feel any supernatural presence of God, nor was there an instantaneous change as I prayed the passage - but 15 years later, I can confidently declare the truth that God's Word does not return to him void, but WILL accomplish that which it was intended for!!!! (Isaiah 55:11)
Praying and speaking that precious Psalm unto the Lord, in obedience to the minister of God, was not just a common prayer, but rather something was spoken into the atmosphere and into my spirit, that began a journey toward the Heart of God - His Word!

Recently I have been interested in studying Psalm 119 in great detail. In my research I found some very old writings by Charles Spurgeon and Charles Bridges in the mid 1800's pertaining to the specific chapter. It is very clear by their writings that this passage was very dear to them. Both writers explain how that each stanza in this chapter is headed by the corresponding 'letters' of the Hebrew alphabet. Many times, this particular text has been used to teach Jewish Children their 'ABC's', thus endearing this alphabet as the 'GOLDEN ALPHABET'.
How interesting!

In my research, I came across a church website in Virginia Beach, Va that promoted a memorization program for Psalm 119. Below is an excerpt from their site:

“The Word of God In My Life”
Charles Bridges in his “Expository of Psalm 119”
calls it “the twenty-two pearls upon one string.” The
twenty-two sections represent the corresponding letters
of the Hebrew alphabet and plot a course of God’s
influence upon every facet of Christian living. As you
memorize this great passage, remember the words of
Philip Henry to his children, one of whom was Matthew
Henry, writer of the famous commentary, “Take
a verse of Psalm 119 every morning to meditate upon,
and so go over the Psalm twice in a year: and that will
bring you to be in love with all the rest of the Scripture.”
May the Word of God in our lives be magnified
this year!

Wow! What GREAT THINGS does God have in store for my children as they too fall in love with the Word of God just like little Matthew!

There is no task greater, or more fulfilling, than seeing that our children walk in truth!
III John 1:4 " I have no greater joy than to know that my children walk in truth."

Dear Sisters, do not be faith of heart! Let's teach our babies the precious Word of God!

For a great study, see Matthew Henry's Commentary of Psalm 119:
http://www.christnotes.org/commentary.php?com=mhc&b=19&c=119