Tet
“Yahweh is good.
He is a stronghold
In a day of trouble.”
The Hebrew letter Tet, proclaims that Yahweh is good. Thus, in a day of trouble, Yahweh would be a stronghold for them.
Tet
Death would be better than famine (Lam 4:9-4:9)
Tet
“Happier were those
Pierced by the sword
Than those
Pierced by hunger.
Their life
Drains away.
They are deprived
Of the produce
Of the field.”
This author points out that famine or starvation is worse than death by a sword. Starvation leads to the draining of life since they were deprived of the products of the field. This brings up the question of whether a quick death or a slow painful death is better. This verse starts with the Hebrew consonant letter Tet in this acrostic poem.
Wait for Yahweh (Lam 3:25-3:27)
Tet
“Yahweh is good
To those
Who wait for him.
Yahweh is good
To the soul
That seeks him.
It is good
That one should
Wait quietly
For the salvation
Of Yahweh.
It is good
For one to bear
The yoke
In his youth.”
Yahweh would be good to those wait quietly for his salvation. Yahweh would be good to any soul that seeks him. It is also good to bear the heavy burdens of the yoke in youth. This is now a very uplifting message after all the preceding moaning. These three verses start with the Hebrew consonant letter Tet in this acrostic poem.
The exile of the king and princes (Lam 2:9-2:9)
Tet
“Her gates have sunk
Into the ground.
Yahweh has ruined them.
He has broken her bars.
Her king
Is among the nations.
Her princes
Are among the nations.
Guidance of the law
Is no more.
Her prophets obtain
No vision
From Yahweh.”
The gates of Jerusalem have sunk into the ground. Yahweh has ruined the bars on the gates that are now broken. The king and the princes have been scattered among the various nations, so that there is no longer any guidance about the law. The prophets no longer have any visions or oracles from Yahweh. This verse starts with the Hebrew consonant letter Tet. Each verse after this will use the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet in this acrostic poem.
The unclean Jerusalem (Lam 1:9-1:9)
Tet
“Her uncleanness was
In her skirts.
She took no thought
Of her future.
Her downfall was
Appalling.
She had no one
To comfort her.
‘O Yahweh!
Look
At my affliction!
The enemy
Has triumphed!’”
Jerusalem’s skirts were unclean. She never thought about her future. Her downfall was appalling. No one was there to comfort her. Then suddenly, Jerusalem begins to speak or address Yahweh. Jerusalem wanted Yahweh to look at her affliction and what the enemy had done to her. Instead of lamenting about Jerusalem, Jerusalem now lamented about itself. This verse starts with the Hebrew consonant letter Tet. Each verse after this will use the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet in this acrostic poem.
The value of the law (Ps 119:65-119:72)
Tet
“Yahweh!
You have dealt well with your servant,
According to your word.
Teach me good judgment.
Teach me knowledge.
I believe in your commandments.
Before I was humbled,
I went astray.
But now I keep your word.
You are good.
You do good.
Teach me your statutes!
The arrogant smear me with lies.
But with my whole heart
I keep your precepts.
Their hearts are fat.
Their hearts are gross.
But I delight in your law.
It is good for me that I was humbled.
Thus I might learn your statutes.
The law of your mouth is better to me
Than thousands of gold and silver pieces.”
This psalmist says that Yahweh has dealt with him according to his word. He wanted to learn good judgment and knowledge. He believed in Yahweh’s commandments. Before he was humbled, he had gone astray. Now, however, he keeps the word of Yahweh. After all Yahweh, God is good and does good. Remember removing the “o” in good can become God. He wanted, as usual throughout this psalm, to learn more about the statutes of God. Once again, the arrogant were smearing his name. The arrogant ones had a fat and gross heart. However, he kept the precepts of Yahweh with his whole heart as he delighted in the law. He had been humbled so that he might learn about the statutes of Yahweh. These laws in his mouth were worth more than thousands of gold and silver pieces. The spiritual value of the law was so much greater than any gold or silver. So ends this section on the ninth consonant letter of the Hebrew alphabet, Tet.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 