Ayin--Psalm 119:121-128 (The Aleph Tav of Psalm 119)

עThe ayin is the 16th letter.  It doesn't have a corresponding letter in our alphabet.  The word means "eye" and "to see", and this seeing would extend into understanding and obedience.  (Bonus points for looking up Jeremiah 5:21; Isaiah 6:10; Matthew 13:15 to see this idea play out.) Jesus Himself explains that the eye is a window to the soul in Matthew 6:22-23 "The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!" Our word is "I have done".  

The student is far enough into his studies to have seen what was expected of him, to have understood it, and obeyed it.  The bully is back to harass him, but the author sees things more clearly now.  He asks for a guarantee from the Teacher that He will protect him.  (The word for guarantee is another "ayin" word.)  We can see the process of our word play out in the author’s life--his eyes looks for salvation, and he SEES it in the unwavering, stubborn, foundational love of the Teacher.  Then he asks for understanding, which he finds in every precept he is taught.  The psalmist sees and understands that his ways have not lined up with what's right, and asks the Teacher to get him back on track.  And finally, the student finds joy in obeying the loving laws of his Wise Teacher.  His education is priceless to him.  

The word that keeps coming to mind during this section is "discernment".  The dictionary says discernment is is the ability to see, recognize, and understand.  Hosea 14:9 (maybe my favorite book in the Bible) says "Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; or the ways of the LORD are right; and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble and fall." This highlights the importance of Bible study.  We need to be able to see God's Word, to recognize it's purpose--for our good and His Glory--and to understand the wise, loving gift of God's teaching.  He loves us and gave Himself for us in every way.  The worth of knowing this is above gold, above fine gold.