Psalm 119:33-40 “He”

I was browsing over some of the psalm, and I found that much of it is repetitive. I think this is what makes many of the psalms wonderful for praise and devotion – they emphasize great truths and expound upon them in multiple ways.

Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes;
and I will keep it to the end.(Psalm 119:33 ESV)

How can we learn the way of God except by His teaching? How can we keep his law unless we know it?

Give me understanding, that I may keep your law
and observe it with my whole heart.(Psalm 119:34 ESV)

Again, we can only learn by His teaching – He gives us understanding. He gives us the ability to comprehend His Word. If He gives us this, we cannot help but be obedient in our duty.

Lead me in the path of your commandments,
for I delight in it.(Psalm 119:35 ESV)

I don’t want to interrupt my devotions on this great and glorious psalm with a heavy theological discussion, so let’s just say this – I’m with David. I don’t have a problem with the idea of God overriding my will in His wondrous sovereignty… In fact, with David, I pray for it. I can’t do it on my own, so please, Heavenly Father, make me walk in the path of Your commandments!

Incline my heart to your testimonies,
and not to selfish gain!(Psalm 119:36 ESV)

Again, a prayer to God through whom all things are. Bend my heart! We have gone from a simple request for God’s help to a request for His grace and intervention in our hearts! What a joy this is!

Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things;
and give me life in your ways.(Psalm 119:37 ESV)

What worthless things do we look at? TV. Movies. Books. Magazines. I don’t think David is necessarily talking about sinful things here that draw our attention – he covers that well enough elsewhere. No, I think here, he is just trying to make the point that we should not waste our time with “worthless things” – things that may not have negative value necessarily, but do not have any intrinsic positive value either.

Confirm to your servant your promise,
that you may be feared.(Psalm 119:38 ESV)

Some words in our language lose their full meaning and become diluted over time – perhaps the dilution and softening of words would explain a great many things about the world we live in today, and the monotony of the modern world. “Establish,” I suspect, is one of those words. It is hardly used today, and then only in passing; never with the force of what Webster’s 1828 edition (an invaluable resource for studying the KJV or NKJV): “To set and fix firmly or unalterably; to settle permanently.” Amen! Establish Your word to Your servant, Lord!

Turn away the reproach that I dread,
for your rules are good.(Psalm 119:39 ESV)

The NCV reads “Take away the shame I fear, because your laws are good,” and the NIV, “Take away the disgrace I dread, for your laws are good.”
This is an interesting contrast, given the extent of the Mosaic Law! The Law shows us our sin, but David even then recognizes its inadequacy to save us. The Law is good, but we still need God’s mercy to take away our reproach!

Behold, I long for your precepts;
in your righteousness give me life!(Psalm 119:40 ESV)

This isn’t the first time in this psalm that we find David aching for God’s Word, and I’m pretty sure it won’t be the last. Again, we have an interesting reference to the righteousness of God – we do not ask Him to revive us in our own righteousness – no, we ask for His. Praise God that grants it!

I had a conversation with a friend this morning about this psalm, and he made the comment that this is not a Messianic psalm, which is true. But though it is not properly classified as a Messianic (prophecy) psalm, it does point to Christ, as all of scripture does. Revive us in His righteousness, gracious Father! Amen.

Psalm 119:25-32 “Daleth”

This section of Psalm 119 is interesting. (I still don’t know the technical term for the 8-verse groupings – if you do, please comment!) As I was reviewing it and preparing to blog on through, I noticed that David is describing a phenomenon that I myself have experienced far too often: that when I am not spending time consistently in God’s truth, I can actually feel it. I get irritable, I get edgy, I get depressed. Seriously.

My soul clings to the dust;
give me life according to your word!(Psalm 119:25 ESV)

This is a perfect image of how depressing it can feel when I haven’t been making the time for Bible study. “My soul clings to the dust.” It always amazes me that not only does the Bible speak truth, it speaks it beautifully. The poetry and imagery of the Bible rivals anything that Shakespeare or Tennyson or Frost ever even imagined. “My soul clings to the dust.” Revive us, Lord!

When I told of my ways, you answered me;
teach me your statutes!(Psalm 119:26 ESV)

“I have declared my ways” – I have confessed my sins, and God answered me. When we confess our sins, when we repent and turn away from them and turn toward Christ, we can’t help but desire to know God’s statues, that we should walk in them.

Make me understand the way of your precepts,
and I will meditate on your wondrous works.(Psalm 119:27 ESV)

Understanding God’s commands, and His Word, helps us to truly have an appreciation for His works. His creation, His love, His wonderful mercy. Without understanding, how can we meditate? This is the distinction between Christian meditation and Eastern meditation techniques, where the meditation isn’t on something known, it’s on the unknown.

My soul melts away for sorrow;
strengthen me according to your word!(Psalm 119:28 ESV)

Similar to v25 above, David paints a beautiful picture of separation from God that comes from time away from His word.

Put false ways far from me
and graciously teach me your law!(Psalm 119:29 ESV)

David asks God for help with his sin. Do we? We must, for only through God’s grace can we be granted His law.

I have chosen the way of faithfulness;
I set your rules before me.(Psalm 119:30 ESV)

Contrasting with v29 (“the way of lying”), David here commits himself to God, surrendering to His Lordship in obedience to His judgments!

I cling to your testimonies, O LORD;
let me not be put to shame!(Psalm 119:31 ESV)

Though we wish to stick to God’s commands, we still need His help! Our desire is to “cling to [His] testimonies,” but God must keep us from shame.

I will run in the way of your commandments
when you enlarge my heart!(Psalm 119:32 ESV)

I am absolutely convinced at this stage that the more time spent in the study and application of the Word of God, the better our quality of life. I’m not talking about financially, I’m not talking about socially, I’m not talking about career, I’m simply talking about this – our life is better as we trust in Him. Enlarge my heart, Lord!

Psalm 119:17-24 “Gimel”

Deal bountifully with your servant,
that I may live and keep your word.(Psalm 119:17 ESV)

I keep looking at this verse, and can’t help but awe at God’s grace upon me, a sinner. He has dealt bountifully with me, and as a result, I live. May I keep His word!

Open my eyes, that I may behold
wondrous things out of your law.(Psalm 119:18 ESV)

This would be an excellent short prayer to open Bible study with, either private or in a group. It would even be a wonderful prayer for corporate worship. Only through God’s grace can we understand His word.

I am a sojourner on the earth;
hide not your commandments from me!(Psalm 119:19 ESV)

How is David a stranger in the earth? How are we? Because, praise God, we are citizens of His kingdom! Our stay here on earth is only temporary.

My soul is consumed with longing
for your rules at all times.(Psalm 119:20 ESV)

Remember from our introduction that “judgments” is another word for the scripture itself. Does our soul break with longing for it? Do we ache when we are not spending time in the Word? I am pretty convicted about this at the moment, since it’s been a few days since I’ve blogged anything on this psalm…

You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones,
who wander from your commandments.(Psalm 119:21 ESV)

Ultimately, unbelief is rooted in pride – the idea that you don’t need God, that you don’t need the righteousness of Christ. And note here that David rightly uses “proud” and “cursed” as synonyms! The proud are the cursed, who stray from God’s commandments.

Take away from me scorn and contempt,
for I have kept your testimonies.(Psalm 119:22 ESV)

Has David kept all of God’s testimonies? No, but he has kept them in his heart, and has followed them as closely as we can in our sinful flesh. For that he is a man after God’s own heart, and for that, truly God in His mercy does remove David from reproach and contempt.

Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statutes.(Psalm 119:23 ESV)

I’m not sure when in his life David composed Psalm 119. Perhaps it was when he was on the run from Saul, prompting this verse, or perhaps he was just referring to the rivalries that always happen among nations. But whether he was on the run for his life, or simply dealing with the pressures of being a king, David always sought true sustenance from the Word of God.

Your testimonies are my delight;
they are my counselors.(Psalm 119:24 ESV)

We take joy in the word of God, and we consult it for advice. It is “suitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” What better counselors could we ask in life than Moses, Joshua, Isaiah, Jeremiah, David, Paul, Peter, John, indeed, God Himself? Amen!

Psalm 119:9-16 “Beth”

How can a young man keep his way pure?
By guarding it according to your word.(Psalm 119:9 ESV)

How can a young man cleanse his way? How can anyone cleanse their way? By turning from their sin. By pursuing God and the righteousness of Christ. And how can we know how to do that? By following the commands of God. By searching His word for how to live. To, as the psalmist says, “guarding it according to [His] word.”

With my whole heart I seek you;
let me not wander from your commandments!(Psalm 119:10 ESV)

When we are saved, indeed we seek God with our whole heart. We desire to not wander from his commandments. The pure desire of our heart is to be like Christ. We battle constantly against our flesh’s desires. But we need help – we cannot do it on our own! This is why David pleads with God for His help in not letting him wander from His commandments! Paul makes the same plea – “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:24-25a).

I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.(Psalm 119:11 ESV)

This is one of those verses that many have committed to memory. It is one of the great verses addressing why we should spend time in the word of God every day of our lives. It is not just to know Him better. It is not just to “do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15) Though those are noble and biblical aims indeed, we must also study God’s word as an aid to our sanctification – to help us to avoid sin.

Blessed are you, O LORD;
teach me your statutes!(Psalm 119:12 ESV)

This is a simple verse is it not? But surely it is a wonderful prayer! David starts by rightly praising God. Is there a simpler way to praise Him than by simply acknowledging one of the many true things about Him? Isn’t this one of the roots of praise, to simply acknowledge His greatness, His holiness, His perfection, His justice, His mercy?

David then makes a simple supplication to God – “Teach me Your statutes.” There are so many today who think that we can learn about God by other means – by reading books other than the Bible, by just thinking about God, by just having spiritual experiences. Those things have some value, but they are nothing without the teaching of God at their core. If they are not centered on God and His word, then they can teach us nothing!

We must never forget that it is God who teaches us, not ourselves. Without Him, we are completely unable to learn anything about Him. And without His grace and without being reborn in His Son, we are so lost in our sin that we are totally incapable of learning about Him. As Paul testifies, “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Corinthians 2:14)

With my lips I declare
all the rules of your mouth.(Psalm 119:13 ESV)

But while we must never forget that it is God who teaches us, we must likewise never forget that we have a responsibility to teach others, to declare God’s truth and judgments to others. We have a responsibility to share the truth, share the Gospel, share the word of God. Indeed, sharing God’s word and teaching it is the center of Great Commission – “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations… teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. ” (Matthew 28:19-20)

In the way of your testimonies I delight
as much as in all riches.(Psalm 119:14 ESV)

Do we rejoice in the way of God’s testimonies? Do we rejoice in them as much as in all riches? Not just the things that we have, not just the riches that we might want, but all riches?

I will meditate on your precepts
and fix my eyes on your ways.(Psalm 119:15 ESV)

Webster’s has two definitions of “meditate.” The first is the original definition: “to engage in contemplation or reflection.” In other words, to just think about something, to reflect on something. This is the definition in mind here – because the focus is not on us, not on our own thoughts even, but on God’s precepts, on His ways. We are to think about them.

This is not the kind of meditaition pursued by eastern religions. That’s the second definition given by Webster’s – “to engage in mental exercise (as concentration on one’s breathing or repetition of a mantra) for the purpose of reaching a heightened level of spiritual awareness.” Note that the focus there is not God’s words, His precepts, His ways… It is simply the exercise itself that is the focus – our breath, repetition of a mantra. Indeed, repetition of a mantra is explicitly condemned by Christ – “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.” (Matthew 6:7)

So when you “meditate,” meditate by contemplating and reflecting on the glorious word of God! As the Lord told Joshua, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” (Joshua 1:8)

I will delight in your statutes;
I will not forget your word.(Psalm 119:16 ESV)

Again, do we truly delight in God’s statutes? All of them? Even those that our sinful flesh draws us away from? Do we study His word enough that we will not forget it? I see godly men around me and listen to sermons and I am amazed how some of these men can just naturally draw a phrase or verse from scripture off the top of their heads, whenever they need it. I always think, “wow, I could never do that. I wish had been saved earlier in my life, and could have had an upbringing in a Christian church, where I would have been taught God’s word, and taught to memorize it.” But as I spend more time in God’s word, I find that David’s method works – that as I delight in His statutes, I do not forget His word.

Praise God! By His grace, I am writing His word on my heart!

Psalm 119:1-8 “Aleph”

Blessed are those whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of the LORD!(Psalm 119:1 ESV)

Are any of us truly undefiled? Through Christ, we now are. “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1) I enjoy studying theology, and I am a major bibliophile. But that single thought right there still amazes me. To think that he died for me.

So, do we walk in the law of the Lord? We ought to, for we are spiritually minded…

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.(Romans 8:5-7 ESV)

If we are truly spiritual, if we are truly born again of the spirit, then we not only ought to walk in the law of the LORD, but we must.

Blessed are those who keep his testimonies,
who seek him with their whole heart,(Psalm 119:2 ESV)

Again, who keeps His testimonies? Who seeks Him with the whole heart? Does our soul, like the psalmist’s, pant for God as the deer pants for the water brooks?

I am fast realizing that part of the real value of Psalm 119 is not merely in the wondrous truths it speaks about God’s Word, but in the way this particular psalm shows us how God’s testimonies are indeedsharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit…

who also do no wrong,
but walk in his ways!(Psalm 119:3 ESV)

Do we “do no wrong”? Do we avoid sin at all costs? Not that we have “already attained” or are “yet perfected,” but are we even making the effort? How many Christians do you know that still pursue their sins? Relish in them? Do you confront them? Am I one of them? If so, for the sake of my soul, point me back to His ways!

You have commanded your precepts
to be kept diligently. (Psalm 119:4 ESV)

How convicting! Can we ever say “well, we don’t have so submit to Christ’s authority – having faith is enough.” Having faith is enough to be saved, but is it truly saving faith? Or are we just professing faith, without actually placing trust in the Lord?

Oh that my ways may be steadfast
in keeping your statutes!(Psalm 119:5 ESV)

We know that David was a “man after God’s own heart.” But what made him that? Why did God call him that? Paul tells us in Acts 13: “I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.” David was a man after God’s own heart how? Because he did God’s will! At the same time, however, even David had not “already attained,” by his own admission here… He aches that he does not keep God’s statutes. And based on what we know of David, we know that he was sinful. But again, he yearned to change his ways.

Then I shall not be put to shame,
having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.(Psalm 119:6 ESV)

In his classic book Knowing God, J. I. Packer says, “Christians will tell you, if you ask them, that the Word of God has both convinced them of sin and assured them of forgiveness.” Around last October, I decided that I would read through the entire Bible, since I’d never done it before (I was saved only a few short years ago). And what have I found, and what do I continue to find? Packer was right. The Bible does convict of sin. (Of course, I think he may have gotten the idea from scripture…) And when we look into all of God’s commandments, all of scripture, we are indeed ashamed of our sin. What then? We continue, along with the psalmist, to…

I will praise you with an upright heart,
when I learn your righteous rules.(Psalm 119:7 ESV)

God’s judgments are indeed righteous, and everything He does is perfect and holy. How can we react any other way than to praise Him? How can diligent study and application of His Word lead to anything other than praise for Him?

But, some may say, we don’t have an upright heart… Which is true, we don’t, until we learn of His righteous judgments. The scriptures make us, like Timothy, wise for salvation. And then we gain the righteousness of Christ.

I will keep your statutes;
do not utterly forsake me!(Psalm 119:8 ESV)

When we keep His statutes, we know that he does not forsake us utterly. We know that He is faithful. As John writes,

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.(1 John 1:9 ESV)

Amen.

Blogging Through Psalm 119

I’m currently taking part in a men’s theology class offered by my church. We’re studying through Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology, and we meet monthly to discuss it, along with other issues of theology. The purpose, of course, is to provide a basis for sound teaching in the church, as scripture commands us throughout, especially in 2 Timothy 2:2: “And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”

The assignment for this month is to read, study, and meditate on Psalm 119, that great psalm on the Word… I thought it might be interesting to bring all of you along on that journey. So for the next 22 days, I will be blogging through Psalm 119, 8 verses per day.

An Acrostic? What’s That?

Psalm 119 is not only the longest psalm in the Bible, it’s the longest chapter of any book of the Bible, intimidating even Charles Spurgeon: “Its dimensions and its depth alike overcame me. It spread itself out before me like a vast, rolling prairie, to which I could see no bound, and this alone created a feeling of dismay.”

It has 176 verses, and it divided into 22 sections, each one corresponding to a letter of the Hebrew alphabet – aleph, beth, gimel, etc. In the original Hebrew, each line of each section actually starts with the letter, corresponding to that section making this what Bible scholars refer to as an “acrostic” psalm. You can see what that looks like here. Notice that the first letter of each group of 8 verses is the same. But don’t forget – Hebrew reads from right-to-left, so you have to look at what is (to us) the “last” letter in each row.

So, What’s It All About?
Psalm 119 is about the Bible. It’s about God’s word. Or, as Matthew Henry wrote,

The general scope and design of it is to magnify the law, and make it honourable; to set forth the excellency and usefulness of divine revelation, and to recommend it to us, not only for the entertainment, but for the government, of ourselves, by the psalmist’s own example, who speaks by experience of the benefit of it, and of the good impressions made upon him by it, for which he praises God, and earnestly prays, from first to last, for the continuance of God’s grace with him, to direct and quicken him in the way of his duty.

Now how can I put it any better than that?

Words

As we go through the psalm, we will see His word referred to in a number of different ways:

The names used to describe God’s Word are: law, testimonies, ways, precepts, statutes, commandments, ordinances, word(s), promise, judgments, faithfulness, appointment, justice and commands. (The Believer’s Bible Commentary, William MacDonald)

This in itself is insightful. Some of these are obvious references to the Bible: law, testimonies, precepts, statutes, commandments, ordinances, word(s), commands. Others are not so obvious.

“Promise,” for example, is not a word that you would normally stop and say, “oh, the biblical writer is referring to scripture.” Indeed, “promise” does not appear in the NKJV (the translation I use), but it does appear in v. 41 (among others) of the NIV:

May your unfailing love come to me, O LORD, your salvation according to your promise;

In the NKJV, this is rendered as:

Let Your mercies come also to me, O LORD— Your salvation according to Your word.

Isn’t that really what the Bible is all about, anyway? The promise (word, faithfulness, testimony) of salvation? Isn’t that the whole purpose, to make us, like Timothy, complete and wise for salvation through faith?

We’ll keep these words in mind as we make our way through the psalm, and see specifically how each of them refers to God’s word, and what they have to say about it in context. By extension, we’ll learn what the psalm says to us about how to view the Bible and what role it plays in our walk with Christ. Stay tuned…