(Today I am using the NIV instead of the ESV just because I like the language of it. The meaning is the same, it’s just a bit different wording.)
41 May your unfailing love come to me, LORD, your salvation, according to your promise;
42 then I can answer anyone who taunts me, for I trust in your word.
43 Never take your word of truth from my mouth, for I have put my hope in your laws.
44 I will always obey your law, for ever and ever.
45 I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.
46 I will speak of your statutes before kings and will not be put to shame,
47 for I delight in your commands because I love them.
48 I reach out for your commands, which I love, that I may meditate on your decrees.
Psalm 119:41-48
The world would have us to believe that being a Christian and following the Lord is no fun and that it is confining. I beg to differ. The things that the world entices as “fun” can be and are a trap for many people. The more you engage in the “fun” of the world the more you dive down a slippery slope that can lead to heartache, to despair and to hard times. Whereas when you walk in the freedom that God has for you, when you live in the unfailing love of the Lord, and you are assured of your salvation, you have no need for the slippery slope. You are walking with sure footing when you know His word to answer the arguments that may come against you. The Psalmist, David knew this. He was acknowledging that love and salvation came to him through God’s word. Some translations say mercies instead of love. Aren’t we all in need of the mercies of God? Knowing God’s Word is making it alive in your life. I can read all the self help books that you give me, I can even begin to put some of what I read into practice in my life, but there is nothing that comes to life in me like the Word of God.
“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12
David is asking of the Lord to not take His Word from him. David knows that his hope rests in God’s Word and in the mercies, love and the salvation that he gets from knowing God’s word. This also gives David the confidence to make some “I will” statements.
I will always obey your law.
I will walk about in freedom.
I will speak of your statutes, and not be ashamed.
David wanted to know God’s laws and asked God to keep it in him, so that he could always obey God’s laws. David knew that knowing God’s word would give him freedom to walk in and he also knew that being able to recite God’s word would give him the boldness he needed to not be ashamed of God’s word. I love that the next verse says “I delight in your commands because I love them.”
David had studied enough and had let the work of God’s word work in him enough that he loved God’s word. He took delight in it. I want my love for God’s word to do it’s work in me. I want to be bold so as never to be ashamed of it. I want to walk in the freedom of knowing His word so well that I can feel Him walking with me in it. I want to know his unfailing love, mercies and salvation to the depths of my being so that I can obey His word. I don’t want the “freedom” the world gives. I want the freedom to walk about with Him.
Restore 