Category: Uncategorized

105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. 

106 I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to keep your righteous rules. 

107 I am severely afflicted; give me life, O Lord, according to your word! 

108 Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O LORD, and teach me your rules. 

109 I hold my life in my hand continually, but I do not forget your law. 

110 The wicked have laid a snare for me, but I do not stray from your precepts. 

111 Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart. 

112 I incline my heart to perform your statues forever, to the end. 

Psalm 119:105-112

I think the Psalmist was writing this passage in a way to renew his heart and his walk to the ways of God. To me I think he is recognizing that he doesn’t really know where the path of his life will take him, but he knows that his path will be illuminated one step at a time, if he keeps in step with God. He has already sworn his oath and made his commitment to follow God but he has come against trials and tribulations, afflictions that he feels are a danger to him. But he is coming to God to renew his commitment, and to ask God to teach him from His word. I think this passage is a way for the Psalmist to remind himself that he can make the oaths and the commitments but the only way to stay on the path that will illuminate as he goes his way is to keep the word of God before him. 

It’s the same for us. I know for me I have had seasons of my life where I would carry my Bible with me to church on Sunday and then it sat on a shelf from Sunday to Sunday so that I would have to knock the dust off of it to carry it to church the next week. I can say that during those seasons of my life, I may make commitments to follow God’s rules and statutes on Sunday morning. But when I did not stay in the Word during the week and keep them in my mind, there was no way that I was walking the path that the Lord would have me walk. It felt like I was just wandering through my days. I can make all the commitments and oaths to walk with Him but unless I am staying in the word my path will seem dark and I have no idea what is next for me. 

But when I stay in the word, when I make his testimonies my heritage and I incline my heart to His statutes and I study and read then my path gets lit up one step at a time. I still may not know what is on the end of the path, but I am walking in step with the guide and letting Him lead the way. Oh that is not to say that I will not falter along the way and have missteps and trip sometimes. But when I am letting Him be my guide, well then He is there, right there beside me to help me get back on track. 

97 Oh, how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day. 

98 Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies for it is ever with me. 

99 I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation. 

100 I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts. 

101 I hold back my feet from every evil way, in order to keep your word. 

102 I do not turn aside from your rules, for you have taught me. 

103 How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! 

104 Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way. 

Psalm 119:97-104

This passage is a declaration of praise to God for His word! That’s truly all there is to this one. There is not a petition for God to do something. There is no plea for help or deliverance. It is simply stating the Psalmist’s, David’s, love for God’s word and how it has helped him already. David loves God’s word, he loves to meditate on it and he has gained great benefits from it. 

So this begs to ask the question of us? How do we feel about God’s word? Is it just a box we check off to say we have read it daily? Are we even reading it? Or are we just taking a snippet of a verse here and there, but only the part that would be to our benefit. I have been guilty of that in the past and if I am not careful I can fall right back into it. But I can honestly tell you that I do love God’s word! Years ago I had trouble reading the Bible. I couldn’t really understand what I was reading and it made it hard to really stick with it. And still, I dig around in other translations and commentary to make sure I am understanding what God is trying to say to me through His word. 

But my love for His word did not just happen. I had to cultivate a love for His word. First I recognized my need and desire to love God’s word. And while this may sound simple, it is true, I prayed for God to give me a love for His word. Yes, that’s right. I knew there was something there and luckily I could see people who were very normal, people like me who had a love for His word and I realized that maybe, just maybe it was possible for me to have a love like that for His word. During that time, God gave me a verse that embedded deep into my heart to show me this was possible. 

“The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.” Psalm 19:7

When I read that verse the first time, to me it opened a new world for me. I am definitely a simple minded woman so it gave me hope that I could gain wisdom and understanding from His perfect law and testimony. I can honestly say, while I feel pretty simple minded I do understand more that I read now than I did 20 years ago. 

So then I just kept reading. And when I don’t understand, I dig in a little deeper. Oh I hear and know of people who really get it. They can read all those genealogies and get something from them. I want to be more like that. So I am not where I want to be but I am way further along than I used to be. I guess that is how we know that we will keep learning. HMMM? 

David also recognizes the benefits he has gained from studying and falling in love with God’s word. And I believe those benefits are for us as well. He has gained the wisdom and understanding that we have been talking about. Staying in the Word helps him to stay on track and to obey God’s commandments and precepts. It keeps him on solid ground. I have said it before and I will say it again, I know what a wretched woman I would be if I did not have my time with Jesus every morning and the way I meet with Him is to open up His word and to pour my heart out to Him. And then to listen. I am not as good at that part as I want to be but I guess I am still learning. 

89 Forever, O LORD, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. 

90 Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast. 

91 By your appointment they stand this day, for all things are your servants. 

92 If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. 

93 I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life. 

94 I am yours; save me, for I have sought your precepts. 

95 The wicked lie in wait to destroy me, but I consider your testimonies. 

96 I have seen a limit to all perfection, but your commandment is exceedingly broad.

Psalm 119-89-96

Change is something that I am not necessarily a fan of. And yet, the world is ever changing isn’t it? Seasons change. Our bodies change as we grow older. Plans change. Jobs change. Nothing ever seems to stay the same and as I grow older, I realize that more and more. But there is one thing that doesn’t change. God! He is the same today as He was yesterday and He is the same today as He will be tomorrow. That’s what struck me in this passage. The Psalmist starts with the word Forever. Other translations use the words eternal and stays. The thought is the same. God’s word is forever and it will never change. The same God that breathed the scriptures into life thousands of years ago breathes those scriptures into life today. We find God in the pages of scripture just like the Psalmist did all those thousands of years ago. The same God that our ancestors worshipped is the same God that we worship. The same God that did things like part the seas and raise Jesus back to life is the same God that we worship today. In a world where everything changes I find great comfort in a God who never does. One thing is certain in this world and that is God. He endures to all generations, He established the earth and it stands to this day because He holds it in place. We pray to move the heart of God but we will never change the character of God. We will never move God’s heart in a direction that is contrary to His word. If you are praying for something that goes against God’s word it will not happen. Because God’s word is fixed, it is eternal. 

I also love how the Psalmist says “If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.” One thing I know in my life is that when times get tough, if I turn to God’s word to try to get to know His heart better on the matter at hand, I am somehow sustained even to the point of finding joy when I find the Father. I have been through some stuff, but I can honestly say that I have found God as I have navigated the stuff when I turn to His word. I also find out how to pray when I am going through the stuff if I keep turning to God, and I have seen His heart move when I am praying in accordance with His word. And as I learn and make His word my delight, I know He is carrying me through the stuff I am dealing with. 

The Psalmist cries out to the Lord, to save him because he is seeking God’s precepts and save He will. His deliverance may not always look like I think I want it to. And many times it doesn’t come when I think I want it to. But one thing is sure and certain is that when it comes in His time, it is better than I can think or imagine and in that I find delight as well. 

Now I took a minute extra to look at this last verse because I wanted to be sure I understood what it meant. Commentary explains it like this, we see perfection in the earth but there is a limit to it. Flowers bloom and they are perfection but they are only around for a day or two. The things of this earth are beautiful for a time, but then they change, they have a limit, they have an ending. They change. But the commandments are exceedingly broad. They never change. It is just a different way of saying what he said at the beginning of the passage. But one other thing commentary pointed out, God’s commandments are exceedingly broad because they are for everyone. It is funny how the world sees us as Christians as intolerant and closed minded but the truth is God’s word is exceedingly broad because God’s word is for them as well as for us. Anyone can turn toward God’s word it is not for the closed minded but for the broad minded. It is not limited to this person or this kind of person. It is for anyone and everyone ~ 

“and it will make us broad-minded, broad hearted, and tolerant in the best sense if we read it and obey it. It will prevent us from being tyrants over others and to tolerate and love others even when their lives and thinking are decidedly against God and His word.” David Guzik, Blue Letter Bible Commentary

81 My soul longs for your salvation; I hope in your word. 

82 My eyes long for your promise; I ask ‘When will you comfort me?’

83 For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke, yet I have not forgotten your statutes. 

84 How long must your servant endure? When will you judge those who persecute me?

85 The insolent have dug pitfalls for me; they do not live according to your law. 

86 All your commandments are sure; they persecute me with falsehood; help me! 

87 They have almost made an end of me on earth, but I have not forsaken your precepts. 

88 In your steadfast love give me life, that I may keep the testimonies of your mouth. 

Psalm 119:81-88

When I read this passage I can certainly identify with the Psalmist. I feel like the Psalmist, David is praying for something that maybe he feels he has been praying for for a very long time and waiting for the Lord’s deliverance, and he is wondering if and when it will ever come. In fact the NLT puts the first line this way ~ 

“I am worn out waiting for your rescue.” (v 1) 

Have you ever felt that way? I know I have. Maybe David wrote this passage at some point when he was on the run and hiding from Saul to keep him from killing him. You know David was anointed king and then he had to run from Saul for about 15 years before he actually became king. He probably became very weary of waiting for God’s rescue during that time. I can honestly tell you that there are prayers that I prayed that God sends me answers pretty quickly but there are also things I have prayed that I have had to remain faithful to and diligent in for a long time. And yes there are prayers I have prayed that have just about worn me out. Yet, we have to, just like David did, continue to remind ourselves of His promises in His word when we don’t feel as if our prayers are being answered. We have to know where to place our hope. Even when it appears that others are getting what they want, or we see evil prosper around us, or when we have come under some persecution because of our faith, we have to remember where our hope is found. 

Believe me, I know that it is hard to keep the faith sometimes. It is hard when we pray for healing and the healing doesn’t look like what we thought it would. It is hard when we pray for our finances and there always seems to be more month than there is money. It is hard when we’ve been praying for the prodigal who just seems to keep making the same decisions over and over. It is hard when we pray for the salvation of that friend or relative, who seems to have no interest in even hearing what you have to say about Jesus. And I bet it was hard for David to keep any faith at all that he would one day not be on the run from Saul and would actually be king. Yet in this Psalm David points out where his hope is and that he is going to continue to walk in the statutes of the word. David is asking for help based on the commandments of the Lord, but most of all, David ends asking of the Lord to help him, based on the Lord’s lovingkindness, not because of anything David has done. 

So my friends, that thing you have been praying for, that child, the finances, the healing, whatever it is that you have had on your prayer list for a long time, keep hoping, keep walking it out, keep trusting and living according to the law. And Lord, we pray ~ 

In your steadfast love, give us life, that we may keep your testimonies!

73 Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn your commandments. 

74 Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice, because I have hoped in your word. 

75 I know, O LORD, that your rules are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me. 

76 Let your steadfast love comfort me according to your promise to your servant. 

77 Let your mercy come to me, that I may live; for your law is my delight. 

78 Let the insolent be put to shame because they have wronged me with falsehood; as for me, I will meditate on your precepts. 

79 Let those who fear you turn to me, that they may know your testimonies. 

80 May my heart be blameless in your statutes, that I may not be put to shame! 

In this passage the Psalmist, David is asking for understanding of the commandments, or rather the word of God. And he is also hoping that others will see his faithfulness to God and that they will be encouraged by it as well. David is again recognizing that he trusts and his desire is to obey God’s righteous rules. And he is also finding ways to rejoice in his afflictions because it is the very thing that turned his heart back to God. This passage has recognized God as our creator and also that God is the one who gives us understanding of His word. I know for me, I used to open the Bible and I would wonder what I was reading. And there are still times that I really don’t grasp what God is saying to me. But this is when I pray fervently for understanding of His word. And I keep digging. And He reveals something to me. But I wonder if one of the reasons we will never have full understanding of His word is so that we will keep digging, that we will keep coming back. I want to learn more and more about God until the day I take my last breath. I want to keep praying and asking Him for understanding so that I may keep learning. And while doing so, I pray that others will see me and that they will be encouraged to hope in His word too. 

The next few verses are a plea from David. I love that they start with “Let”. This is David asking God for His love and His mercy. He also asks God to put to shame those who have wronged him. When others are constantly coming against you and you know they are in the wrong and you are doing your best to live rightly, it is certainly ok to pray that they will be put to shame because of their falsehoods. But you also must be careful with this prayer, I think. You need to be sure to clean up around your own back door first. That is why David ends this passage with, may my heart be blameless, that I may not be put to shame. If someone is constantly slandering and harassing you, you can pray that their insults will turn on themselves. I am reminded that Nehemiah did that.

“Hear, O our God, for we are despised. Turn back their taunt on their own heads and give them up to be plundered in a land where they are captives.” Neh. 4:4

Nehemiah was following God and was rebuilding the wall in Jerusalem and there were a couple of guys who were not happy about it, but instead of getting into an incident with them, Nehemiah prayed for the Lord to handle it for him. Oh how much better things are if we just pray for the Lord to handle our oppressors rather than get into things with them ourselves. That is what I pray. If you are following God and doing your best to live in what He has taught you to live, you are following Him, then you won’t be put to shame, and you can pray for those who may come against you to be put to shame, but let’s pray that it will be a godly shame that will turn their hearts to the Lord. 

65 You have dealt well with your servant, O LORD, according to your word.

66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments. 

67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word. 

68 You are good and do good; teach me your statutes. 

69 The insolent smear me with lies, but with my whole heart I keep your precepts; 

70 their heart is unfeeling like fat, but I delight in your law. 

71 it is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes. 

72 The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces. 

Psalm 119:65-72

In this passage, the Psalmist, David is recognizing what he has learned about God and from God from the afflictions he has been through. He starts out recognizing that God is good and he deals well with us. He deals well with us and He loves us because of who He is, not because of who we are. David knows that God has dealt well with him even when David did not do everything right. Aren’t we grateful that God deals well with us according to His word rather than dealing with us according to who we are? I know I am! As I have said before I recognize what a wretched woman I would be if not for the grace of God on my life! 

David also recognizes that what he has learned from his afflictions is what brought him back into fellowship with God. In verse 67 he states “before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.” God can and will many times use afflictions from the choices we have made to bring us back into fellowship with him. I know He has done that for me in the past. I have made choices that were not God honoring and were not the best choices I could have made. Along with those choices usually come consequences, but those consequences also usually are what prompts me to turn my heart back to the One who can help me get out of those consequences. I also know that the harder it is to get out of the consequences the deeper the lesson I receive. David recognizes here that he had gone astray, he was afflicted and now he was turning back to God. And I believe verse 68 is his cry to learn from God by hearing from here on. For me, I know that when I am going through a tough time and I am praying for deliverance from God, I also start praying for God to go ahead and teach me what it is he wants me to learn from whatever trial or hardship I am going through. That way, I will have learned the lesson and hopefully in the future, He can teach me from His word or help my mind to recount what I have learned in the past so that I won’t have to do a do-over of that particular hardship. 

The next lesson is a hard one to learn here too. David had encountered people who wanted him to fail. Regardless of what he may have learned and where his heart may be at the time of this writing, there were still people who were slandering and smearing his name (v. 69 & 70) Maybe the people who wanted to smear David, kept bringing up the past, maybe they were having a hard time accepting that David had asked for forgiveness from God and/or anyone else he needed to ask forgiveness from and they were just waiting for him to fall apart again. But David had made a decision that his whole heart was in with God. He was delighting in what he had learned and in what he was learning from the scriptures (law). David knew that he couldn’t do anything about what others were going to say about him, he just had to keep his focus on God. 

And because of the way God had brought him through, and because of the things he had learned David recognized that walking with God was far better than being wealthy. Walking with God is far better than any silver or gold or houses or cars or any of the wealth that the world has to offer. You can keep all the wealth of the world, just give me Jesus! 

57 The LORD is my portion; I promise to keep your words. 

58 I entreat your favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise. 

59 When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to your testimonies; 

60 I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandments. 

61 Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me, I do not forget your law. 

62 At midnight I rise to praise you, because of your righteous rules. 

63 I am a companion of all who fear you, of those who keep your precepts. 

64 The earth, O LORD, is full of your steadfast love; teach me your statutes! 

Psalm 119:57-64

I think this passage shows the Psalmist, David in a good place with God. He says the LORD is my portion. That’s another way of saying God, you are all I need. David is recognizing that all the other accomplishments of his life, anything he would have acquired, the wars he won, the giants he fought, the accolades he received, all of that would mean nothing without God. And because of his gratefulness, he was making a promise to keep God’s words. He was begging favor from God, but he is sure to add that the favor and grace he requests is not because of anything he has done but according to God’s promise. Lord have mercy, we all need to realize deep down that all the good that happens to us in life, the love, grace and mercy we receive from the Lord, is not because of anything we have done or can do, but it is because of who God is. We couldn’t keep God’s words without His help anyway. But we also need to keep in mind that the good that we receive from God is because of who He is. 

I also note that while David is planning to keep God’s words, he also recognizes that he must keep turning back. David has big plans to walk with God. But he says “when I think on my ways, I turn my feet to your testimonies.” This is his way of recognizing that when he tries to go it alone, he needs to remember and turn back. I know for me this is true. If left on my own I know what a wretched woman I can be. This is why I study, this is why I get up and have a quiet time with the Lord. So that I can keep my feet walking in the right direction. Or as right a direction as is possible for me on any given day! I want to be like David and promise to keep all of God’s commandments. But it takes an intentional turning day in and day out. 

In verse 61 David is recognizing that there are people who are against him and that he must keep the law before him so as to handle those people rightly. And in verse 62 David is praising God for his rules. I think David is praising God for keeping his feet steady and helping him to walk. David is in a good place here. He recognizes God for who He is and he recognizing himself for who he is. He knows that without God he would be nowhere and his heart is overflowing with gratitude. 

I love the way that David wraps up this passage too. He takes note that having friends who are like minded, “those who keep your precepts” is important and then he recognizes that he sees God’s love everywhere. This may be my favorite passage in Psalm 119 so far. I love that God is there for us when things are bad. But I also truly love to recognize God is there for me when things are good too. I know that God is there for us in the hard times. I like to think it makes Him smile when we realize He is there for us in the good times too. 

Thank you LORD, for your grace, thank you for your mercy, thank you for your LOVE. The whole earth is full of your steadfast love!  Praise You Lord! 

49 Remember your word to your servant, in which you have made me hope. 

50 This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life. 

51 The insolent utterly deride me, but I do not turn away from your law. 

52 When I think of your rules from of old, I take comfort, O LORD. 

53 Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked, who forsake your law. 

54 Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my sojourning. 

55 I remember your name in the night, O LORD, and keep your law. 

56 This blessing has fallen to me, that I have kept your precepts. 

Psalm 119:49-56

The Psalmist, David is pointing out here that he is putting his hope in the Word of God. When he says “remember your word to your servant” it’s not that he thinks God will forget his words but that he is placing his faith in the word of God. He has found hope in the scriptures. He is in essence praying scripture back to God. This is his way of stating the promises that he has found in scripture back to God. He finds comfort in the promises of God that speak to what is going on in his life at the time. That is one reason that studying scripture is so important. I have prayed many things, and gotten a no from God, that did not line up with scripture. But the things that I pray that line up with scripture, with a promise from God, they always come to pass in time. I think David is able to make this request of God too, because he has a history with God already. He is comforted in his affliction because he has already seen God act in accordance with scripture and His promises. 

David also apparently wrote this at a time when he had people coming against him. I love studying the life of David because he had good times, and he had bad times. He had times when he was walking with God, hand in hand it seems and he had times where he walked away and wasn’t following God, and he sinned. But he always returned to God. When you study this man, David, the one who is called a man after God’s own heart, you realize how very “real” he was. He didn’t do everything right, in fact there was quite a lot that he got wrong yet he knew where to come home to. In this passage he points out that there are people who have come against him yet he knows where to place his hope and where to find his strength and confidence. He is placing his hope in the promises of God from scripture and I think, maybe from his own journey that he has walked with God and found Him faithful. The longer you walk with God your faith journey is written and your confidence and your faith is strengthened. 

These last 3 verses of this passage spoke volumes to me. I love verse 54. 

“Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my sojourning.” 

Often times I have thought of sojourning as wandering maybe even aimlessly. But when I look up the word sojourn it simply means to stay as a temporary resident. Well, we are sojourning through this world aren’t we? We are temporary residents on planet earth. So our sojourning could simply mean our day to day. I loved this verse because of the many times I have used worship music to keep me grounded in life. In some really hard times and in some good times. Life is just plain hard sometime and I find that when it gets particularly hard for me, that if I turn on worship music in my background of my day that it gives me strength and confidence to make it through. It keeps my mind focused on God rather than on my struggles that are before me. 

I also love how David mentions he is remembering God’s name in the night. I think David was waking up in the middle of the night and praying over his struggles. I have certainly been there too. I have mentioned before I have dealt with a little anxiety over the last few years and it always seems to hit me hardest in the middle of the night and I have trouble sleeping. But I find that if I go to my Bible or if I listen to worship music then the anxiety seems to subside and I am able to go back to sleep. 

And then David recognizes that he has been blessed by keeping God’s precepts. I wonder if David is realizing the blessing that he has received from having a closer relationship with God because of the focus he has placed on God through his hard times. I know for me that is true. I have had a few tough years, and really I think we can all say that about the last two can’t we? But one thing I have come to realize is that even though I would not want to re-live some of the things that have happened the last few years, my relationship with my God is on a different plane than ever before. And because of that I am blessed. 

(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. 

33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes; and I will keep it to the end. 

34 Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart. 

35 Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it. 

36 Incline my heart to your testimonies and not to selfish gain! 

37 Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways. 

38 Confirm to your servant your promise, that you may be feared. 

39 Turn away the reproach that I dread, for your rules are good. 

40 Behold, I long for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life! 

Psalm 119:33-40

As I was studying this passage I kept being reminded of the verse in Mark. 

“Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, ‘I believe; help my unbelief!’” Mark 9:24

I love that verse because of the reality of it. The father had brought his child to Jesus to be healed and Jesus had asked him do you believe and the father stated “I believe, help my unbelief.” How many times have I had to pray that same thing? How many times have you? 

Lord, I believe you are Lord over my finances and you will give me what I need, help my unbelief. 

Lord, I believe in your healing, help my unbelief.

Lord, I believe you will deliver my loved one from the grip of addiction, help my unbelief. 

Lord, I believe you will restore my family, help my unbelief. 

Lord, I believe in ______________ (fill in your blank), help my unbelief. 

This passage in Psalm 119 is a prayer, a crying out to God for David to understand and for help to follow, and it is a commitment to do so. I don’t think this is a prayer that David prayed once and put it away. (Of course, I have no way of knowing that.) But to me it reads as something that you might want to pray daily. The first four verses start with words that in a way give off an urgency to God. 

Teach me

Give me understanding 

Lead me 

Incline my heart 

David is asking God to show him the way that God wants him to live. He wants to know the Word so that he can know the way. And he doesn’t want to just read the Word and go about his life. He is asking the Lord for help in living it out. 

In verse 36 he starts with “incline my heart to your testimonies”, he not only is asking God to help him understand the Word, he is asking God to help him to fall in love with the Word. “And not to selfish gain!” He wants to have a pure motive in doing so. In verse 37 he asks God to help him to turn away from the things that don’t matter and to help him to desire the things that do matter. 

I wonder how many worthless things do I get caught up in? Oh way too many I am sure than I want to readily admit out loud. How often do I scroll things that don’t matter? How often do I get caught up in talk that doesn’t matter? What am I spending my energies on, that doesn’t matter? David is recognizing that there are things in his life that don’t matter but he is asking the Lord to help him to turn away from those things and to turn to His word. 

The last verse of this passage is a full circle plea from David for the Lord to give him revival. David is saying I love your word and it is my path to righteousness. He recognized that it is impossible to stay on the path without a love for God’s word, it was David’s path to righteousness and it is our path to righteousness as well.