All people look, but few really see; and they can rarely give details of any place they have passed—its appearance or what might be found there.”
–Louis L’Amour (Down the Long Hills)
“If you will help me, I will run to follow your commands.”
“If you will help me, I will run to follow your commands.”
–Psalm 119:32 (NLT)
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What is it that you long for? What would be your fondest wish? When we read Psalm 119, especially in this section, we see that the psalmist longs for more of God’s Word and for more holiness. Jonathan Edwards said that the distinguishing traits of true saints was “godly sorrow” and “holy thirst.” He said that, “Godly sorrow and brokenness of heart is peculiarly acceptable and pleasing to God,” and “Holy thirst is a condition of participation of the blessings of eternal life.”
It’s interesting that most versions of verse 17 state:
“Deal bountifully with Your servant, that I may live and keep Your word.” Some (NIV, NLT) state, “Be good to your servant…” But then they all have the same ending phrase that they might live and obey. One of the great purposes in life is the privilege of obeying God’s Word.
All of us, from baby Christian to mature saint, need our eyes to be open. Ezekiel speaks of rebellious people that “has eyes to see but does not see,” (Ezekiel 12:2, NKJV); Jeremiah repeats that claim (5:21). We see in Mark, when Jesus speaks to those with hardened hearts, “Having eyes do you not see?…” (Mark 8:18, NKJV) The psalmist cries, pleads with God to “Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things from Your law.” (119:18, NASB) As we travel in this journey of life we need discernment, and that comes from the Bible and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. To keep God’s Word, we must pray to understand it for it is spiritual knowledge that produces life. James Montgomery Boice states, “The treasures in Scripture are wonderful in themselves, wonderful because their source is in God, wonderful because of what they do in us and for us, and wonderful because they are everlasting when everything else we know is rapidly passing away.”
vs 19, “I am a stranger in the earth; do not hide Your commandments from me.” (NKJV)
“I am but a foreigner here on earth, I need the guidance of your commands.” (NLT)
We cannot survive in this world’s system without the Word of God. It must not only be words that we read, but it must be words that we live by, words that we trust, words that give us hope, courage, and strength. Listen, and this is important–there is no place in the kingdom of God for a spiritual couch potato. “A man will never grow into the knowledge of God’s word by idly waiting for some new gift of discernment, but by diligently using that which God has already bestowed upon him, and using at the same time all other helps that lie within his reach.” (John Kerr) We must be men and women of faith every step of the way.
vs 28, “My soul weeps because of grief… (NASB)
“My soul melts away for sorrow…(ESV)
“My soul melts from heaviness…” (NKJV)
The psalmist is in a sad state. His strength is gone, physical and spiritual, and perhaps emotional as well. He prays to the Lord for strength–strength that comes from the Word of God. Each of the translations have the second phrase of this verse to read, “Strengthen me according to Your word.” If we want strength we must have God’s Word in our heart, then we must look to it. In this life we will face tests and trials, some of which may take us to the breaking point. It is at this point that we must dive into the Word of God and hold tightly to His promises, His testimonies, and let that assurance cause us to rest in Him.
vs 30, “I have chosen the faithful way; I have placed Your ordinances before me.” (NASB)
“I have chosen the way of truth; Your judgments I have laid before me.” (NKJV)
“I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your rules before me.” (ESV)
and I like the way the NLT puts this verse, “I have chosen to be faithful; I have determined to live by your laws.”
There is no neutrality–it is the way of truth or the way of falsehood and deceitfulness. We choose and continue to choose daily, therefore we must have the Word of God to help us. We do not live a righteous life by wishful thinking. Holiness is not pronounced upon us by the waving of some spiritual wand.
At the beginning I asked what it was you truly longed for, what in your heart you desired the most? Jesus tells us that “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled.” We must eat of the riches of God’s Word and drink from His fountain that is provided to sustain us along the way.
“I hear your Word in love;
In faith your Word obey;
O send your Spirit from above
To teach me, Lord, your way.”
–Issac Watts
————————————–
What is it that you long for? What would be your fondest wish? When we read Psalm 119, especially in this section, we see that the psalmist longs for more of God’s Word and for more holiness. Jonathan Edwards said that the distinguishing traits of true saints was “godly sorrow” and “holy thirst.” He said that, “Godly sorrow and brokenness of heart is peculiarly acceptable and pleasing to God,” and “Holy thirst is a condition of participation of the blessings of eternal life.”
It’s interesting that most versions of verse 17 state:
“Deal bountifully with Your servant, that I may live and keep Your word.” Some (NIV, NLT) state, “Be good to your servant…” But then they all have the same ending phrase that they might live and obey. One of the great purposes in life is the privilege of obeying God’s Word.
All of us, from baby Christian to mature saint, need our eyes to be open. Ezekiel speaks of rebellious people that “has eyes to see but does not see,” (Ezekiel 12:2, NKJV); Jeremiah repeats that claim (5:21). We see in Mark, when Jesus speaks to those with hardened hearts, “Having eyes do you not see?…” (Mark 8:18, NKJV) The psalmist cries, pleads with God to “Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things from Your law.” (119:18, NASB) As we travel in this journey of life we need discernment, and that comes from the Bible and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. To keep God’s Word, we must pray to understand it for it is spiritual knowledge that produces life. James Montgomery Boice states, “The treasures in Scripture are wonderful in themselves, wonderful because their source is in God, wonderful because of what they do in us and for us, and wonderful because they are everlasting when everything else we know is rapidly passing away.”
vs 19, “I am a stranger in the earth; do not hide Your commandments from me.” (NKJV)
“I am but a foreigner here on earth, I need the guidance of your commands.” (NLT)
We cannot survive in this world’s system without the Word of God. It must not only be words that we read, but it must be words that we live by, words that we trust, words that give us hope, courage, and strength. Listen, and this is important–there is no place in the kingdom of God for a spiritual couch potato. “A man will never grow into the knowledge of God’s word by idly waiting for some new gift of discernment, but by diligently using that which God has already bestowed upon him, and using at the same time all other helps that lie within his reach.” (John Kerr) We must be men and women of faith every step of the way.
vs 28, “My soul weeps because of grief… (NASB)
“My soul melts away for sorrow…(ESV)
“My soul melts from heaviness…” (NKJV)
The psalmist is in a sad state. His strength is gone, physical and spiritual, and perhaps emotional as well. He prays to the Lord for strength–strength that comes from the Word of God. Each of the translations have the second phrase of this verse to read, “Strengthen me according to Your word.” If we want strength we must have God’s Word in our heart, then we must look to it. In this life we will face tests and trials, some of which may take us to the breaking point. It is at this point that we must dive into the Word of God and hold tightly to His promises, His testimonies, and let that assurance cause us to rest in Him.
vs 30, “I have chosen the faithful way; I have placed Your ordinances before me.” (NASB)
“I have chosen the way of truth; Your judgments I have laid before me.” (NKJV)
“I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your rules before me.” (ESV)
and I like the way the NLT puts this verse, “I have chosen to be faithful; I have determined to live by your laws.”
There is no neutrality–it is the way of truth or the way of falsehood and deceitfulness. We choose and continue to choose daily, therefore we must have the Word of God to help us. We do not live a righteous life by wishful thinking. Holiness is not pronounced upon us by the waving of some spiritual wand.
At the beginning I asked what it was you truly longed for, what in your heart you desired the most? Jesus tells us that “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled.” We must eat of the riches of God’s Word and drink from His fountain that is provided to sustain us along the way.
“I hear your Word in love;
In faith your Word obey;
O send your Spirit from above
To teach me, Lord, your way.”
–Issac Watts