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What It Says:
Psa 119:33 HE. Teach me,
O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.
Psa 119:34 Give me
understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole
heart.
Psa 119:35 Make me to go
in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.
Psa 119:36 Incline my
heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.
Psa 119:37 Turn away
mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.
Psa 119:38 Stablish thy
word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear.
Psa 119:39 Turn away my
reproach which I fear: for thy judgments are good.
Psa 119:40 Behold, I
have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.
Psa 119:41 VAU. Let thy
mercies come also unto me, O LORD, even thy salvation, according to thy word.
Psa 119:42 So shall I
have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word.
Psa 119:43 And take not
the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments.
Psa 119:44 So shall I
keep thy law continually for ever and ever.
Psa 119:45 And I will
walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.
Psa 119:46 I will speak
of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.
Psa 119:47 And I will
delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.
Psa 119:48 My hands also
will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate
in thy statutes.
What It Means:
Psa 119:33 HE. Teach me,
O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.
THE POWER OF THE WORD:
The Biblical
Illustrator: This psalmist held that a man could see nothing unless God showed
it to him. He held that a man could learn nothing unless God taught him; and
taught him, moreover, in two ways. First taught him what he ought to do, and
then taught him how to do it.
I believe that there
is one more thing being shown by the psalmist: that we do what we do because
God has made us able to do it. God teaches us what we ought to do, and how to
do it – then by His Holy Spirit he makes us able, and empowers us to do His will.
We see the psalmist continuing to pray for the Lord to teach him “thy statutes”
with the pledge to keep them unto the end of his life. It begins to be plain
that we can do nothing, even and especially devotion to the word of God,
without the Holy Spirit’s intervention inside us. He generates conversation
with, and awareness of, God in each moment. Our God is The Living God!! Amen!
Psa 119:34 Give me
understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole
heart.
What does he want to
be given? Understanding
What two things will
understanding allow him to do?
1. Keep thy law
2. Observe thy law with my whole heart
TBI: … supposing
that you were set adrift in a ship at sea, to shift for yourself, would it not
be mere common sense to try and learn how to manage that ship, that you might
keep her afloat and get her safe to land? You would try to learn the statutes,
laws, and commandments, and testimonies, and judgments concerning the ship,
lest by your own ignorance you should sink her, and be drowned. You would try
to learn the laws about the ship(‘s operation)…. You would try to learn the
commandments about her. They would be any books which you could find of rules
of navigation, and instruction in seamanship. You would try to learn the
testimonies about the ship. And what would they be? The witness, of course,
which the ship bore to herself. The experience which you or others got from
seeing how she behaved—as they say—at sea. And from whom would you try to learn
all this? from yourself? I trust not. You would go to the shipbuilder and
the shipmaster for your information. Just as—if you be a reasonable man—you
will go for your information about this world to the builder and maker of the
world—God Himself.
Psa 119:35 Make me to go
in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.
Believer’s Bible Commentary: The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. So we want the Lord to
guide our feet in the path of His will, because that is the only way in which
we are truly happy.
He declares his complete dependence for every motivation and
action upon God’s working in Himself. He asks God to “make me” to go in the
path of thy commandments. Why? Because our first natural instinct is go our own
way, but, when a believer is on the path of God’s commandments he or she is
filled with delight!!
Psa 119:36 Incline my
heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.
This is definitely where the “fine line” between God’s part,
and my part shows up. He is asking the Lord to affect his heart for him.
Define: Incline – predispose, persuade, prejudice, bias, bring
round, slant, slope, tilt, rise, ascent, lift, (Antonym: decline, turn down,
reject, weaken)
“If you are so inclined.” A heart that is inclined is “willing”
to do a thing. He’s asking the Lord to make his heart willing.
Towards what does he ask God to incline his heart? Unto thy testimonies.
He desires that his heart be fully persuaded to consume and
to obey the testimonies that God gives about Himself, and our lives, but he
does not depend upon his own strength to do this. He asks God to incline or
slant his heart unto “thy testimonies.”
What is the antonym to incline? (Antonym: decline, turn down,
reject, weaken)
From what does he ask God to decline him away? To covetousness
Define: Covetousness – greed, selfishness, materialism,
acquisitiveness, (Antonym: generosity)
God’s testimonies and our covetousness are opposites of one
another. He prefers that he be not selfish, but knows that in the natural man,
he is inclined to be covetous. We all need God’s testimonies and His Holy-Spirit influence to remind us how we are to behave and to live.
Pulpit Commentary: Incline
my heart unto thy testimonies. The writer recognizes that the right inclination
of the heart, which he claims to have (Psa119:7, Psa119:10, Psa119:32, Psa119:34,
etc.), is itself the gift of God. And not to covetousness; or, "to
gain" (comp. Psa119:72).
Psa 119:37 Turn away
mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.
What does he want God to turn his eyes away from? Vanity.
Define: Vanity – pride, narcissism, self-importance, arrogance, egotism,
airs, (Antonym: humility), futility, emptiness, uselessness, pointlessness,
worthlessness, ineffectuality, ineffectiveness, hollowness, unreality (Antonym:
value)
Notice the word “beholding.” We know that to behold
something means to look at something that is awesome and amazing, but he did
not use the word “behold,” he used the word “beholding,” as in, continuing to
look at, to be mesmerized by, or absorbed in. He is talking about having your
attention so riveted by vanity that you cannot see anything else. He literally
asks God to turn his focus away from the vanity in himself -- or in others around
him.
Where do we bump into vanity or pride? We run into pride in
ourselves in our dealings with others and with God. We behold pride in the
stories we read in secular books or watch on TV or in movies. It is not pride
or vanity that Jesus demonstrated for us, but humility.
Php 2:7 But made himself of no reputation,
and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the
likeness of men:.
Define: Quicken – make living, make strong, to revive, live, nourish up, preserve (alive), quicken,
recover, repair, restore (to life), save (alive, life, lives), surely, be
whole.
What does he want to be quickened in? Quicken thou me in thy way.
He asks God to make him alive in God’s way. He wants to be
beholding God’s way. Jesus demonstrated that God’s way for us is the way of
humility (no reputation) and service (the form of a servant).
PC: Let me not
be distracted from thy service by the "vanities" of the
world—wealth, honor, power, glory, and the like; rather, quicken thou me in
thy way. Give me increased life, strength, and vigor, to walk
continually in the way of thy commandments.
To be quickened in “thy way” is to be living a life of
worship – seeing God’s Divine Law of Creation in action in our own lives:
G. Campbell Morgan, “The Westminster Pulpit”, Psalm 96: If
God's ultimate thought is realized only along the line of His law, then the law
is that which creates the beauty; and everywhere beauty is marred by the
breaking of law. Holiness, then, is rectitude of character, the condition of
beauty. What is "the beauty of holiness"? The realization of a
Divine thought by abiding in the Divine law. That is the one and only
condition of worship.
Let me illustrate again. The flowers that blossom on the sod are worshiping God. But how are they worshiping? They are worshiping by their beauty. And what is their beauty? The beauty is the result of the operation of the law of God; and in answer to the laws of their life, not by effort, not by garments other than the garments of essential glory wrought out from their inner life, they worship. They worship in beauty because they worship in holiness. They worship within the realm of law.
G. Campbell Morgan, “The Westminster Pulpit”, Psalm 96: I do not worship God by going to China as a missionary if God wants me to stay at home and do the work of a carpenter. I do not worship God by aspiring to some mighty and heroic thing for Him if the capacity He has given me is for doing the quiet thing, and the simple thing, and the hidden thing, and the unknown thing. It would be very foolish for the hummingbird, instead of entering the tulip, to try to beat back the air and combat with the eagle. It worships by staying where God puts it. It would be very wicked for the eagle to cultivate a mock modesty, and say that it preferred to remain among the tulips when it ought to be soaring sunwards.
So that if I have spoken to you about the fact that God has foreordained works, that we should walk in them, I now remind you that if you worship when you find God's appointment, and when you walk in the way God has appointed, you realize your own life. Worship consists in the finding of my own life, and the yielding of it wholly to God for the fulfilment of His purpose. That is worship! You say, Would you tell us to find our life? Did not Jesus say we must lose it? Yes, "He that findeth his life shall lose it," but He did not finish there: "He that loseth his life for My sake shall find it," not another life, not a new life, not a new order of life, not an angel's life, for instance, but his own life. The Cross is necessary, restraint is necessary, sacrifice is necessary, self-denial is necessary; but these things are all preliminary, and when Paul describes the Christian life at its fullest, he does not say, I am crucified. That is the wicket gate, that is the pathway that leads out, that is the beginning. …
Let me illustrate again. The flowers that blossom on the sod are worshiping God. But how are they worshiping? They are worshiping by their beauty. And what is their beauty? The beauty is the result of the operation of the law of God; and in answer to the laws of their life, not by effort, not by garments other than the garments of essential glory wrought out from their inner life, they worship. They worship in beauty because they worship in holiness. They worship within the realm of law.
G. Campbell Morgan, “The Westminster Pulpit”, Psalm 96: I do not worship God by going to China as a missionary if God wants me to stay at home and do the work of a carpenter. I do not worship God by aspiring to some mighty and heroic thing for Him if the capacity He has given me is for doing the quiet thing, and the simple thing, and the hidden thing, and the unknown thing. It would be very foolish for the hummingbird, instead of entering the tulip, to try to beat back the air and combat with the eagle. It worships by staying where God puts it. It would be very wicked for the eagle to cultivate a mock modesty, and say that it preferred to remain among the tulips when it ought to be soaring sunwards.
So that if I have spoken to you about the fact that God has foreordained works, that we should walk in them, I now remind you that if you worship when you find God's appointment, and when you walk in the way God has appointed, you realize your own life. Worship consists in the finding of my own life, and the yielding of it wholly to God for the fulfilment of His purpose. That is worship! You say, Would you tell us to find our life? Did not Jesus say we must lose it? Yes, "He that findeth his life shall lose it," but He did not finish there: "He that loseth his life for My sake shall find it," not another life, not a new life, not a new order of life, not an angel's life, for instance, but his own life. The Cross is necessary, restraint is necessary, sacrifice is necessary, self-denial is necessary; but these things are all preliminary, and when Paul describes the Christian life at its fullest, he does not say, I am crucified. That is the wicket gate, that is the pathway that leads out, that is the beginning. …
(A wicket gate is a small door, especially a small one inside a larger one, such as a doggy door.)
Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I
live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the
flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for
me.
Notice also these words: "I live by the faith of the Son of God," ... It does not say that I live by my faith in the Son of God; it says: "I live by the faith of the Son of God." I live by Jesus' faith!! That is where the "new life" comes from!! From the faith that Jesus exercised in His Father as He died on the cross, was resurrected, and then ascended on High! I have gained new life -- in Him because of His Faith!! Thank you, Lord Jesus! Thank you, Father! Hallelujah!!
G. Campbell Morgan, “The Westminster Pulpit”, Psalm 96: And
so I pray that when the service is over, and the Sabbath day has passed, we may
go back to know that in the shop, in the office, in the home and market place,
in all the toil of the commonplaces, we can worship the Lord in the beauty of
holiness. Where there is holiness there is beauty. Where there is beauty there is
worship. However ornate the worship may be in external things, if it lacks the
beauty of holiness, it never reaches the inner sanctuary, and never glorifies
God.
Joh 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him
must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Psa 119:38 Stablish thy
word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear.
Define: Stablish
(establish) – ascertain, determine, find out, prove, confirm, verify, set up,
found, institute, start, being
What does he want to
have established unto himself? Thy word.
What is he devoted
to? To thy fear.
Define: Devoted – loving and committed, dedicated, loyal,
faithful, constant, caring, attentive, dutiful, keen, enthusiastic, ardent,
fervent, fanatical
He wants to be
founded in God’s word, and devoted to respecting and loving God. He wants God to
give him a solid foundation in God’s word and keep him committed and
enthusiastic to “thy fear.” We recall that "to fear God” is to respect and
honor Him, as is His due.
2Th 2:16-17 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God,
even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation
and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good
word and work.
The Father and the Son have loved us and given us eternal
relief, comfort, and support. Good hope in God’s grace will establish us in
every good word and work. It is hard to draw the line between God and us….
Which does God do, and which do we do?
Joh 6:28-29 Then said they unto him, What shall we do,
that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is
the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
God draws the line
and says that we need to believe in Him. If we draw the line, we somehow think
that we have the power to do things on our own, but that is not really true.
Joh15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that
abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me
ye can do nothing.
Without abiding or living in Jesus, and Jesus living in us,
we can do nothing. This is a binding together of faith and life – faith in
Jesus within our own lives. It is a
combining or yoking together of the Spirit of Jesus and the self within us. When
we have faith in Jesus, then we have life in Him.
Jas 5:8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for
the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
1Pe 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
1Pe 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
God requires that we
conduct ourselves in a certain way. He has given us free will, but at the same
time He is in charge of our hearts. That is the “fine line” which is so fine
that we cannot really tell where it starts and stops. I have free will, but
only because of God’s grace to me. I must establish my own heart with my
patient waiting for the Lord, but it is God who establishes, perfects,
strengthens, and settles us in Him. We are free to make the choice between
heaven and hell, and God honors our choice. If we choose hell, and rebellion
against God, He says, “Fine, you are condemned by your own free choice.” If we
make the choice for heaven by believing in Jesus, God says, “Welcome home.”
Joh 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned:
but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in
the name of the only begotten Son of God.
We must seek God, but He lets us find Him! This reminds me
of when a child is playing a game with an adult. The adult is usually aware of
every move and motivation of the child. The child wins because the adult, in kindness and love, lets
him win.
Jer 29:11-14a For I know the thoughts that I think toward
you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an
expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and
I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye
shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith
the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity,….
Psa 119:39 Turn away my
reproach which I fear: for thy judgments are good.
What does he fear? My reproach.
What does he call God’s judgments? Good.
He has mentioned “my reproach” and “thy judgments.” He fears
his reproach but knows that God’s judgments are good. Goodness is one of God’s
attributes. He is completely good, always good, and there is no shadow of
darkness nor turning in Him. So even if we are reproached by God, His
judgments, which are always good, bring about good things in our lives.
Gen50:20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me;
but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much
people alive.
This is what Joseph said to show his brothers they were
forgiven for their sins against him. God’s good intentions for Joseph
overshadowed his brother’s evil intentions for Joseph.
Jas1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is
from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no
variableness, neither shadow of turning.
He has also mentioned “thy fear” and “my fear” which are two
different things. “Thy fear” refers to the respect and esteem that we give to
God because of Who He Is. “My fear” is the feeling of fear or dread that comes
upon us in difficult circumstances. This is the kind of fear that comes about
by beholding vanity -- even for a short time.
Mat10:28 And do not fear those who kill the body but
cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and
body in hell.
But it is not the reproach so much of God, but the reproach
of the men that he fears. We know this from the following verses from the same
Psalm:
Psa119:23 Princes also sit and speak against me, But
Your servant meditates on Your statutes.
Psa119:161 Princes persecute me without a cause, But my
heart stands in awe of Your word.
What does he use to combat his fear in Psa119:23? Meditation on God's statutes (word).
What does he use to combat his fear in Psa119:161? His heart stands in awe of God's word.
He combats his fear of men by meditating on God’s statutes.
He directs his own heart to stand in awe of God’s word!! This is what we must
do when we experience fear or anxiety: meditate on God’s word, and stand in awe
of God’s word. When we begin to praise God, our hearts begin to trust God, and
leave the fear behind. We have poise in life through praising God and praying
to Him for our help. If you want peace in your heart, then praise God and pray
– meditate on His word and stand in awe of Him and His word.
Psa 119:40 Behold, I
have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.
What has our psalmist longed after? God's precepts.
Define: Precepts – teachings, principles, rules, guidelines,
instruction, law
Define: Quicken (again) – make living, make strong, to revive, live, nourish up, preserve (alive), quicken,
recover, repair, restore (to life), save (alive, life, lives), surely, be
whole.
What does he want to be made alive or revived in? God's righteousness!
He has longed after, yearned for, and desired God’s precepts
and His righteousness. He has been craving instruction from the Lord. Remember
our psalmist did not have a Bible in his back pocket, as we do, but he had
likely been trained to memorize God’s word. He had a relationship with God who
was his teacher. He longs for nearness to God. He asks God to make him alive
and strong “in thy righteousness.” He asks God to revive him to God’s
righteousness – to make him live in the Presence of the Lord, once again.
Job33:26 He shall pray to God, and He will delight in
him, He shall see His face with joy, For He restores to man His righteousness.
Psa 143:11 Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name's sake: for
thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble.
Isa 57:15 For thus
saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I
dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and
humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart
of the contrite ones.
Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus
from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also
quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
What more needs to be said? It is only God who can revive or
quicken our spirits and our mortal bodies, and Praise the Lord, it is His desire
to do so:
Luk12:32 Fear
not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the
kingdom.
Psa 119:41 VAU. Let thy
mercies come also unto me, O LORD, even thy salvation, according to thy word.
VICTORY THROUGH THE WORD:
What does our psalmist ask to come unto him? Thy mercies.
By using the word “even” he says that “salvation” and “God’s
mercies” are the same!
How did he know about God’s mercies and salvation? According to thy word.
He knew God’s mercies and salvation because he knew God's word in his heart. We can put God’s word in
our heart through reading God’s word with the help of the Holy Spirit. There
is that partnership, that “fine line” showing up again. God’s mercies and
salvation are eternal but we must consume God’s word in order to know and
understand that!! We are ignorant until we seek understanding but we only have
understanding by the Spirit of the Lord!
Psa 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of
wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise
endureth for ever.
Pro 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
Pro 16:22 Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.
Pro 17:27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
Pro 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
Pro 16:22 Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.
Pro 17:27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
Psa 119:42 So shall I
have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word.
Define: Wherewith – (wherewithal) – means, ability, resources,
money, finances, funds
He is saying that if
God’s mercies and salvation come unto him, then he shall have the means,
the ability, and resources that he needs.
What shall he be enabled to do? He shall be able to give an answer to the ones who are
reproaching him!
What does he say is the reason for this? “For I have wherewith(al) to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word."
Trusting in God’s word gives us the resources we need to
deal with the hard things in life. Jesus used the word of God to answer Satan:
Mat 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written,
Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the
mouth of God.
Mat 4:7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
Mat 4:10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Mat 4:7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
Mat 4:10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Psa 119:43 And take not
the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments.
Define: Utterly –
completely, absolutely, totally, entirely, wholly, quite, outright,
unreservedly, downright, fully (Antonym: hardly)
What does he not want taken completely out of his mouth? The word of truth.
Which presents the idea that not only does God give us His word,
He can remove His word from our mouth, also. Notice, also that he calls it “the
word of truth.”
What reason does he give for his request? For I have hoped in thy judgments.
Define: Hope – expect, trust, anticipate, look forward to;
optimism, faith, aspiration, dream, (Antonym: despair)
In what does he have hope? In thy judgments.
He is talking about preaching and speaking God’s word of
truth to others. He has hope in God’s righteous judgments and desires to
continue speaking all about what God has done for him and others. Clearly he
knows that God’s word is a gift from God and that all God’s judgments are
righteous and correct. Clearly God sees everything accurately and clearly and
we can rely on His judgment.
Psa 119:44 So shall I
keep thy law continually for ever and ever.
The word “so” here
shows that what he is about to say depends entirely on what was just said. He
has just requested that God not take His word of truth completely out of his
mouth. That is the negative form of his desire. The positive form would be to
request that God’s word of truth remain completely in his mouth.
What shall God’s
word remaining in his mouth enable him to do? Keep thy law continually for ever and ever.
He will be able to
“keep thy law” – obey what is in his heart and mouth – and he shall be able to
do it continually without breaks – for ever and ever. We know we cannot do this
is our own strength. This requires input from God’s Holy Spirit! Amen!!
Psa 119:45 And I will
walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.
What does he say
will happen? I will walk at liberty (be free)
Why? For I seek thy precepts.
We begin to see a
little more about his current circumstances – the reason for his writing of
this particular Psalm. He has spoken of the reproach that he is enduring from
some princes which indicates he is being held for questioning of some kind. The
thing he knows is that God’s word is truth, and the truth sets us at liberty. So
because he seeks God’s precepts, and instructions, he trusts that God shall let
him walk at liberty, soon. We gain freedom from seeking to live by God’s
principles and instructions.
Joh 8:31-32 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on
him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye
shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Psa 119:46 I will speak
of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.
He promises that not
only in front of princes but in front of kings he will speak.
What does he promise
to speak of? God's testimonies.
What will he not be,
because he has spoken of God’s testimonies? Ashamed.
Rom 1:16 For I am not
ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to
every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Rom 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Rom 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Psa 119:47 And I will
delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.
What else is he
anticipating? I will delight myself in thy commandments.
How does he feel
about God’s commandments? He loves them.
Psa 119:48 My hands also
will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate
in thy statutes.
He speaks here of what he will do with both his hands and
his heart/mind.
What does he say he will do with his hands? My hands I will lift up unto thy commandments.
Meaning he will be a doer of the word and not a hearer only.
He will put his hands to doing the things that God commands.
How does he feel about being commanded by God? He loves it!
Define: Meditate -- think about, mull over, reflect on,
deliberate, contemplate, consider, take into account, ponder, turn over in your
mind, be concerned about (Antonym: disregard)
On what shall he set his mind and heart to meditate? Thy statutes.
We will be blessed when we do the same thing. Meditate on,
trust in, and obey God’s Holy Word of Truth.
Those who feel the need of more closeness or nearness to
God, would be well satisfied by the same daily occupations as our Psalmist.
Lift our hands to obey the commands of God and lift them also in prayer to the
God who speaks to us in His word. Meditate on the truthfulness of God’s
precepts and instructions and live our lives accordingly. Keep your mind fixed
on Jesus through praising God, praying to Him, and reading and studying God’s
word of truth.
Rom8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the
things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the
Spirit.
Rom12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Rom12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Read our verses once more:
Psa 119:33 HE. Teach me,
O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.
Psa 119:34 Give me
understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole
heart.
Psa 119:35 Make me to go
in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.
Psa 119:36 Incline my
heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.
Psa 119:37 Turn away
mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.
Psa 119:38 Stablish thy
word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear.
Psa 119:39 Turn away my
reproach which I fear: for thy judgments are good.
Psa 119:40 Behold, I
have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.
Psa 119:41 VAU. Let thy
mercies come also unto me, O LORD, even thy salvation, according to thy word.
Psa 119:42 So shall I
have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word.
Psa 119:43 And take not
the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments.
Psa 119:44 So shall I
keep thy law continually for ever and ever.
Psa 119:45 And I will
walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.
Psa 119:46 I will speak
of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.
Psa 119:47 And I will
delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.
Psa 119:48 My hands also
will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate
in thy statutes.
