Recently, on Wednesday nights our Preacher has been going over Psalm 119 and honing in on verses 129-136, which really hit home to me. As you read through the passage, you will learn that Psalm 119:129-136 is actually a prayer to God in hopes that David would be “established” in His word. David understood that in order to “do right” he had to “know right” asking God to instill “the Law” into his life.
Do you know right so you can do right?
Let’s dig into what David, the psalmist, is praying and asking of God.
Photo by Nathan DumlaoWhat the Psalmist is Asking For.
Psalm 119 uses ten different words for “Law” or “Word of God”. They are:
- Law
- Way
- Testimonies
- Commandments
- Precepts
- His Word or Saying
- Judgments
- Righteousness
- Statutes
- Truth or Faithfulness.
129 Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them.
130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
131 I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments.
132 Look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, as thou usest to do unto those that love thy name.
133 Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.
134 Deliver me from the oppression of man: so will I keep thy precepts.
135 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; and teach me thy statutes.
136 Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.
In verse 129, Testimonies is used.
Here testimony means “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the lord is sure, making wise the simple.”
Reading the “testimonies of the Lord” gives us admirable discoveries about God and Christ. By discovering and learning the word we can share the Word with better understanding to others.
In verse 130, Words is used.
In Hebrew, it is “Daw-baw”, which means “the Word of the Lord”. Here it means God’s thoughts and will.
[click_to_tweet tweet=”His will is to give us light through his word.” quote=”His will is to give us light through his word.”]
A quote from Mathew Henry:
“It would give understanding even to the simple, the weakest capacities; for it shows us a way to heaven so plain that the Wayfaring Men, though fools, shall not err therein.”
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Do you know what the simple way to Heaven actually is? Read more here to find out just what it takes to ensure your eternity
Yearn for More.
In verse 131, Commandments is used.
Commandments here means Gods statutes and laws. When you have Christ in your heart you long or “pant” for more, as though thirsty for more. You can never get to established in God’s word. Thirst for more.
Verse 132 does not mention a form of the word law.
The psalmist asks God to be merciful or basically “smile” on him. God deals with those of us that love his name in such a way that it is hard to desire to be dealt with any other way.
In verse 133, Word is used.
Here David wants to be established in such a way that no matter what influence he may be around, every step he takes is in Grace!
Photo by Will SwannWalk a Straight Path.
In verse 134, Precepts is used.
David prays for a quiet and peaceful life, to be delivered out of the hands of his enemies, so he can keep God’s precepts more cheerfully. Pray for deliverance daily.
In verse 135, Statutes is used.
He asks for reassurance that God will always be smiling upon him, no matter how man is looking at him. Serve the Lord and grow in His Word.
[click_to_tweet tweet=”IT IS EASIER TO DO RIGHT WHEN YOU KNOW RIGHT. (Or you know the statutes or standards of God.) Be happy and believe that the fact that God loves you is enough!” quote=”IT IS EASIER TO DO RIGHT WHEN YOU KNOW RIGHT. (Or you know the statutes or standards of God.) Be happy and believe that the fact that God loves you is enough!”]
In verse 136, Law is used.
David is in sorrow to such a degree that he “weeps rivers of tears”. He weeps not for his own troubles but for those that dishonor God. Pray for sinners and your enemies.
Conclusion
In conclusion, don’t be satisfied with your walk with God. Strive to grow in the word more and more each day. As you build your vocabulary like what is listed above you can begin to make decisions based on God’s word. Having a blueprint to what God wants and expects from you makes doing the right thing much easier. Make time to get in an read the word remembering,
ITS EASIER TO DO RIGHT WHEN YOU KNOW RIGHT.
Galatians 5:16 “This I say then, walk I the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh”ch
