Psalm 119 Devotional
22 Days: Knowing is Loving
Day 5 (He – verses 33-40)
Teach me, O’ Lord, the way of Your statutes, and I shall observe it to the end. Give me understanding, that I may observe Your law and keep it with all my heart. Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, for I delight in it. Incline my heart to Your testimonies and not to dishonest gain. Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity, and revive me in Your ways. Establish Your word to Your servant, as that which produces reverence for You. Turn away my reproach which I dread, for Your ordinances are good. Behold, I long for Your precepts; revive me through Your righteousness.
The two words that open up this stanza can be hard for us to accept happily. After all, being “taught” places some responsibility upon us. For teaching to matter, do we not have to learn? Would it not be easier if the Lord just forced everything into our brains and we did not have to do any work? But the truth of God’s word calls us to be on the task of observing God’s statutes to the end. It seems as though observing is a passive activity in which we do not really participate, but that is not so. If we simply sit and observe, then so much good can pass us by. Yet God, being perfect and knowing all of who we are, provides us with the next step that comes to us after observing. Observe His word and keep it with all of our heart. Do not forget yesterday we see that God can enlarge our hearts – so the space is there in us. We have a great role that is greater than just observation. Use all of our hearts for God’s glory. (Matthew 22:37)
If this seems like a lot of work for us, think of what we gain. As we walk in the commandments, statutes, and word of the Lord, we will find ourselves basking in His presence. Being aware of God’s presence in our lives – is that not a place that we want to be? Often when we are aware of God’s presence in a greater way, we can then find ourselves moving more closely in His ways. As the psalmist points out, this is the start of revival. We often pray for revival in our churches and communities, but the reality is that the revival must start within us.
Does this stanza seem to take a more serious turn as we read? Our relationship with God is truly serious business. It can become so easy to take a casual approach with our relationship with the Creator of All. In the revival that we read of here, we will find the reverence for God growing. Observe, keep, and walking in the word of God allows His word to be further established in our heart. As we grow, the longing for the Lord grows greater Lord, and the revival in us grows as we see all that we have in the Lord, and in all that He has given us.
Lord God, create in me a growing heart for You. This prayer is not about anything other than my growing and knowing you more each moment. I do want revival in my life Lord. I do want revival in this world. Let that revival start with me as I observe Your commandments, I take them into my heart, and I seek to walk in them. Yes Lord, I have failed many times before, but I know that You forgive. Let me not become casual with that forgiveness but let me come before You in awe and reverence so that I can grow in all the ways that You desire for me.