“When I told of my ways, you answered me; teach me your statutes!” Psalm 119.26 Yesterday, we looked at how God gives life according to his Word. In this verse, the psalmist continues that line of thinking, pointing out the close relation of prayer and the study of Scripture. Specifically, he speaks here of confession. If we are to come to …

“My soul clings to the dust; give me life according to your word!” Psalm 119.25 As we move into the fourth stanza of this epic psalm, we find the psalmist in anguish. In many ways, this flows understandably out of the previous section, where he reflects on life as an earthly sojourner. Here he laments that his soul clings to dust. …

“Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors.” Psalm 119.24 The psalmist, under the inspiration of the Spirit, compounds his praise of God’s Word. He continues to show Scripture’s benefits in the life of one living as a sojourner in this fallen world. This leads him to delight in the testimonies of God. What a blessed reminder this is to us. …

“Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statutes.” Psalm 119.23 The psalmist continues to extol the Word of God by continuing to show its power in the life of believers who wander as strangers in this dark, dying world. In the previous verse, he spoke of how the Word rebukes the insolent, accursed ones. Now he …

“Take away from me scorn and contempt, for I have kept your testimonies.” Psalm 119.22 How do you deal with accusations, scorn, and contempt? Here, the psalmist provides us a profound biblical example. His inclination in the face of scorn and contempt is to turn to God. Prayer is his strategy for protecting himself. Prayer must be our first choice in …

“You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones, who wander from your commandments.” Psalm 119.21 This verse delivers grim and glorious truth. It is glorious, because it extols the virtuous judgement of God. The previous verse featured the psalmist’s longing for the righteous rules (judgements) of God. Here he gives the verdict of God’s righteous judgments. Those who wander from the righteous rules of God …

“My soul is consumed with longing for your rules at all times.” Psalm 119.20 What does your soul long after? What the psalmist displays here is not a passing desire. His soul “is consumed with longing . . . at all times.” This paints a comprehensive picture of devotion. His longings don’t take up a portion of his time, a segment of …

“I am a sojourner on the earth; hide not your commandments from me!” Psalm 119.19 The psalmist continues in this section (17-24) to pray as one longing to live according to God’s Word in the midst of a fallen world. This verse provides a deepening of the plea in the previous verse. He pled for the Lord to open his eyes …

“Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.” Psalm 119.18 This verse offers another expression of the psalmist’s devotion and dependence. He reaffirms his heart’s longing to behold the wondrous truths of Scripture. Keep in mind the context of praying for the Lord’s bountiful blessings (Ps.119.17). Part of that desired bounty is for the Lord …

“Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and keep your word.” Psalm 119.17 To this point in the psalmist’s exaltation of God’s Word, he’s offered exalted praise of the blessings of living according to God’s Word. He has also prayed as a youth longing to keep his way pure. In this third section, the poet prays as one …