“Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes; and I will keep it to the end.” Psalm 119.33 With this verse, we move into the fifth stanza of this extraordinary psalm. In the previous stanza the psalmist wrote at length of his own weakness, frailty, and sin. Out of that comes this section, where the psalmist speaks at length of his …

Last weekend, Eric Dodson preached from Philippians 4:10-23, helping us consider four ways joy may be found in contentment. If you were unable to join us, you can still listen to the message by clicking here: This Sunday, we will be joined again by Keston Smith from High Pointe Baptist Church. Keston will be preaching out of Philippians 3:1-11. To help us …

“I will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart!” Psalm 119.32 Scripture often speaks of one’s relationship with God and his Word as a walk. In this verse, the psalmist models zeal—an eagerness to obey the Lord quickly and steadfastly—by asserting that he will run in the way of God’s commandments. He also realizes the need …

“I cling to your testimonies, O Lord; let me not be put to shame!” Psalm 119.31 In the opening of this stanza, the psalmist grieved that his soul clung to the dust. Here, he declares that he clings to the testimonies of the Lord. What a marvelous contrast! Left to the influence of our flesh and the world, our soul is …

“I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your rules before me.” Psalm 119.30 Growing in faithfulness does not occur by happenstance. God calls believers, predestines us to be adopted as his sons, and gives us a righteousness not our own. None of that is accidental. It all comes about according to the kind intention of God’s will (Eph. 1.3-14). …

“Put false ways far from me and graciously teach me your law!” Psalm 119.29 Without God’s intervention, we are without hope. This is true of every aspect of life. If it were not for God’s good providence, we would not take our next breath. In this verse, the psalmist takes that massive truth and applies it to sin. He please for …

“My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word!” Psalm 119.28 In the depths of sorrow, the psalmist cries out to the Lord. We must keep the context in mind here. This cry of sorrow comes on the heels of confessing his ways to the Lord (26) and considering the precepts and works of God (27). Sorrow …

“Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works.” Psalm 119.27 We continue through this section of confession and lament by the psalmist. He’s called out to the Lord for life, though his soul cleaves to the dust. He has confessed his sins and begun to call on the Lord to align his thinking …

“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. …