Psa. 119:25 My soul clings to the dust; Revive me according to Your Word.
Psa. 119:26 I have declared my ways, and You answered me; Teach me Your statutes.
David starts with his humanity. We are made of dust, and to dust, we will return. Dust represents our fallen nature, that which is temporal. Our soul is our emotions, will, and intellect. The Word is the only thing that brings separation between soul and spirit and discerns the intent and the thoughts of our heart – Heb 4:12. I love how David states that he has declared his ways. When Nathan the prophet confronted David about his sin with Bathsheba, he was quick to repent and take ownership – 2 Sam 12:13.
We have this incredible invitation from God to come and talk with Him about our sin. Isaiah 1:18 says:
Come now and let us reason together….
Isaiah 43:26 says: Put Me in remembrance, let us content together……
As David confessed his ways to the Lord, God answers him. What would God say, or how would God respond? David asks to understand the statutes of God.
Psa. 119:27 Make me understand the way of Your precepts; So shall I meditate on Your wonderful works.
Psa. 119:28 My soul melts from heaviness; Strengthen me according to Your Word.
How will a young man keep his way pure? How can a baby Christian please God? When we understand the precepts, the requirements that God sets and expects from us, we will please Him. To understand means you have to search it out, think and meditate about it, and ask yourself the questions:
How does this apply to me?
How does this affect me?
Prov 3:5-7 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil.
Psa. 119:29 Remove from me the way of lying, And grant me Your law graciously.
Psa. 119:30 I have chosen the way of truth; Your judgments I have laid before me.
David has a great understanding here. We have already seen that he said that a person that lies approaches God. He asks God to remove any such things from him. He made a choice to seek the truth. If we do not deliberately create the right decisions, we might find ourselves struggling with something that robs us of energy and distracts us from what we want most. David asks God to remove it but also knows it happens when he starts making the right choices.
What we choose has consequences that we can’t blame on anybody but ourselves. If I take responsibility for my choices, I can enjoy a life of peace that will glorify God.
Psa. 119:31 I cling to Your testimonies; O LORD, do not put me to shame!
Psa. 119:32 I will run the course of Your commandments, For You shall enlarge my heart.
David uses the word “cling,” meaning literally to “catch by pursuit.” People have lost the art of pursuing God. Paul admonishes Timothy by saying:
1Tim. 6:11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.
What about your family, your friends, and your enemies?
Heb. 12:14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.
Enlarge our hearts O God. Please help us understand your beautiful precepts and commandments so that we can be free from the dust that clings to us. Please help us to be more Christ-minded than sin-minded. Help us love people that are different and to pursue peace with all people.
