Psa. 119:33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes, And I shall keep it to the end.
Psa. 119:34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law; Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
David keeps asking that God will teach him. The word he uses in Hebrew is “Yaraw,” which can mean flowing as water like rain or pointing something out. This is an excellent picture because we know that the water usually flows to the place of least resistance when it rains. You tend to learn better and faster when you stop resisting what you need to know.
The law of the Lord does not have an expiration date. It is eternal, and His statutes are there to keep our way to the very end. David understands the importance of having a plumbline to keep him for the rest of his days.
He also asks for understanding. A person void of knowledge is still stuck in their ignorance. How many times do we say to people, “you don’t understand.” Understanding brings change.
Anyone can know, the point is to understand – Albert Einstein.
Solomon wrote: Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding – Prov. 3:5. He also wrote: Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding – Prov. 3:13.
Psa. 119:35 Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, For I delight in it.
Psa. 119:36 Incline my heart to Your testimonies, And not to covetousness.
Make me walk in the path of your commandments. It reminds me of when Jesus “made” his disciples get into the boat – Matt 14:22. They knew that a storm was coming. Fishermen know the weather. What a dangerous prayer. I know I don’t want to, but please don’t let me have my way.
David identifies why he is asking God to help him. Covetousness is a struggle for us all. Our heart, our motivation are still skewed and bent on selfishness. We must still realize what it means to die daily – 1 Cor 15:31.
Psa. 119:37 Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, And revive me in Your way.
Psa. 119:38 Establish Your word to Your servant, Who is devoted to fearing You.
The enemy will get to us in some way. He knows what our weakness is. The eyes are a significant way he uses to get our attention. People say: “Have you seen what is going on in the world?” John talks about the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life – 1 John 2:16. Two of the three things John mentions are gateways the enemy uses. Jesus warned us as well. If your eyes are dark, your whole body will be dark – Matt 6:23.
Job makes a strong statement when he states that he made a covenant with his eyes – Job 31:1. David knows that he needs to look at the Word more than at any useless things. The fear of the Lord is where wisdom starts. David already asked for understanding.
Psa. 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding has all those who do His commandments.
Psa. 119:39 Turn away my reproach which I dread, For Your judgments are good.
Psa. 119:40 Behold, I long for Your precepts; Revive me in Your righteousness.
Turn away my reproach. David’s word for “reproach” comes from a word that means to expose or uncover. He is asking God to judge him and revive him instead of exposing him. Love covers a multitude of sins – 1 Pet 4:8. When God removes our sins, He removes our shame. When God works with us, He removes the iniquity and leaves righteousness. He judges the sin but redeems the sinner. His judgment saves us and revives us with new hope for doing it better next time.
2 Cor 5:21 God made him who knew no sin to be sin for us so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Father, I pray that we might see and acknowledge our need for your righteous judgments. Thank you that your heart is for my restoration and that you will revive us according to Your Word.
