DIAMOND
DIRECTIVES
PSALM
119:26-32
ד
(Dalet)
Psalm
119:25 My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken
thou me according to thy word.
Susie: Revival
is another recurring theme in Psalm 119. Therefore, we have typed “quicken”
(revive) in green each time it is used. The psalmist has some physical problems
as evidenced elsewhere. However, here I believe he is saying he is spiritually
dry. His desire is that the word of God will revive his spirit, making him
spiritually alive and vibrant.
Psalm
119:26 I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach
me thy statutes.
Susie: The
psalmist has bared his soul to the Lord, confessing where he has strayed from
God’s path and/or expressing his determination to follow God’s ways completely.
Susan: The
psalmist poured out his heart to God, wringing out the good, the bad, and the
ugly. He wanted to follow God’s ways and asked the Lord to instruct and train
him how to live out the divine destiny God had for him.
Susie: The
psalmist was a poet and could obviously read the Law, but he needed the Lord to
make it clear to him and help him abide by it. We can read God’s word thanks to
our elementary school teachers, but we are truly in need of the Holy Spirit to
teach us what it means.
Psalm
119:27 Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy
wondrous works.
Susan: When
one truly understands the word as the Holy Spirit has illuminated it, then one
is enabled to instruct others about the Lord. The Lord had the disciples go out
in pairs so that one could encourage the other.
Mark
6:7a Mark 6:7 And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth
by two and two . . .
Susie: As
believers, we are to be the iron that sharpens iron.
Proverbs
27:17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
Susie: We are
to discuss God’s marvelous grace to encourage one another and to share the
Gospel with those who do not yet know Jesus.
Psalms
26:7 That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy
wondrous works.
Psalm
119:28 My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy
word.
Susie: The
psalmist’s soul was weighted down with sin.
Susan: His
soul was burdened with every action and attitude that caused him to fall short
of God’s glorious plan and purpose for his life. He realized he needed God to
fortify his resolve to live in obedience to the word’s instruction.
Susie: Yes.
He realized that everything he needed to lead a righteous life was written in
the scriptures and asked the Lord to direct him to it and help him apply it.
2
Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable
for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That
the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
Susan: He
realized that his ability to obey the word of God was contingent upon the love
relationship with the Lord that he embraced.
2
Peter 1:3 (AMP) For His divine power has bestowed on us [absolutely] everything
necessary for [a dynamic spiritual] life and godliness, through true and
personal knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.
Psalm
119:29 Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously.
Susie: The
psalmist humbly acknowledges that he has lied in the past and needs the Lord to
cleanse him from that sin. We do well to confess our sins daily
1
John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our
sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Susan: The
psalmist asked the Lord to instruct him with a gracious and gentle hand.
Psalm
119:30 I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me.
Susan: He
rejected the way of deceit and made a conscious decision to turn toward the
Lord and His righteousness for His name’s sake.
Susie: The
word of God is truth, but as New Testament believers, we also know that Jesus
Himself is the way of Truth for He is The Truth:
Jesus
saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the
Father, but by me.
Susan: The
psalmist made the effort to immerse himself, soak himself in God’s word.
2
Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth
not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Psalm
119:31 I have stuck unto thy testimonies: O Lord, put me not to shame.
Susan: The
word “stuck” is sometimes rendered “cleave.” This makes me think of the relationship
between husband and wife where God ordained, “Therefore shall a man leave his
father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one
flesh” (Genesis 2:24). God’s instructions should be an intimate part of who we
are and whose we are.
I
have stuck unto thy testimonies The
word of God, the Scriptures of truth, and the doctrines contained in them.
These he closely adhered to, was glued unto them as it were; having firmly
believed them, he steadfastly professed them; nor could he be moved from them
by any temptations whatever, notwithstanding the reproach cast upon them and
him for their sake, or the opposition made unto them;
O
Lord, put me not to shame: or let me not be ashamed of the choice I
have made, of the testimonies I adhere unto, of my hope and confidence in the
Lord and his word; or suffer me not to do anything, any sinful action, that may
expose me to shame and contempt.
Susie: Sticking
like glue to following God’s word, His plan for human life, will enable a
person to avoid shameful behavior (go back to Psalm 119:9).
Susan: The
word infuses a person with the ability to reject the way of evil and to guard
the way of godliness/righteousness with all diligence.
Psalm
119:32 I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my
heart.
Susan: To
“run” in this context is to live one’s life in a way that is honoring to God.
It has nothing to do with our limbs (the ones I am missing). I can run the
course God has set before me with or without my legs! Even though I never had
control of my legs, the Lord enabled my heart to run after His heart with each
decision I made to follow the instructions in His word.
1
Corinthians 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one
receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
Hebrews
12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of
witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily
beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us . . .
2
Timothy 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept
the faith:
Points
to Ponder:
· God’s
word revives us
· The
word strengthens those who repent
· God’s
word is the truth that directs us
· We are
to be intimately acquainted with God’s word
· God
enables us to run the race for Him
Reflection
Question: The first time I (Susie) walked in a 5K event, I had to
stop and lean on a wall halfway through. However, I had trained and prepared
myself, so I continued to the finish line after a brief rest and water break.
How is your spiritual race going? Do you need to stop for some Bread of Life
and Living Water in order to produce Fruit of the Spirit? Do you need to revive
your intimacy with Jesus by becoming more intimate with His word? Take a moment
to evaluate the direction you have been going in life lately in light of the
directives found in the Bible.
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