We have here some of the jottings from David's pocket-book, the notes of his experience as recorded in his diary. The whole Psalm is a great casket full of golden rings. They all fit one into the other; but each ring is also perfect in itself.
Psalms 119:33. Teach me, o Lord, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.
We forget what others teach us, but we never forget what God truly teaches us. He who has been graciously taught will finally persevere.
Psalms 119:34. Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
This is the great point as to thorough godliness, to observe God's law with our whole heart. In these days, there is much slurring in religious matters; but they who love God aright love him with their whole heart, and they are careful even in what others call «little things.» Live unto God with the utmost heartiness, exactness, and precision, every moment. «The Lord thy God is a jealous God;» therefore, serve thou him with great jealousy and sincerity of spirit.
Psalms 119:35. Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.
And when a man delights to do that which is right, God will help him to do it. The psalmist seems to speak like a little child who has not found the use of his limbs yet. He says, «Make me to go; take hold of me, as a nurse does of her charge, and enable me to take my first trembling, tottering footsteps. Make me to go, for I delight to go. Lord, help me to carry out my soul's desire.»
Psalms 119:36. Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.
«Make me covetous for holiness; let that passion which, in other men, goes after gold and silver, in me run after obedience and fellowship with thee, my God. Incline my heart in another way than nature would incline it; nature puts it on the left hand, and makes me covetous; my God, put thou my heart on my right side, that I may seek only after thee and after holiness.»
Psalms 119:37. Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.
The psalmist commends all his nature to the care of his God. Just now, he prayed about his feet; then, about his heart; now, about his eyes. We need the sanctifying grace of God in every faculty of our spiritual manhood, lest we go astray one way when we are watching against sin in another direction. It matters little at which gate a city is captured; if it be taken at all, it is taken. Oh, for grace to watch every portal of the town of Mansoul, lest we be overcome at any point!
Psalms 119:38. Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear.
«Lord, make thy Word to stand fast to me, for I do love thee, I am in thy fear. Thy fear has become part of myself.» If you notice, the words «is devoted» are put in by the translators. The verse should read, «Who to thy fear,» as if his whole self had run into the mould and shape of a God-fearing man. He asks God therefore to establish his Word unto him, and so he did; what David asked, David's God gave.
Psalms 119:39. Turn away my reproach which I fear: for thy judgments are good.
«Lord, never let me sin, so as to bring a reproach upon thy holy name! Keep me from doing anything that would grieve thee, and cause thine enemies to blaspheme.»
Psalms 119:40. Behold, I have longed after thy precepts:
That is a sure sign of a true child of God. Hypocrites may long after the promises, but only the true-born child of God longs after the precepts. If your chief desire is to be holy, that is a desire which comes of the Spirit of God. A bad man may desire to go to heaven; a desperately wicked man may wish to die the death of the righteous; but he who intensely longs to live a godly, righteous life is indeed the subject of divine grace. I am sure that there are some of us here who can say that we have made no bargains with God, nor put in any conditions whatever; if he will but help us to live holy lives, he may do what he wills with us. Our one desire is this: «Behold, I have longed after thy precept.»
Psalms 119:40. Quicken me in thy righteousness.
Let that be the prayer of every one of us. Amen.