Verse By Verse

Introducing our newest Sonrise Writer: David McArdle is from Scotland and has been led to study Psalm 119 verse by verse... I'll let him tell you. (You can read more about him on the Mail Niche page.)

About two years ago, I had a dream in which God asked me to write a commentary on Psalm 119. I thought He meant, to take a portion at a time. After much work, I realized that He meant a verse at a time. To be honest, I had a fear that His inspiration would dry up long before I reached the end of the Psalm! Yet His inspiration continues verse by verse.

Verse 1: Blessed and Blameless

How blessed are those whose way is blameless,

who walk in the law of the Lord. (Psalm 119:1 NASB)

It is worth noting that David started this Psalm in the same way he desired to live and end his life, by being both blessed and blameless.

When we take a similar stand, publicly or privately, it is like a red rag to a bull. Satan is immediately on the attack. At that time, it is always good to recall that what God has said in His Word and what the accuser of the brethren insinuates are poles apart.(Rev. 12:10) For example, the devil always tries to convince us that we're no good, ...we're worthless, ...there's nothing we can do to make a difference to God, ...we keep slipping into sin and can't be used of God. But, ...no one less than God has decreed you blameless in His sight.

While in Arabia this truth was revealed to Paul, and when he wrote to the church at Rome he put it like this, "Now there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1) If we are Christians, we are blameless before God by the very fact that we are cleansed in the blood of Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:9) However, if we are blameless by our relationship with God, it is important that we prove that relationship by how we walk according to the teachings of the Bible. It is essential that we keep our eyes focused on the Word as God instructed Moses. (Deut. 6:1-25) Why? There are in our day an abundance of words and pictures specifically aimed at the eye or the ear gate, which were the twin avenues that led to the original Fall. We will all admit that there are weaknesses in our lives, which in turn can lead to failings and nine times out of ten this happens when we are not watchful or diligent. What is the solution? "With closest custody, guard your heart, for in it are the sources of life." (Prov. 4:23)

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Verse 2: The Path to Blessedness

How blessed are those who observe His testimonies,

who seek Him with all their heart. (Psalm 119:2 NASB)

Continuity could adequately describe David's attitude of heart, as he steadfastly walked in the instruction of the Lord. At every available moment he observed all of God's decrees and this practice enabled him to seek God with all his heart, and to preserve, as a priceless treasure, God's word in his heart.

God is completely unselfish, as the cross of Jesus reveals, and He continually longs for us to receive and walk in His richest blessing. For this to be fulfilled, He encourages us to use all of our faculties, in an effort to accomplish two specific ends:

To be faithful fo God

To set a guard over our hearts so that we do not sin.

If we do not obey His injunctions, it will be to our spiritual loss. Some of us may have experienced this truth in our lives and ministry. Where did we go wrong? We did not respond correctly to His commands or warnings.

When we are tempted, we often weigh up the situation we are facing by relying on our own understanding … and think, as Adam may also have thought, that a minor diversion can be safely handled and then left alone.

Once caught, we quickly change our mind. Has this also happened to you?

God can- and often does- use bitter and painful experiences to remind us of our desperate need to remain spiritually alert.

Why does He deliberately pursue this course of action? Because He is fully aware of the eternal benefits and pleasures that are awaiting the one who overcomes.

Therefore, He passionately and desperately longs for us to observe His decrees with all of our heart.

~ ~ ~

Verse 3: Progressive Development

They also do no unrighteousness;

they walk in His ways. (Psalm 119:3 NASB)

We would be absolutely thrilled if God were to say this about us. He most definitely will, when we obey Him.

Some of us are conscious that we do not always exhibit God's righteousness, as often as we would like. It is as though there are two conflicting powers within us, and then, what people say or do, determines what aspect of our character comes to the surface (Galations 5:16-17). Can you identify with this situation?

If so, it is spiritually profitable to remember that God does not entice us with promises of deliverance and then frustrate us. On the contrary, He tells us what is possible and then He reveals how it can be permanently realized in our lives.

In this verse, David is teaching us how to live the resurrection life. He may have used different phrases from Paul, but they both had similar spiritual experiences. The question then is how can we conduct ourselves so that we imitate these men of God?

The three stages are found in these first three verses of Psalm 119. They relate to our will, our worship and our walk:

Jesus said, "I have come to do Your will O God" (Hebrews 10:7) ~ the will of Jesus was laid entirely on the altar.

Jesus offered to God the worship, which He required and it pleased His heart. " … True worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth … " (John 4:23).

Through the sacrifice of Jesus, we have been sanctified and consecrated for holy service; therefore, the path to freedom and fruitfulness is to serve Him with our whole heart.

~ ~ ~

Verse 4: The Reason Why

You have ordained Your precepts,

that we should keep them diligently. (Psalm 119:4 NASB)

This verse may have been the theological base for Paul's pastoral injunction to Timothy to, "... attend to reading, exhortation, and teaching… Be diligent in these matters; be absorbed in them… Attend … to your teaching … " (1 Timothy 4:13-16)

Like Paul, I believe that God always knows what is best for us and longs to share His heart with us. Yet, some of us do not take the time or the effort to pay close attention to His word. It is as though we are on a spiritual diet; we nibble away at His word.

When we are "being diligent" God often talks to us as we are going about our daily chores. Moses was not expecting God to talk to him when he was taking care of the sheep. After all, he did this same task day after day. Yet there in the desert, God spoke through a burning bush to him. (Exodus 3:1-4)

Worldly people often find the daily routine and repetitive tasks of life tedious and boring. However, when the children of God perform the same tasks day by day ~ when we are where He wants us, doing what He wants ~ we should be expecting a divine intervention and like Moses respond, "Here I am."

One afternoon I was washing dishes and I was thinking about one of my friends who had recently died. As I looked out of the kitchen window, I saw a hand pulling back a veil, and there he was, in heaven, singing with his banjo and very happy indeed. This happened twice; I stood there and cried with joy as I thought, Heaven is so near.

This sense of anticipation must have permeated Adam and Eve's thought life; especially when the day was drawing to a close in the Garden of Eden. God longs to give to us the best possible reward. This is why He shares His precepts with us as He did with Adam.

If Adam had been diligent in taking care of what had been given to him, things would have been remarkably different. (Genesis 3) For us the sense that He is near and may open His heart to us should motivate our actions and inspire our thoughts to go in the right direction.

God strongly desires that we keep His Word in our hearts. The reason why is clear ~ His Word will protect us from the enemy and enable us to be the continual recipients of His favor.

~ ~ ~

Verse 5: Confession is good for you

Oh that my ways may be established

to keep Your statutes. (Psalm 119:5 NASB)

In matters relating to spiritual fulfilment, do you find when you are communicating your desires and deep spiritual longings you are unable to adequately express what you are really feeling?

We do not have to worry about having this same problem in relation to prayer, for the Spirit of the Lord interprets what we are thinking and, at the same time, endeavors to express it with meaningful words. (See Romans 8:26-27)

In verse 5, David was making known to us, in this urgent and desperate prayer, that in too many situations, he was not always living up to and walking in the light, which he had received.

We also learn from this Psalm, that God longs for all of us to live a consistent, holy life, something, which even Peter, failed to do when ministering to the Gentiles. ( Found in Galations 2:11-14)

God's statutes were given to keep us on the right road and Peter, at a different time in his life, agreed with this when he said, "Be you holy, for I am holy" (1 Peter 1:15)

Do you, like Paul, "Joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man?" (Romans 7:22) If not, you may ask, "How is this possible?"

We need God to create and fulfill David's desire in us. Then we will have the single-mindedness which the Lord had when He set out for the last time to go to Jerusalem. (Luke 9:53 NLT)

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Verse 6: A New Position

Then I shall not be ashamed when I look upon all Your commandments. (Psalm 119:6 NASB)

Arising from his spiritually enlightened conscience, it is primarily only the believer who can genuinely feel shame and do something positive about it.

David demonstates this as he was aware that he was failing to keep some of God's commandments. This was creating a genuine sense of shame with the need to put matters right, as quickly as possible.

Be aware that partial obedience is the little brother of wilful disobedience.

So where does sin start in a believer's life? When we give self, and its many tentacles, a free reign. As self takes over, Satan often implies this is harmless and inconsequential. Yet it may well prove to be the main avenues of access for him to afflict and torment us.

Time and time again, when David was conscious of a particular failing, he did not indulge in a witch-hunt for a particular sin or make an appointment to see a church counsellor. Rather, he brought all of his weaknesses and failings to God. As David meditated on His word, God would seal His principles in his heart. (Psalm 119:11) This resulted, as later writers would confirm, in David following and serving God with his whole heart.

Was this process of restoration only applicable to David? No. It is for everyone who will do what David did - admit your need to God and apply the principles of holy living, which He will teach you when you are alone with Him.

~ ~ ~

Verse 7: Learning the works of God

I shall give thanks to You with uprightness of heart,

when I learn Your righteous judgements. (Psalm 119:7 NASB)

This verse would seem to imply that David had unintentionally misunderstood or misinterpreted some of God's dealings or decisions with him. If true, David did not let these situations hinder him from doing what was closest to his heart.

After he became king and had built his own house, David desired to build a house for the Lord as well. However, Nathan the prophet informed him that God had already chosen Solomon, his son to start and finish this work. This may have been one of those "righteous judgements" which, at that time, were contrary to what David had wanted to hear. (2 Samuel 7:1-17)

We have all had experiences like David - maybe not as grand - but when we felt and honestly believed that there was a good work to be done, which we desired to do with all of our heart. But when we put out our hands to attempt to tackle this project, try as we might, it was not possible. It was as though it was not for us to do.

Now, frustration is very common in the Christian life. However, God is not the author of frustration. (1 Corinthians 14:33) It is more likely that we, having more zeal than knowledge, set out to do what was in our heart without waiting for an accurate word from the Lord – this was a lesson which David learned through the ministry of Nathan the prophet.

Have you ever been in this type of situation?

God does not deliberately disappoint His children. On the contrary, He has a specific work for each one of us to do. (Philipians 1:6)

What then do we need to do? Be like David and "Trust in the Lord and do good… " (Psalm 37:3)

While David could not do what he wanted to do, he still did what he could, with what he had, and God blessed him because his heart and attitude were continually right.

At a greatly difficult time in your life, which seemed to indicate perpetual and permanent frustration, did your behavior reflect a man after God's heart? (Acts 13:22)

God wants you to be fulfilled and receive from Him the highest possible commendation and reward. Therefore, trust Him. Do not withdraw your hand, but put it out and do what you can with what you have been given.

It is also possible that you may need to have a divine perspective about your life. What God, in His perfect wisdom, has given you to do may be in the bright light of eternity a phenomenal work! At that time you will gladly say, "Lord, I am so glad I learned Your righteous judgements!"

~ ~ ~

Verse 8:Take In and Live Out

I shall keep Your statutes;

do not forsake me utterly! (Psalm 119:8 NASB)

Very often, God reveals different aspects of His word to us, especially when we are quiet. This is one reason why we need to listen closely to Him and daily assimilate and put into practice His spoken and quickened word.

He always knows where we are spiritually and what we need at any given moment, therefore, He will instruct us, equip us and make us able and competent to minister to and for Him.

At this time, David was aware of his weaknesses and he prayed, "Oh that my ways may be established to keep Your statutes!" (Psalm 119:5)

God, as His word informs us, searches our minds and hearts (Revelation 2.23) He does not forsake us when we surrender to our weaknesses, but rather teaches us priceless truths, sometimes through hard lessons, and draws us back to Himself.

Very often, there is only one word of instruction or a small matter that is restricting us from being fully obedient to the light which we have received.

Lot was seriously restricted and frighteningly hindered by a "little thing." As He was escaping for his life due to God's judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah, he asked his accompanying angels for residence in the "little" plain city of Zoar even after being strictly told to escape into the mountains. (Read the story in Genesis 19:15-30)

In our own circumstances, we urgently need to either forsake this "small thing" or put it to death once and for all. What we must not do is to let it remain active for another day.

When we obey the word, as Jesus taught us in John 1:.3, it has a purifying and transforming effect. David's heart, as he followed closely after God's precepts, had moved from being a seeking heart to a sincere heart.

As you co-operate with God's Spirit, He will do the same for you. When your heart is solidly fixed, your will cannot be far behind.

~ ~ ~

Verse 9: How to Walk Worthy

How can a young man keep his way pure?

By keeping it according to Your word. (Psalm 119:9 NASB)

Why did David ask and answer that question? Is it possible, as with some of us, he was struggling and fighting with impure and unworthy thoughts, as he endeavoured to live his life day-by-day?

From a child ~You also may identify with this ~ there was a God consciousness deep in his understanding. Arising from this divine initiative, he had a corresponding passion to live a sanctified life. As the youngest of his brothers, David probably knew by experience that if he followed closely in the footsteps of any of his family, he would not always be walking uprightly.

As a young man, David was not given over to either self-confidence or self-sufficiency, but he also knew that he had, like Elijah, strong passions and an overwhelming desire for God.

If we ourselves are going to walk in godliness and live as dedicated and consecrated life as possible, then it is essential that we carefully hear and obey the word of the Lord. This, Mary did, with the prophetic words of the angel of the Lord. ( See Luke 2:19)

As much as we would like it to be different, there are no shortcuts to permanent spiritual development. However, there are two qualities which will help us in this venture: perseverance and self-discipline.

There have been many books written and sermons expounded on the subject of self-control. However, it may be helpful for us to ask, "What did this God's man do?"

As David read, meditated and memorized God's word, he was made acutely aware that his main problem in controlling his desires was not external, but they lay within his inner man. He knew that the key to the on-going development of his spiritual life was an unbroken relationship with God. However, he also understood that God would not hear his prayer if he tried to hide sin in his heart. (Psalm 66:18-19)

Therefore, David endeavoured to stay pure on the inside. He daily sought God to protect and preserve him in this task, to which he was wholeheartedly committed. This is a good pattern for us to follow.

~ ~ ~

Verse 10: Two Topics, One Goal

With all my heart I have sought You;

do not let me wander from Your commandments.

(Psalm 119:10 NASB)

A brief glance, along the shelves in any Christian bookshop, will reveal an abundance of good literature on the relationship between God's sovereignty and man's free will.

In this one verse, David briefly contrasts and connects these two theological points of view. He does all that he can with his whole heart and, at the same time, he knows that he continually needs all the help that God can give him.

David was a man of spiritual and mental balance. In this verse, he emphasizes God and man in a hand-to-hand relationship.

We can see this same pattern in the life of the Lord Jesus. He trusted in God implicitly and He did not do what He wanted. For example, Jesus said, "The one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, because I always do what is pleasing to him" (John 8:29)

Would you like your relationship with God to be as fruitful and well balanced as the Lord's was? Then abide in the same love for God as Jesus did when He kept His Father's commandments (John 15:10).

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Verse 11: Purpose of the Promise

Your word I have treasured in my heart,

that I may not sin against You. (Psalm 119:11 NASB)

Regardless of the situations we are facing and the machinations of the enemy, God often talks to His people and He has proven it true- we can depend on what He says! It is one of the acts of God that brings continual comfort, encouragement, and frequent outbursts of hope to His people.

Like the merchant who found the pearl of great price, David had securely deposited or hidden God's promise of protection in a safe place- in the depths of his heart. (See Matthew 13:44)

Why did he do that? There was, in David's inner man a spiritual hunger, which he desperately needed to have satisfied. He not only wanted to memorize the word, he also wanted to minister it. Therefore, he had trained his inner self to seek after God at all times, and the spring of all his subsequent spiritual actions was the revealed word of the Lord.

David was also aware that in some ways he was spiritually weak and vulnerable. He may have needed divine assistance to overcome a besetting sin or to put a particular sin to death once and for all. One of the sources of his strength was the word of the Lord.

Are you facing a particular conflict today in which you need to hear and wholly depend on the word of the Lord?

Stand firm. You are not alone. God knew, before the creation of the world, exactly what you would need at this time and He has prepared an adequate answer with you in mind.

Therefore, rest in and rely on the Lord. When He speaks to you, hold on to it. Like the pillar of fire during the wilderness wanderings, God's word will continually guide you in the way you should go, until you receive the fulfillment of His promise.

~ ~ ~

Verse 12: A Time of Training

Blessed are You,

O Lord; teach me Your statutes

(Psalm 119:12 NASB)

The desire that David mentioned in Psalm 119:11 had been granted, and for answered prayer he did as we all should do ~ he praised the Lord. David was known through his life and writings as a man of praise and prayer.

We often find, as David did here, that once we have experienced the bountiful goodness and liberality of God, that we are not contented, we are still hungry to know more and more about Him.

How, then, can we increase in the knowledge of God? .By doing what both David and the Lord Jesus did ~ immerse ourselves in His word. This is only possible through systematic Bible reading. Why did David do that particular deed?

He knew, in his inner life, that he needed to be taught and to experience more about God. What exactly did he need to learn at that time? His spiritual and mental faculties needed to be exercised and developed.

Just as a man will work out to develop and improve his physique, so the God of the armies of Israel was going to train and develop David spiritually. Of the two training schools, the second one will be the most profitable in the long run.

What did David learn when Saul was pursuing him? (I Samuel 18:1-26:25) He was made aware of the methods, motives and means, which the enemy would use against the anointed of the Lord.

In our case the enemy has no new method to come against us, and this is why Paul could truthfully say, "...We are not ignorant of his schemes..." (2 Cor. 2:11)

David also discovered that he needed to continually rely on God's wisdom in every aspect of spiritual warfare.

Do you feel that you are in God's training school? Do you often feel that you have learned enough and it is time to move out? It is possible that God may be saying to you, "Not yet". You may legitimately ask, "What else do I need to experience"?

Maybe like David, you need to depend on God with increasing assurance and confidence and less and less on yourself. This is also called, "dying to self". (Romans 6:1-11)

~ ~ ~

Verse 13: Benefits of Remembering

With my lips I have told of all the ordinances of Your mouth.

(Psalm 119:13 NASB)

David really loved the word. In our churches, new converts and young believers are especially encouraged to read and memoriZe the word daily, which is always the right course of action to pursue. The seed which was sown in the quiet time, will reap much fruit, as we continue to commune with the Lord.

However David went a step further. He did not just remember the word but he continually spoke out loud all the ordinances, which God had spoken.

Why did David do this? He had learned that it was spiritually beneficial for him to read the word out loud over and over again. I have also found that to be good for my spiritual life.

As a result of Saul's many twisted and deceitful endeavours, David was now a man of discernment. In a good number of difficult and confusing circumstances, God had supernaturally and miraculously intervened. David often remembered and recalled what God had done for him. By doing this, David's faith and confidence in God was bolstered and he was now able to face dry and difficult times.

Does your faith need a boost? Has the Lord redeemed you? "Then speak out! Tell others He has saved you from your enemies." (Psalm 107:2 NLT)

~ ~ ~

Verse 14: Examine Yourself

I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies,

as much as in all riches. (Psalm 119;14 NASB)

The finding of real and tangible joy can seem to some people to be both elusive and, at worse, a permanent illusion.

What I really like about God's word is its practical application to daily life and directness to its meaning. As believers, we all usually find through experience that God always reveals the source of either sin or satisfaction.

At this time, God made known to David the way to the latter. It was to be found in the way of God's decrees. As king, riches and untold pleasures surrounded David in abundance and he could have had within reason whatever he wanted. I wonder, if we were in David's position would we have made the same choices?

Our answer - as is usually the case when God asks us such questions, will reveal our heart. In the parable of the rich fool, Jesus explained that the choice is not between being poor or rich but it is more importantly between wisdom and folly. (Luke 12:16-21)

Bearing in mind that most of us have at one time or another made the wrong decision and suffered the consequences, how can we be sure that this time we are making the right one?

As before, the solution lies in your inner self. At a time of questioning Jesus said, "If people choose to do what God wants, they will know… " . (John 7:17 NCV)

This is what David did and why he was known as a man after God's heart. God's opinion of David was not based on one occasion but it was a divinely considered point of view over a long period of time, a standard which, God used to measure the character of David's son, Solomon. (I Kings 11:4)

The same God tests our hearts every day, so rather than wait for His all-seeing visitation we can at this time examine ourselves, and then when He comes to us He will find us as He found Nathaniel, a man "… in whom there is no deceit!" (John 1.:47)

~ ~ ~

Verse 15: Stay Where You Are

I will meditate on Your precepts and regard Your ways.

(Psalm 119:15 NASB)

In the previous verse David had found genuine joy by walking in obedience to the revealed Word of the Lord and understandably he wanted to maintain the status quo.

However, as we have all discovered, as we continue to walk along the way of truth and holiness, there are physical and spiritual enemies whose avowed intent is to do to us as much harm as possible.

In every situation we face there are very often two solutions, God's way or man's way. Have you also discovered this to be true?

At a difficult time in the history of Israel, Jeremiah openly and continually proclaimed the Word of the Lord and at the same time there were false prophets gathering an audience around them and giving the same people an alternative word from the same Lord. (See Jeremaih 28:1-17.)

According to Paul, one of the indications of the end time is that many people will run to false teachers. Without outlining the spiritual cost involved, they will willingly tell the people what they want to hear. Like Jezebel, they will even preface it with a "Thus says the Lord" in an concerted effort to give their message assurance and authenticity (Revelation 2:20)

What should the genuine believer do? Remember, one path will lead you to God and the place of eternal joy and the other will take you astray and at the end, leave you alone and isolated among the damned. Have you experienced this influential spirit at work in your life? How can you tell the difference between the two? (I John 4:1-6)

When the church at Ephesus faced both internal and external enemies, Paul instructed the elders of the church to "Be sure that you feed and shepherd God's flock - his church, purchased with his blood - over whom the Holy Spirit has appointed you as elders." (Acts 20:28 NLT)

Are you fully involved in God's work and do you feel similar pressures to change your position, calling, teaching or to mov

I feel that the Lord is stressing to His people that we need to batten down the hatches and ride out the severe storm. Whatever else you do, like Nehemiah, do not forsake the flock and allow yourself to be tempted to go outside looking for another word. God has put you where you are; therefore, stay there and work hard. (Nehemaih 6

Isaiah revealed to his disciples at a time of isolation and decimation that God's word is true and the rest is darkness (Isaiah 8:18-20) When under severe pressure how can you tell?

There are some indications of a genuine Pastor in Acts 20. He will, like the Captain of a ship in the midst of a death-creating hurricane, bring the vessel and all its inhabitants to a safe and quiet haven.

Why will he do this and not just save himself? He will not be a self-seeking individual but he will be genuinely interested in and rigorously attentive to the needs of other people.

Therefore, do what you know to be right. Don't allow yourself to be diverted from the main goal.

~ ~ ~

Verse 16: Delight yourself in the Lord

I shall delight in Your statutes;

I shall not forget Your word. (Psalm 119:16 NASB)

Troubled times come. Without diminishing or detracting from what some people may say about their circumstances, which may occur very often and are dreadful to say the least; there are also other believers who are prone to exaggerate how difficult things are for them. However, if they had lived at the time of, for example, Jeremiah, they would have probably had a different, more realistic and truthful perspective.

At a horrific time in Jeremiah's life, God placed this Word upon the heart of His faithful and obedient servant, that even if Moses and Samuel had interceded for his nation, their prayers would definitely not have changed their situation. (Jeremaih 15:1)

Do you feel that your never-ending, very near to back-breaking labors, extremely costly giving and many heart-breaking and desperate prayers, are all availing nothing?

Have people whom you really respected and regarded highly, said really negative things about you, your family and your ministry? Do you feel that you are near to the end?

Regardless of the bad news coming over the horizon and the doom and gloom mongers in our midst, as believers- who believe in a God who can do the impossible- we need to keep everything in perspective.

What then should we be doing? We would not be doing wrong if we were to follow the example of Jeremiah, who said, "… I found your words, I devoured them; they became my joy and the happiness of my heart… " (Jeremaih 15:16)

The extremely difficult circumstances you are experiencing at present might not change immediately. Yet, when we can rejoice in the midst of the worst that the enemy is able to do, he is furiously angry. Very soon it will be as it was in the days of Jehoshaphat when "… as soon as the choir started shouting and praising, God set ambushes and… The Ammonites and Moabites mistakenly attacked those from Mount Seir and massacred them. Then, further confused, they went at each other, and all ended up killed." (2 Chronicles 20:21-23 The Message)

Without laying too much emphasis upon your unacceptable environment,which is transient, why don't you act like David. Let God's Word be your present and constant delight. None of your enemies, who carefully plotted your demise, will be alive and active at the end of your battle.

~ ~ ~

Verse 17: The Word Is Essential

Deal bountifully with Your servant,

that I may live and keep Your word.

(Psalm 119:17 NASB)

Even though no one less than Samuel, the prophet, had especially singled out David from among his own brothers as the man after God's own heart and the second king of Israel, David didn't exalt himself, but with genuine humility, he saw and regarded himself as God's servant.

David started this portion of Scripture by asking God to answer another one of his many prayers, as he was still feeling unwell. We do not need to know the exact cause of his sickness but in this one thing we can be certain. "Many are the troubles of the just, but the Lord delivers [him] from them all" (Psalm 34:20)

David's main aim in making this petition was to enable him to recover from whatever the enemy had thrown at him and to continue to keep His word, preserve it intact and pass it on like Moses did to the following generation.

This is exactly why the enemy was directing his whole-hearted anger and severe wrath against David. He wanted, at all costs, to stop the word of life from being transferred, unchanged and unaltered, to another believing individual.

Are you facing strong opposition in a similar context? Then, take a firm grasp of God's fresh and living Word, which He has entrusted to you and share the same with everyone.

Very often in the midst of never ending spiritual battles, all that the Lord asks of us is that we stand firm in the knowledge which we have attained and persevere in it, until we receive further instruction.

David's external environment might not have been conducive to his physical or spiritual well being, but by staying close to God's Word, David was receiving good, practical and sound advice. Consequently, David was like Timothy, a man with a sound mind. This was the continual result of remembering God's Word and putting it into practice.

~ ~ ~

Verse 18: Do You Need Spiritual Vision?

Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things from Your law.

(Psalm 119:18 NASB)

As in the previous verse, David is continuing in a similar frame of mind. Why did he follow this pattern? God's faithfulness and loving-kindness were the two solid and dependable foundations for all of David's prayers.

At various and critical times in his life David had received the manifold grace of God and on more than one occasion he had shown the same to Saul.

Do you show the kindness and liberality of God even in the realm of sharing financially with people whose main aim in life is to do you harm?

At this time, David urgently desired the divine intervention of God - similar to the need required by the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. (See Luke 24:13-32) In both situations those involved needed a removal of the obstacles - which were restricting their vision and understanding - and the impartation of the heavenly light, that which also transformed the life of Paul on the road to Damascus. (Acts 9:1-7)

Why do you think the Lord instructed the Laodicean believers to buy eye-salve? They could not adequately see their own abysmal spiritual condition. Can you see your current situation the way it appears to the all-seeing Lord?

How is your spiritual sight? Are you living and walking as David eventually was in the light of the Word? If not, and you would desperately like to be, then He is as close to you with wisdom and revelation as He was to the two seeking disciples in a bygone era.

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Verse 19: Are You Progressing?

I am a stranger in the earth; do not hide

Your commandments from me.

(Psalm 119:19 NASB)

Even though David lived in a palace with multiple rooms, he also had his own house, which he had also spent a long time building. David lived there, but spiritually it was a different environment. He was continually aware that he was a stranger, an alien and man of no fixed abode. He was only able to relax and rest when he felt at home with God.

For the third time in three verses David makes another request to God. Previously he had desired more light from God's Word. Do you ever read the Word and it feels as though there are shades still over your eyes?

When this happened to David, he did not reproach himself. Instead, like the father whose son was demon-possessed, he beseeched God with sincerity and desperation and it worked. (Mark 9:22-26)

How do we know? In the following verse David is now a man who is hungry for more spiritual light and understanding.

Why does God often draw us on spiritually? He wants us to know for our own benefit that we are in a growing process, and our desire and longing for Him will continue to grow stronger and more persistent than it once was.

God loves to see His children weaned off what is self-satisfying and at the same time growing up into mature individuals who, with insight and discernment are adequately able to help those in need.

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Verse 21: Avoid this

You rebuke the arrogant, the cursed,

who wander from Your commandments.

(Psalm 119:21 NASB)

Note the contrast here between the man who is pliable and teachable and the conceited person who is wayward and rebellious. (Psalm 119:20) The former, regardless of what is happening to them stay close to God and His word, while the proud very quickly walk away from God's commandments without a look back or a second thought.

In the light of this, I feel that it is essential that we are moving in the ministry of discernment before we offer to pray for someone in our churches. Why?

How they are behaving and responding to certain situations can and very often have spiritual repercussions in their own lives. Have you experienced this in your ministry?

Note here that it is of their own free will that people walk away from the Lord and then they ally themselves with the untouchables. Asaph had also encountered these people when he said, "….I was envious…. when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For they suffer no pain…. They are free of the burdens of life and they are not afflicted like others." (Psalm 73:3-5)

Tragically for these people, they are "untouchable" in the wrong way for God will have nothing to do with the proud who have continually preferred their own way to God's will.

Therefore, whatever it costs, let not pride enter into your life in any form. Two of its three entrance avenues are the words of the flatterer and the gossip. However, above all watch your inner man for that was the source of the first sin, and the consequences and reverberations are still being felt today.

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Verse 22: Liberty and freedom

Take away reproach and contempt from me,

for I observe Your testimonies.

(Psalm 119:22 NASB)

In the majority of our situations, the most critical enemies in the Christian life, consist of the people who used to walk with the Lord. It is as though they now take joy and delight in taunting, criticizing and mocking the believers, who are continuing to walk in the light and the knowledge of the Lord. Has this happened to you? David also experienced this.

I am often amazed at the simplicity of David's life before God. The instant something goes wrong he either turns immediately to prayer or he remembers the word of the Lord.

When I look at my life in comparison I seem to confuse the issues I am involved in. Do you also do a similar thing? If so, what is the solution?

First of all, we need to realize as David does here, what is actually happening. Our enemy never attacks on just one front. At this time he was assaulting David on two separate but related paths. He was the object of "reproach and contempt" and they were both restricting his physical movements and spiritual influence.

This is a sure sign of the work and the infiltration of the enemy in the believer's life. His aim as he tried over and over again with the Lord was to confuse Him and then entangle him like the Philistines did to Samson. Are you aware of this avenue of attack?

What should you do? In Jesus' case the word of wisdom or a demonstration of God's power was 100% effective and in David's varied situations it was to give himself to prayer.

God loves to permit the defeated and restricted enemy to attempt to tie His people in strictly confined places just as he did when the Lord was encased in the tomb.

Have you now eventually realised that it is out of your weakness that God's strength and glory will be manifested? A dead man can do nothing for himself. All power belongs to God.

When we pray God answers and just as He liberated Jesus from among the dead so He will also destroy all the cords with which the enemy has tried to confuse you. Whatever you are facing today, make prayer your first course of action. God is waiting for your call.

Just as God was extremely excited and thoroughly delighted when Jesus walked out of the tomb intact and undefiled so He will also be genuinely pleased when you also walk away from the snares of the enemy and give yourself wholly to His work without restrictions.

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Verse 23:Are you being slandered?

Even though princes sit and talk against me,

Your servant meditates on Your statutes.

(Psalm 119:23 NASB)

At all times the Psalmist was both unshakeable and unmoveable in his unswerving commitment to God. No matter who acted either for or against him or what happened internally or externally, David remained steadfastly loyal to God and His word.

After being emancipated from reproach and contempt, he then realised that people in positions of power and influence were meeting together with the intention of spreading falsehood and slander against the man that God had anointed.. (Psalm 119:161)

In one of the churches, which we were overseeing, we were experiencing a very difficult time and in a few visions God let me see into some of the leader's houses where I could clearly hear what some of them were saying and planning. What did I do? I stayed in prayer and preached the word that I had been given.

Now David might not have seen what was taking place but he still knew it to be the truth. Has this also happened to you? What did you feel like?

Nobody likes it when people misrepresent them and say unwholesome things about them behind their back. This method of attack was often used against the Lord. How did He handle it? He steadfastly continued with unwearied passion and renewed zeal to do God's work and will.

What did David do? He meditated and studied God's word. Are you the object of slander, misunderstanding and are their questions being asked, among other people, about your character and suitability for the job which you are presently holding down or for applied for? What should you do? It is vitally important that you do not defend yourself. Neither the Lord nor David went down this path. Furthermore, do not stop worshipping, working or studying the word.

Why? These three acts of divine faithfulness, will continue to build you up and at the same time confuse and defeat the enemy who will find no access into your life.

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