Psalm 119: Focus On God's Word Pt. 92 We Need an Accurate Walk With God's Word

Psalm 119:25-29  DALETH. My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word. 26)  I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes. 27)  Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works. 28)  My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word. 29)  Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously. 

Laying God's judgments before our eyes.

Psalm 119:30  I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me.

We have studied the first part of this text and we now turn our attention to the last part of the verse. When we have chosen the way of truth, and made the ways of God our heart's desire, we must keep the rules of the way of truth ever before us. 

The word "judgments" refers to the precepts and directions given by God in His Word. They are His commandments and duties, blessings and curses, promises and warnings, given to guide and direct our steps. 

The idea of laying God's judgments before us, is like a builder who keeps the blueprints nearby and consults them often, to ensure that his work is exact, conforming to all specifications, safe and timely.

By choosing the way of truth, we can have the scriptures in our hearts, as we read, study, and think about them. So we must constantly set our eyes on the scriptures so that we walk in the path God wants us to walk in and that we are sure of obeying His rules. 

Like a king, we must keep a copy of God's judgments before us.

Deuteronomy 17:18-20  And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites: 19)  And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them: 20)  That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel. 

Here is God's command for the kings of Israel. They were to keep a copy of the law and the kings were to read in it each day. Why? So that they learn to fear Jehovah and to keep His commands. 

Keeping the judgments of God before him would help the king to not be filled with pride over his position as a ruler and to cement in his heart a desire to not turn away from the law.

The Psalmist chose the way of truth and then he reinforced this with laying the judgments of God before his eyes. The reason for this is very simple. It is inconsistent to have holy judgments from God and not live a holy life.

Believers are like a living epistle or letter written by the Holy Spirit. 

2 Corinthians 3:3  Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. 

A Christian is described as a living epistle, a living stone in the body of Christ. Our lives should be a living epistle or testimony to "Christ in us, the hope of glory." 

This is not something we can do by our own strength and will. This is the work of the Spirit of God as He writes the way of truth upon our hearts. He is showing us that we must rely on the Spirit to lead, guide and direct us. 

Believers should be like a living Bible, walking in the way of truth.

Philippians 2:16  Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. 

Our lives as believers should be like a walking, living Bible, holding forth the word of life. Our doctrine should impact our Christian duties. Our beliefs should impact our behavior. 

To believe Christian doctrine but to live like the world is anathema to our Lord. Our profession of faith must match our practice of it. 

This is what the Psalmist wants us to see. Good intentions are not good enough to honor God. We must walk accurately, according to the scriptures.

Walking accurately according to the Word. 

Ephesians 5:15,16  See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16) Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.  

If we say we love the Lord and we live for the world, we are not walking circumspectly. We are mere hypocrites whose testimony says "Do what I say, not as I do." 

This is why the apostle tells us to "walk circumspectly" which means to walk with accuracy, precision and diligence. Walking circumspectly means in relationship to what God says to us in His word. 

There are great benefits to keeping our eyes on the judgments of God. His judgments can show us our errors and lead us to a clean heart before God (Psalm 19:12). 

God's law is called "exceeding broad" because it reaches every human action, thought and word (Psalm 119:96). Yet, it is called a "narrow way" because it will not allow for any corruption in our lives. We have a straight line to follow so we must set God's rules before us (Matthew 7:14).

Walk in the light by knowing God's will.

Ephesians 5:8-11  For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9)  (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 10)  Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 11)  And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. 

Ephesians 5:17  Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. 

As children of light, we all too often have varying degrees of darkness in us and we must look to our rule, the judgments of God. 

We used to be living in darkness and sin. As born again believers, we are to walk as children of light because we are members in the kingdom of light. 

We must test all things so that we can determine what God will accept and we are not to have any fellowship with the works of darkness. Instead, we should reprove them by exposing them to the light of God's Word. 

This is why Paul tells believers that we must understand the will of God, or else we are guilty of acting in an unwise fashion. 

Why do we need to walk so exactly according to God's Word? Because our enemy knows our weaknesses and he will wage an all out assault against each day that we live. 

The Devil uses "wiles" which are schemes and plans that he devises to cause us to sin (Ephesians 6:11). He launches "fiery darts" at us, hoping to land a devastating blow (Ephesians 6:16). He deceives us by appearing as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). 

Our help is in laying the judgments of God before our eyes, reading them each day, seeking to understand and obey them, seeking to memorize them and make them part of our heart and soul.

A carpenter verifies the accuracy and quality of his work by using a square and a level. As the carpenter examines his work for flaw, so the Christian must measure our walk and work by the rule of God's Word. 

Galatians 6:16  And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. 

We as creatures, are apt to swerve aside the wrong way at times and this is why we need a rule, like God's judgments, to be laid before us. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

Let the Word of God be ever in our sight and before our eyes. Let it bring us comfort and sweet counsel from God. 

We must not walk according to the course of this world, for we were saved from darkness. We are not to walk rashly, reacting to changing circumstances, but to walk circumspectly, according to the fixed principles of scripture.  

May the Lord help us in these endeavors and may we pursue them with great vigor.

Bob