Psalm 119: Focus On God's Word Pt. 104 Learn From God; Live It Out All Your Days.

Psalm 119:33  HE. Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end. 

As we think about the Psalmist's request for Jehovah to teach him His Word, we see that this is something we greatly need. 

We must be diligent to seek teaching that God has promised to give us, each and every day. We will never outgrow our need for God to instruct us in His truth.

Our old man does not discern the things of God.

1 Corinthians 2:14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 

It is a hard matter to understand the things of God that are spiritual by nature. Some of His things are understood literally and some in their spiritual sense. 

Our natural man, sometimes called our old man, does not care for the things of God and cannot learn them. The natural man cannot receive the things of God because they require spiritual discernment. 

In fact, the old man views the things of God as foolishness.  

This is certainly one reason why we must ask for Jehovah's instruction in His Word. We still carry our old man around until the Lord calls us home.

Gaining knowledge can make us prideful. 

1 Corinthians 8:1,2  Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. 2)  And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. 

Notice what Paul tells us in this text. Gaining knowledge is something that can puff us up and make us self conceited and proud. As Paul said, not even the most knowledgeable among us knows or comprehends the things of God as we ought to. 

Believers in Christ are aware of our own insufficiencies and this causes us to recognize our constant dependence upon God. Thus, we must ask God to instruct us in His Word. 

Now we come to the heart of the Psalmist's prayer. Instruction from Jehovah is for the purpose of imparting a strong desire to obey God. Keeping His statutes to the end is the Psalmist's way of saying "I want to obey God and walk in His ways as long as I am alive."

God will impart wisdom and instruction to show us how to live. 

Deuteronomy 4:5,6  Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. 6)  Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.  

When Jehovah instructs His people, it is so that we learn to obey Him. It is so that we have His wisdom to guide our steps and shape our choices. This is so important because of all the corruption in our nations and cultures. 

Luke 11:28  But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it. 

Jesus reminds us that true blessing is found by those who hear and heed the Word of God. It is not the knowing of things that makes us happy. Rather, it is in obeying God that we find satisfaction and happiness. 

We are to live out the truth that God teaches us in the sight of the "nations." This means that we must live by His truth in our homes, in front of our family members, our friends, our neighbors, and in our communities. 

Greatly esteem the scriptures and seek teaching from God. 

Psalm 19:9-11  The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. 10)  More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 11) Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. 

King David wrote this Psalm and he extolled the virtues of the scriptures. They are worth more than any form of wealth that man might create. 

Truth and righteousness from the Word, warns about the hazards of sin but rewards us greatly for obeying it. We find comfort and sweetness in keeping His Word and living according to His instructions.   

Those who hear the sayings of Jesus Christ and do them not, are like fools who build their home on sands, only to see it destroyed by the storms of life (Matthew 7:26-28). 

Those who know the will of Christ our Master and refused to prepare themselves to obey, and did not keep it, will be beaten with many stripes (Luke 12:47).

Learn from God and live it out. 

Deuteronomy 5:31  But as for thee, stand thou here by me, and I will speak unto thee all the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which thou shalt teach them, that they may do them in the land which I give them to possess it. 

Jehovah promises to teach us when we ask Him to. He has given us His Spirit to teach and guide us into all truth. We are to "do" them, which means living in accord with what God says to us. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

We must sincerely and daily seek instruction from Jehovah. He has promised to teach us and has supplied us with the resources that we need. 

We must be on guard not to become prideful when God teaches us from His Word. Knowledge alone can puff up our minds with self conceit. 

We must seek to be consistent in coming to God, seeking Him to teach us and then running the way of His statutes, or living them out. 

It is not good enough to begin to chart a good course of living for the glory of God. We must continue in it until we complete this life and go home to heaven.

God made us new creations in Christ and He will continue to perfect the work in our souls, until He calls us home. 

Make much of the scriptures and God will make something out of us. 

Bob