"I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy Word."
Psalm 119:16
Part 1
This stanza of Psalm 119, Beth, ends with the psalmist “delighting in thy statutes” and not “forgetting thy Word.” To be living in that way, the believer must have the right heart attitude. This stanza begins with the psalmist wanting to “cleanse his way,” or walk (v. 9). We understand that this is daily maintenance, not just a one-time “cleansing.” As Solomon said it,
“Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?” (Proverbs 20:9).
The answer, of course, none of us can. It is the daily bathing in the Word, and daily cleansing the heart from sin that matters to our Lord.
Spurgeon says of a young man,
“Let him become a practical disciple of the holy God, who alone can teach him how to overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil, that trinity of defilers by whom many a hopeful life has been spoiled”[1] (Spurgeon).
“Among all the questions which a young man asks, and they are many, let this be the first and chief’ “Wherewithal shall I cleanse my way?”[2] (Spurgeon).
Our God does not like half-hearted worship. His servant is genuine, whole-hearted in his/her seeking the Lord. He is the goal. We need His fellowship, our hearts cannot live long without it! His service demands obedience without wandering from His commands (v. 10).
“The surest mode of cleansing the way of our life is to seek after God Himself and to endeavor to abide in fellowship with him”[3] (Spurgeon).
When we continually think of His Word, having it in us, it is “hidden in my heart.” It is not just some outward precept, but it must become our inward motive, power against my selfish actions.[4] We hold to His Words to keep us from sin (v. 11).
“My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food” (Job 23:11-12).
“His heart would be kept by the word because he kept the word in his heart” (Spurgeon).
“Memorizing is precisely what is called for, since it is only when the Word of God is readily available in our minds that we are able to recall it in moments of need and profit by it”[5] (Boice).
“Sinning ‘against God’ is the believer’s view of moral evil; other men care only when they offend against men. God’s word is the best preventive against offending God, for it tells us his mind and will, and tends to bring our spirit into conformity with the divine Spirit”[6] (Spurgeon).
Believers, how are we doing with our purity? These words we are reading today emphasize the importance of God’s Word in our lives. Come back tomorrow, and we will learn why we need God to teach us His Word.
Quote: “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus” (Revelation 14:12).
[1] C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, the electronic version in eSword.
[2] Spurgeon, ibid.
[3] Ibid.
[4] See Keil & Delitzsch. Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament, the electronic version in eSword.
[5] Boice, as quoted by Guzik. David Guzik’s Enduring Word Commentary, the electronic version in eSword.
[6] Spurgeon, ibid.