Psalm 119:25-32

GOOD MORNING! We are reading from Psalm 119. The Psalm is divided into twenty-two parts. The subject of the whole of the Psalm is the infallible word of the living God. A goodly number of adjectives are called into use by the Psalmist to present the value of God's word. There is a New Testament passage of scripture that also does this: "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."[1]

The part of Psalm 119 that we read today is part four, in which the Psalmist expresses a deep longing for spiritual strength in a time of severe testing. Let us remember that it is the words of Scripture that the Holy Spirit uses to give spiritual strength in the hour of trial.

"My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word. I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes. Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works. My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word. Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously. I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me. I have stuck unto thy testimonies: O LORD, put me not to shame. I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart."[2]

When the mind and the spirit are overwhelmed, depression is struggling to envelope the life. Heaviness of heart is a killing thing, and when it prevails, it threatens to turn life into a long death, and the very blessedness of life is eroded by grief.

The life of the Psalmist, as is shown in these lines of Scripture, is not within himself but in the LORD of life. The word of the LORD is, "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out and find pasture. … I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."[3]

God in grace strengthens us by infusing His grace into our lives through His word. Spiritual strength is given by the word of God as it is applied to our lives by the Holy Spirit. "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." [4]

The Bible word, "comfort," that the Psalmist uses, means "to be strengthened, to be sustained." "Comforter" is the name that the LORD Jesus gave to the Holy Spirit. Our LORD said that the Holy Spirit is the Comforter that has been sent to us from the Father in Jesus' name.

The Psalmist petitions, "Strengthen thou me according unto thy word." God's word, the Bible, the whole book from Genesis to Revelation, is the food of the soul, the guide of life, the companion that encourages, the light that shines more brightly toward the perfect day.

The apostle Peter, in writing about the word of the LORD, saith, "We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts."[5]

The Psalmist is making a firm commitment: "I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me." Then he makes a most reasonable promise: "I will run in the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart."

Running is a strong and healthy action of the body; it requires energy, it is an exercise that needs a sound heart; I must depend upon the LORD for the strength and the vigor that is brought to me through the Sacred Scriptures.

Wholesome dependence upon the LORD is developed as we "grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. … To him be glory both now and for ever."[6]
AMEN.

[1] 2 Timothy 3:16-17
[2] Psalm 119:25-32
[3] John 10:9,10
[4] 2 Corinthians 3:18
[5] 2 Peter 1:19
[6] 2 Peter 3:18