Many times, however, those positive thoughts and feelings fade
all too quickly. The reality of life rushes in. The awareness of the outworking
of what has been promised reveals itself. Perhaps most disheartening is the
inevitable failure to follow through on all that has been resolved. The reality
of weak humanity means that the firmest of resolves wavers; the excitement
fades, and the spiritual high can quickly plummet into the dismal disappointment
of unachieved aspirations.
Following God faithfully isn't as easy as simply deciding to
do it. A closer walk with God does not come solely because the determination
has been made. Such endeavors are life-long pursuits, and the journey is filled
with a progression of ups and downs. The victories will be mingled with
failures, and some of those failures may be so intense that they seem to deny
the possibility of success.
The psalmist begins the stanza with a heart-cry of failure. "My soul cleaves to the dust; revive me
according to Your word" (v. 25). Verse 28 speaks of his weeping and
grief. He is troubled by the false way that still plagues him (v. 29), and he refers to the potential of shame
coming to him due to his failure (v. 31).
In this disappointing soul-searching, the psalmist knows the
solution. He needs to know God's truth. His understanding is still too shallow.
He prays, "Teach me Your statutes.
Make me understand the way of Your precepts" (vs. 26-27). The more he
comes to understand God's Word and know His ways, the more strengthened he will
be, and the more able to walk faithfully in the right ways.
The psalmist's resolve has not changed. If anything, it is
stronger now and more determined than before. He has realized that his growth
will not be immediate and that his spiritual endeavors will not be perfect.
With that knowledge, he is determined to follow God anyway. "I have chosen the faithful way; I have
placed Your ordinances before me. I cling to Your testimonies" (vs.
30-31).
With his knowledge of the solution and his determination to
persevere, the psalmist also utilizes the right approach. He turns to God for
help. This stanza contains seven prayers for God's help: revive me, teach me, make me understand, strengthen me, remove the
false way, grant me Your law, do not put me to shame. This man is fully
aware of his personal inability to do what is right; he must have God's help
and God's enabling.
The psalmist also has a good understanding of God's
character. He knows he has not lived up to what God desires, and he is
rightfully humbled and broken. He weeps over his inability to understand and
follow through with God's instruction. Very importantly, however, he looks for God's
gracious response to such humility. God understands the frailty of the human
frame. Instead of waiting to pounce upon this man's failure or give up on him,
God is patient to progressively teach more and more of His Word, and He is
gracious to do so gently. The psalmist fully expects God to answer his prayers,
resulting in success in his walking the right way. "I shall run the way of Your commandments, for You will enlarge my
heart" (v. 32).
The psalmist's failure is not due to a lack of resolve. It
is not because of an absence of love for God. In reality, it all comes down to
maturity. He knows God's Word - just not well enough yet. He is eliminating
wrong things from his life - but the process is still ongoing. In order to
please God and walk faithfully in His ways, this man (like all Christians) must
continue to remove erroneous thoughts and philosophies and replace them with a solid understanding of God's ways. The
psalmist prays for this very thing in verse 29.
"Remove the false
way from me, and graciously grant me Your law." Psalm 119:29 (NASB)
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