v.33-40
Summary (Kel)
After praying for knowledge, understanding, and guidance so that he might live more obediently and not be drawn to selfish gain and worthless ways, the psalmist asks for confirmation of the word so that his reproach would be removed and his life renewed (119:33–40).
Outline (Kel)
I. Instruction: The psalmist asks God for knowledge, understanding, and guidance in the way that the word reveals, so that he might observe it wholeheartedly (33–35).
II. Commitment: The psalmist asks God to cause him to desire the word over selfish gain, and to turn his attention from worthless things and be renewed (36–37).
III. Confirmation: The psalmist asks for confirmation of God’s word by the removal of his grievous reproach and the renewing of his life because he longs for God’s precepts (38–40).
Note:
119:33 Teach me, O LORD, the lifestyle prescribed by your statutes,
so that I might observe it continually.
119:34 Give me understanding so that I might observe your law,
and keep it with all my heart.
119:35 Guide me in the path of your commands,
for I delight to walk in it.
The first 2 verses end with result clauses, but the 3rd verse the pattern changed. The psalmist continued to plead for keeping him in God's words, but this time, it was out of a delight of his heart. Not only did he care about whether he could observe the law, just the law itself was delightful to him. Note, he called the law, "your law" v.34, and "your commands" v.35, probably because God Himself was a delight to him.
Do we ask God to teach us/give us understanding/guide us in the path of His Word so that we can observe it? Do our hearts delight in His word/Himself?
Do we commit to turn our desire away from worthless things? Then we shall ask God to remove our grievous reproach and renew our lives.
Audrey
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