There are some things in the Bible that we have likely heard before because they are widely quoted like Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path”. However, this follows another section that is a request to the Lord in Psalm 119:33 “Teach me”, and in Psalm 119:34 “Give me understanding”. It is for us to set ourselves to follow the Lord as in Psalm 119:112 “I have inclined my heart to do your statutes”. We must also, though, understand that there is danger in life as in Psalm 119:109 “my life is in danger continually”. But Jesus said to us in John 16:33 “In the world you have affliction, but have courage! I have conquered the world.”
Teach Me O Yahweh the Way
Psalm 119:33–40
There is first a request for the Lord to, in Psalm 119:33 “Teach me”, and this is followed by another request of the Lord to, in Psalm 119:34 “Give me understanding” and “This request occurs six times in the psalm (vv. 27, 34, 73, 125, 144, 169)”1. Then there is a recognition of our inability to fulfill the Lords commands and a request that the Lord, in Psalm 119:35 “cause me to walk in the path”. And finally, there is a request for the strength of life needed to, in Psalm 119:37 “turn away my eyes” as he asks the Lord to “revive me in your ways”. In the end, we are dependent on the Holy Spirit, the teacher (see John 16:13, Hebrews 10:15-18), the anointing that heals and sets free (see Acts 10:38) and brings us into the fullness of God’s plan and purpose for our lives.
I Will Speak of Your Testimonies
Psalm 119:41–48
Your Word Preserves My Life
Psalm 119:49–56
Psalm 119:49 Remember your word to your servant, upon which you have caused me to hope.
I Seek Your Favor
Psalm 119:57–64
Psalm 119:57 Yahweh is my portion; I intend to heed your words.
Psalm 119:59 I think about my ways, and turn my feet to your testimonies.
Teach Me Good Discernment and Knowledge
Your Hands Have Made Me
Psalm 119:73–80
We are created by the Lord, and in his image as it says in Psalm 119:73 “Your hands have made me” and it is also true that the Lord has “established me”. Just as the Lord placed Adam in the garden with everything he needed for life, he has now, as we are free from “the law of sin and death in Romans 8:2, he “has bestowed on us” in
2 Peter 1:3 “because his divine power has bestowed on us all things that are necessary for life and godliness, through the knowledge of the one who called us by his own glory and excellence of character”.
As one commentary says, “It is impossible that God should forsake man, who is His creature, and deny to him that which makes him truly happy”2.
It is for us to seek and ask the Lord in Psalm 119:73 “give me understanding that I may learn” and as it goes on to say in
2 Peter 1:4 “he has bestowed on us his precious and very great promises, so that through these you may become sharers of the divine nature after escaping from the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire”.
I Hope in Your Word
Psalm 119:81–88
Forever O Yahweh Your Word is Settled
Psalm 119:89–96
From Your Precepts I Get Understanding
Your Word is a Lamp to My Feet
Psalm 119:105-112
How many times have you heard Psalm 119:105 quoted, likely many.
Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path”.
Have you also heard the other two parts?
- The oath to follow the Lord: in Psalm 119:106 he says “I have sworn an oath … to heed your righteous ordinances” then in Psalm 119:111 “I have taken as my own your testimonies” and in Psalm 119:112 “I have inclined my heart to do your statutes”.
- There is affliction, danger in life: in Psalm 119:107 “I am very much afflicted” and in Psalm 119:109 “my life is in danger continually” and in Psalm 119:110 “the wicked have laid a snare”.
We are born again into the kingdom of God, but as Jesus said in
John 16:33 “I have said these things to you so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have affliction, but have courage! I have conquered the world.”
And we are admonished to “keep ourselves in the love of god”, and not ourselves only in
Jude 20–23 “But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith, by praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. 22 And have mercy on those who doubt, 23 and save others by snatching them from the fire, and have mercy on others with fear, hating even the tunic stained by the flesh”.
Sustain Me According to Your Word
Psalm 119:113–120
It is Time for Yahweh to Act
Psalm 119:121–128
Study Verses
- Psalm 119:33–40 Teach Me O Yahweh the Way
- Psalm 119:73–80 Your Hands Have Made Me
- Psalm 119:105-112 Your Word is a Lamp to My Feet
Today’s Reading
- Psalm 119:33-128
References
- 1. Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Ps 119:34). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
- 2. Keil, C. F., & Delitzsch, F. (1996). Commentary on the Old Testament (Vol. 5, p. 742). Peabody, MA: Hendrickson.
