Living Life in Ps. 119: The Universe of God’s Word
At this writing, it is my second year to work and meditate through Ps. 119. When I first began reading Psalm 119, I thought it was long and laborious. You know how you first feel when you start a trip to a new place and it seems like you will never get to your destination. Then after you have made the trip a few times all of the sudden it does not take as long (that is unless you are traveling across Nebraska). This is how I feel about Psalm 119 now. Since I have lived life in Psalm 119 for one year, I am learning to soak in the scenery as I travel its road each day of the month.
Here is what I mean. I read an eight verse stanza each day of the month. It takes me twenty-two days to travel the Psalm but it seems like such a quick journey now. The scenery is becoming more and more clear as I travel its route each day. I am beginning to see my life in each verse and stanza. The colors are rich and the scenery is now in high definition. Each trip I see deeper and deeper into the Psalm and most importantly, into my heart.
I want to share with you the first leg of the journey for February:
Psalm 119:1-8
Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord!
2Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart,
3who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways!
4You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently.
5Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes!
6Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.
7I will praise you with an upright heart, when I learn your righteous rules.
8I will keep your statutes; do not utterly forsake me! [1]
Here is what I see as I look out the window. God immediately wants my heart right in the first eight verses before I go any further:
vv. 1-3: He wants my whole heart. He does not want half, a quarter but all of my heart and he wants my heart to love walking in his word.
vv. 4-6: He wants me to have a diligent heart. The diligent heart is the heart that has been made whole and is in love with God and his word. There seems to be a progression here. The whole heart is going hard after God by pressing deeper into God and His word. There is no shame in going hard after God for he is the prize that we fix our eyes on.
vv. 7-8: The upright heart is the righteous heart. It has been made whole and is diligent in its pursuit of God. The upright heart loves the word of God and finds the rules of God not a burden, not a way of earning God’s favor but a reflection of his love of Jesus.
After all, this is a picture of Jesus. Jesus is the One who has the whole heart, diligent heart and upright heart. It is His heart that has been birthed in me so that I can have a new heart that loves God and His word. This is what is going on at the outset of this Psalm, God is getting my heart right so that my hearts affections will be for Him and His word.
Father, get all of my heart today. Make it whole, diligent and upright. Make my heart like my precious Savior's because He has bought and paid for my heart on the cross. He purchase a new heart for me. This is my heart's desire. I love you Lord!
Your Son,
Michael
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