This last passage marks the end of Psalm 119, and it continues the thoughts found in the first half. Let’s take a look at it in Psalm 119:173-176:

This stanza wraps up the entirety of Psalm 119 with the psalmist’s cry out to God for help. He seems to know intuitively that the help that God offers can be found in the pages of his Word. So he turns there and shares several areas where he is lacking; areas that can only be fulfilled by the Word of God.

As we looked at the first half of this passage, we saw three areas: our need for understanding, our need for deliverance, and our need for a proper attitude of worship.

In the last few verses here, we can see two more areas where we need God help, and we can find that help in Scripture.

We Need Power To Live Fully For God – Verses 173-174

These two verse initially seem to be referring to the psalmist’s enemies, and display his need for help against them. But I think that this passage has more of a spiritual focus than just a mere physical one. In that light, the psalmist looks to be crying out for God’s help to live by his Word, his commands, his law.

It’s quite simple, really. We cannot live an upright life under our own power. We can do nothing that can attain the righteousness required to satisfy God’s expectations. It is only through his own help that we can live in such a way that we can be seen as righteous before God. It is only because of the blood of Christ shed for us, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, living within us, that we can achieve this. There is no other way.

We Need Strength To Persevere – Verse 175

If we really desire to live such a life, one that is seen as righteous before God, then we will be persistent in our efforts to follow God. That’s the point of this verse, where the the psalmist states, “let me live that I might praise you,” implying an intentional effort day after day after day.

The same is true for you and me. We cannot coast through our lives when it comes to our faith. We need to intentionally seek out ways to stay as close to God as we possibly can, and one of the primary ways that we can accomplish that is by staying invested in the Word daily. Only through God’s Word can we find the strength we need to persevere daily as we live out our faith.

As the psalmist wraps up Psalm 119, he makes on final plea, comparing himself to a lost sheep. If the author of this psalm was David, then this final plea resonates well with what we know about him. David was a shepherd, and he described that role of the Father quite well in Psalm 23. But as a shepherd, he also knows that sheep get lost. They wander off. And a Good Shepherd will seek them out and find them.

This author trusts the Shepherd to do just that. Do you?

Question: What areas do you need the strength that can only come from God to persevere in your life? Do you have anyone you can pray over this with? If not, find someone and seek God’s strength together. You can leave a comment by clicking here.