Last week, we looked at the first half of this stanza, and saw how the psalmist was shifting his focus from those who reject God and his Word to his own commitment to learn that Word. In the second half, he continues that idea. You can see if for yourself in Psalm 119:37-40:
In the first half of this strophe, the psalmist identified three ways in which he sought to learn the ways of God according to the Word of God: with his mind, with his feet, and with his heart. As he continues this passage, we will see the fourth way he seeks to learn, and finish with the encouragement needed to persevere.
With His Eyes – Verse 37
This is an interesting perspective on how we view the things around us. Obviously, our eyes are needed in order to study the Word of God, although there are other options for those who do not have their eyesight. Our eyes are an important part of studying the Word. But I wonder if perhaps the psalmist isn’t just speaking of literal eyesight, but has added a layer of figurative thought to this, and means a mental perspective, or even worldview, as much as he does literally looking at the pages of Scripture.
I think this may be the case, because he speaks of what we should turn our eyes from, and not what we should turn our eyes to. This idea has merit because of the preceding verse, because those things that keep us from studying the Word of God are many and varied. Riches can be a distraction, of course, but there are so many other things that can pull our attention away as well. And in light of this passage, all of them are worthless pursuits, or vanities.
The danger lurks in the fact that such worthless things can be very alluring, and only by a solid commitment to the Word of God can we stay strong and avoid them. The Word of God is the only thing that lasts, and it is the only thing that can preserve our lives. Everything else will pass away.
Help Is Needed – Verse 38
With so much at stake, the psalmist realizes that we cannot begin to do this on our own, and that we need help. In verse 38, he begs God to keep his promise to us, meaning the totality of God’s Word given to us. He is not pointing to one specific promise as much as he is the general idea of God’s faithfulness to us. The Hebrew word “promise” is actually one of the Hebrew terms for “word” or “saying.” So, in a sense, all of God’s Word is his promise to us, a promise to save us through his Son’s sacrifice, and draw us back to him.
Stay The Course – Verses 39-40
The final two verses of this stanza are encouragement to hold fast, to stay connected to God by staying invested in his Word. The psalmist knows that this is difficult, that the narrow path is one that few can keep to, as Jesus described. But it is well worth the effort!
The psalmist asks God to take away his disgrace. This could be either the disgrace of sin, which is a common theme through much of the Psalms, or it could be the disgrace that comes from those who reject the Word of God, and persecute those who follow God and hold tightly to his Word. Either way, the psalmist knows that the only way that leads to life is through the righteousness that come from staying committed to God and his Word.
As a result, he has developed a longing, a craving, for the Word of God. And he knows that nothing else will lead him to life… Nothing but the righteousness that comes only from God.
The challenge before us is clear. We are to stay committed to the study of God’s Word, because by it alone can we know the character and love of the God we serve. To reject the study and pursuit of Scripture is to reject the one who wrote it. But to keep it, to long for it, to crave it, is to grow closer to the author of that Word, and the author of Life.
Stay the course!
Question: What do you do to continually increase your love and craving of God’s Word? How have you seen God work in your life because of your strong commitment to him? You can leave a comment by clicking here.