Psalm 119 5th Stanza

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Psalm 119:22-40

He

33   Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes;

and I will keep it to the end

34   Give me understanding, that I may keep your law

and observe it with my whole heart.

35   Lead me in the path of your commandments,

for I delight in it.

36   Incline my heart to your testimonies,

and not to selfish gain!

37   Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things;

and give me life in your ways.

38   Confirm to your servant your promise,

                that you may be feared.

39   Turn away the reproach that I dread,

for your rules are good.

40   Behold, I long for your precepts;

in your righteousness give me life! [1]

 

Devotion

If verse 33 seems familiar already there is reason for that. “This is the main prayer of the psalm—a prayer for spiritual enlightenment. It occurs eight times (vers. 12, 26, 33, 64, 68, 108, 124, and 135)”.[2] The psalmist then goes on to stay h will keep them to the time of his death.

 

          In verse 34 the psalmist pleads for God to give him understanding of the law so that he may follow it with his whole heart. The purpose of this verse is to indicate that if the author fails to keep the law know it will be do to a lack of wisdom not of his will.

 

          Verse 35 may also sound familiar to our ears. The author wants the Lord to keep him in the narrow way of following after the words. (comp. vers. 16, 24, 47, 70, 77, 111, 174[3])

 

            In verse 36 the writer is aware that the inclination of his heart toward God’s law is a gift of God and he asks for more of it. He also seeks to be free from the desire to seek after selfish gain as a result of his walking with the Lord.

 

          In verse 37 the author prays to be kept from the worthless things such as wealth, honor, and power. He longs for the life-giving power that comes from walking in the ways of life in God.

 

          Verse 38 here the psalmist asks that the Lord will make good on his promises. “thy promise of aid and support in all times of temptation and difficulty.”[4] The prayer is that God will make good to his servant that promise, which lies at the root of all godly fear.

         

          In verse 39 the writer asks for the power from God to reject all the worldly ways and to follow God’s good rules. “For the word of God is not established in those who remove it in themselves by acting contrary to it; but it is established in those in whom it is immoveable. God therefore establishes His word, that they may fear Him, in those unto whom He giveth the spirit of the fear of Him”;[5]

 

          Finally, in verse 40 the writer finishes this section. Again, pleading with God to show him the precepts out of his word. Knowing that in them the writer will find life.


[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ps 119:33–40.

[2] H. D. M. Spence-Jones, ed., Psalms, vol. 3, The Pulpit Commentary (London; New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company, 1909), 105.

[3] H. D. M. Spence-Jones, ed., Psalms, vol. 3, The Pulpit Commentary (London; New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company, 1909), 105.

[4] H. D. M. Spence-Jones, ed., Psalms, vol. 3, The Pulpit Commentary (London; New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company, 1909), 105.

[5] Augustine of Hippo, “Expositions on the Book of Psalms,” in Saint Augustin: Expositions on the Book of Psalms, ed. Philip Schaff, trans. A. Cleveland Coxe, vol. 8, A Select Library of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church, First Series (New York: Christian Literature Company, 1888), 566.

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