07/24/2022
Psalm 119:33 HE. Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.
The Psalmist taught us to pray daily for Jehovah to help us by teaching and instructing us in the things of God. He also showed us that we must commit to walking in His ways for the rest of our lives.
God will give us a new heart and a new spirit and a new life in Christ. He saved us in order to transform us into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ. He sent His own Spirit to indwell us, to lead us in the paths of righteousness and holiness.
Praying for a heart to understand the things of God.
Psalm 119:34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
This verse connects with verse 33. The Psalmist asks God to teach Him and in verse 34, he asks for understanding from the Lord.
Teaching must be accompanied by understanding and application for us.
In verse 33, he promised to keep the way of God's statutes all the days of his life. In verse 34, he promised to keep God's law with his whole heart.
Teaching and instruction from God without us making a commitment to follow and obey, is vain. God wants to teach us in order to transform us, and help us know His will. Why? So that we might obey Him and live for His glory.
We need a great deal of understanding in order to know what God permits and what He forbids. It is a gracious act of God to tell us what we can and cannot do, for when we obey, we will be blessed.
Keeping God's law means that we will not be contaminated by sin or weighed down with its consequences.
Learning from God so we can walk worthy and be fruitful.
Colossians 1:9,10 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10) That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Paul wrote to believers at Colosse and prayed for them to be filled with the knowledge of the will of God. He wanted them to receive wisdom from the Lord in order to gain spiritual understanding.
Now, please note that God does not give us knowledge, wisdom and understanding, without intending for it to impact how we live. Belief impacts behavior and doctrine shows us our duty toward God.
In this case, believers are to walk worthy of the Lord, and this connects to the Psalmist's desire to walk in the ways of God's law. Walking worthy of Christ is something that is greatly pleasing to God.
We are to become fruitful in every good work. Jesus taught the parable of the fruit trees and reminded us that the Father is inspecting His trees for fruit.
Thus, Paul tells us to be fruitful, productive Christians, because knowledge, understanding and wisdom from God, guides and empowers us to serve Him.
Like the Psalmist's daily prayer to be taught by Jehovah, so the apostle urges us to continually increase in the knowledge of God.
Why? Because the entrance of God's Word gives light to our soul and understanding to our hearts. It will transform our lives.
Thus, we daily need to be taught by God and we daily need understanding from Him, so that we might live a life that honors and glorifies our Creator.
We need this daily because our own heart is deceitful and wicked and fights hard against our new man, new spirit and new heart.
Learning from God so we can avoid the Devil's snares.
Ephesians 6:10-11 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11) Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
2 Corinthians 2:11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
We also have a vicious and crafty enemy, the Devil. Those who walk with God must have discerning eyes at all times, so that we avoid the Devil's snares and stay away from his traps and evil devices that he forms against us.
Thus, those who would walk worthy and keep God's commands, must be a very understanding people or Satan will entrap us, or our own heart betray us.
Learning from God so we understand what His will is.
Ephesians 5:14-17 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. 15) See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16) Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17) Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
Christ Jesus will give us light to live by. This relates to the Psalmists request for God to teach him and grant him understanding of His ways.
Light from God is meant to show us the holy path we should walk on. Thus, we walk "circumspectly" which means doing those things which accurately and exactly align with God's truth.
We learn to use the time we have right now in a wise manner, by living for God's glory, doing what He left us here to do.
All understanding, knowledge, wisdom and teaching from God is so you and I might know His will for our lives.
Thoughts to Ponder...
We need to be taught by God and receive heaven's wisdom because left to our own devices, we will tend to be foolish.
When God teaches us and His Spirit illuminates our hearts, then we can respect the ordering of our lives by God.
We can make the things of God our highest priority. We can exercise care and diligence in the practice of our faith.
In short, we learn to make God our highest priority and chief concern for this life and the next. We learn to love, respect and serve Him above all others.
As the apostles said "We ought to obey God rather than man" (Acts 5:29).
May this be said of each one of us.
