Psalm 119:8 I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.
I will keep they laws...please don't forsake me. Our job is to follow. We have expectations that God will take care of us if we do this. Here the psalmist is proclaiming his plan to keep God's statutes. He is also begging God to not forsake him. Are there times when we feel forsaken? Yes, but we have to remember that God sees a bigger picture than we do. Like the words to the song, when we can't understand...trust His heart. We need to trust that God has our best interest in mind.
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Psalm 119:9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
Why would a young man need to cleanse his way? They are actually subject to the same temptations as the older people. But they are in training. I think we need to cleanse our way similar to taking a bath or doing dishes. This is a daily need. We are in the muck and mire of this world. We need to be cleansed often. How do we get cleansed? By taking heed to God's Word. How can we take heed unless we read it. Here again is why we need daily devotion time. We are surrounded by the filth of this world. Take heed and cleanse today, have your devotions!
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Psalm 119:10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
Ever done something half-hearted? Well, God wants us to seek after Him with our whole heart. Even then we have to be careful not to wander. I believe your reward is in equal portion to your effort. You don't just magically win at life, you put effort into it. So, if things aren't going that great...could it be that you are not putting your whole heart into making it better?
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Psalm 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Why do we hide God's Word in our hearts? To keep us from sin! How do we hide it? By reading and/or memorizing it. So what are you reading and/or memorizing? What do you do for your daily devotion time? Do you have a plan, or is it just random passages that you read? Do you read just to check that task off your list for the day, or do your read until the Spirit speaks to you? Can you find something in the passages you read each day? I have heard the gospel preached from the genealogy in Matthew, seen God's delight in the details in the books of the law. There is something in each passage for you if you are looking for it. Ask God to reveal His message in His Word to you each day. You will not find it if you are not looking for it!
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Another thought...if you are not storing God's Word in your heart...what are you storing there?
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Psalm 119:12 Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thy statutes.
I looked up the word statutes. It is a prescribed law, rule, etc. Made me think of a prescription. It is written for us, yet we need to go to the pharmacy and fill it, then we must take it, then our body can apply it to promote healing. The Bible has been written for us. We need to open and read it daily, then we need to apply it to our lives. This prescription does no good in the bottle on the shelf!
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Psalm 119:13 With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.
What are you talking about? Here this verse says we should be declaring (talking about) all the judgements from God's mouth. Judgements, this would be the consequences of sin. So our Bible is not just a prosperity Gospel. So we should not always be speaking of the good stuff. We must also discuss the judgement side of Him. All about balance.
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​Psalm 119:14 I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.
I have rejoiced. This is action and a decision is being made here to rejoice. In the way. In the way (direction) of what? What am I rejoicing in and what direction is it taking me? Of thy testimonies, am I going in the direction of God's Word? As much. How much effort am I putting into this? As in all riches? Do I chase after the almighty dollar more than I chase after God?
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Psalm 119:15Â I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.
Meditate-do I think about what I am reading? Do I ponder its meaning during the day?
Precepts are the foundation building pieces we learn from the Bible.
Respect-do I respect the ways of God? Do I fight against His plans for me? Do I want to do it my way?