Month: June 2015

Psalm 119:36-37

The Hebrew word for “covetousness” is (OT:1215) betsa` (beh’-tsah); from OT:1214; plunder; by extension, gain (usually unjust):”

Another verse with this word is Ezekiel 33:31, “And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.” Here is an example of a congregation who outwardly did the right acts, but inwardly, God saw their true nature: covetous. A heart that is inclined to God’s testimonies will dowhat they hear. But the heart that is set on covetousness might “hear” but will never do. Where do I fall? As one whose heart is inclined to covetousness? or inclined to God’s testimonies?

Turn away – OT:5674 `abar (aw-bar’); a primitive root; to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in copulation):

Vanity – OT:7723 shav’ (shawv); or shav (shav); from the same as OT:7722 in the sense of desolating; evil (as destructive), literally (ruin) or morally (especially guile); figuratively idolatry (as false, subjective), uselessness (as deceptive, objective; also adverbially, in vain):

Quicken – OT:2421 chayah (khaw-yaw’); a primitive root [compare OT:2331, OT:2421]; to live, whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive:

Many of the verses in this chapter seem to be a prayer – a request for God’s help. It is acknowledging that we are weak, and He is strong. For instance, this verse; if I take it to heart, then I realize that as much as I try, I will be unable to keep my eyes from seeking vanity, unable to truly be revived in God’s way – I must seek God’s help in this issue.

Psalm 119:34-35

How important it is to follow God and His ways with our whole heart! Here, we are encouraged to observe (hedge about, guard, protect, attend to, etc.) God’s law with our whole heart. This is not half-way piddling in God’s law, but seeking, studying, and applying it – daily – to our lives.

“Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.” (Psalm 119:2)

Psalm 142:3 reminds us, “When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me.” God is watching over the path we’re trodding and He is offering us the path of His commandments. But until we delight in His commandments, we will not desire to walk in that path.

How many times are “way” and “ways” mentioned in Psalm 119?

“Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord.” (vs. 1)

“They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.” (vs. 3)

“O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!” (vs. 5)

“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.” (vs. 9)

“I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.” (vs. 14)

“I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.” (vs. 15)

“I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes.” (vs. 26)

“Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.” (vs. 27)

“Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously.” (vs. 29)

“I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me.” (vs. 30)

“I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.” (vs. 32)

“Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.” (vs. 33)

“Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.” (vs. 37)

“I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.” (vs. 59)

“I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.” (vs. 101)

“Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.” (vs. 104)

“Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.” (vs. 128)

“I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: for all my ways are before thee.” (vs. 168)

Do we think that the way we walk is important to God after reading sixteen verses — all in one chapter — about our way?

God’s ways are there for us to learn. Are we learning and keeping them?