Monthly Archives January 2015

Vs. 11 — Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.

Charles H. Spurgeon:

“That I might not sin against thee.” Here was the object aimed at. As one has well said,—Here is the best thing,—“thy word;” hidden in the best place,—“in my heart;” for the best of purposes,—“that I might not sin against thee.” This was done by the Psalmist with personal care, as a man carefully hides away his money when he fears thieves,—in this case the thief dreaded was sin. Sinning “against God” is the believer’s view of moral evil; other men care only when they offend against men. God’s word is the best preventive against offending God, for it tells us his mind and will, and tends to bring our spirit into conformity with the divine Spirit. No cure for sin in the life is equal to the word in the seat of life, which is the heart. There is no hiding from sin unless we hide the truth in our souls. (Spurgeon, C. H. (2009). The treasury of David: Psalms 111-119 (Vol. 5, p. 159). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)

Prayer:

Father, Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. Ever since Thy Spirit poured the Gospel into my heart I have turned from enjoying sin to hating it. You melted my callous and rebellious heart to love righteousness and obedience to Christ. Thank You, Father, please continue to work within my heart to understand Your word, so that I may grow in love for the truth and in disdain towards all that displeases and opposes You.

Praying through Psalm 119, verse-by-verse, day-by-day.

Why or How is this helpful?

• Each verse is helpful in kick-starting your time of prayer.
• Each verse can help collect and focus your thoughts towards God and onto what is important. Often it is difficult to find what to pray and yet you want to commune with the Father. This is from His Word. He has given us words to pray. He has given us what to pray for ourselves but also for your loved ones, and to pray for the Church.
• Each verse also adds insight into the Christian life. Our struggles, our hopes, our needs, and where our hearts should be established are written for us to believe, accept, and pray.
• Each verse teaches us what is important to God and therefore what should be important to us, as His children.
• Each verse holds wisdom and understanding for those of us who haven’t figured it all out yet.
• Each verse humbles us before our God and Savior, while reminding us that we are who we are only by His grace.

Today:

Vs. 10 With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!

Comments from Charles H. Spurgeon on the verse:

The man of God exerts himself, but does not trust himself: his heart is in his walking with God; but he knows that even his whole strength is not enough to keep him right unless his King shall be his keeper, and he who made the commands shall make him constant in obeying them: hence the prayer, “O let me not wander.” Still, this sense of need, was never turned into an argument for idleness; for while he prayed to be kept in the right road he took care to run in it, with his whole heart seeking the Lord. (Spurgeon, C. H. (2009). The treasury of David: Psalms 111-119 (Vol. 5, p. 158). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)

Prayer:

Father, I cannot say that I have sought you with my whole heart. You and I know that I cannot. But though I have wandered from Your commandments, You have kept me sealed and preserved. For You have promised that nothing can separate me from Your love. Nothing. I ask that You continue to give me a desire to seek You and Your kingdom. I do not want to become dull in heart towards You. It is the Spirit that gives me affections for You. Keep pouring a love for Thee in and over me so that my heart will always turn to You.

Vs. 9 — How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.

Prayer:

How can anyone cleanse his way? You have shown me that no one can. Yet while I was a sinner, Christ died for me, washing me clean and taking the certificate of debt against me and nailed it to the cross. Praises to my Savior. The Spirit of Christ has turned my heart to Your Word that I might see Savior, hear the Gospel, and believe. I have heeded Your word–the Gospel, and found cleansing in the atoning work of Jesus Christ!  Father, I ask that the Spirit of Christ enable the Church to grasp the height, depth, width, and length of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, so that we will explode with zeal to live it, preach it, breathe it, and trust it. Amen!

To the new comers to this blog: Each day I am posting the consecutive verse from Psalm 119. This Psalm is one prayer after another, all of which are relevant, needed, and instructive. As seen below, I will include a prayer to add to your prayers each day from the verse of the day, and I’ll drop some commentary on the verse to help with our understanding. Pray with the understanding, right? So says 1 Corinthians 14:15.

Vs. 8 –  I will keep Your statutes; Oh, do not forsake me utterly!

Verse 8.—This verse, being the last of this portion, is the result of his meditation concerning the utility and necessity of the keeping the law of God. Here take notice:—1. Of his resolution, “I will keep thy statutes.” II. Of his prayer, “O forsake me not utterly.” It is his purpose to keep the law; yet because he is conscious to himself of many infirmities, he prays against desertion. In the prayer more is intended than Is expressed. “O forsake me not;” he means, strengthen me in this work; and if thou shouldst desert me, yet but for a while, Lord, not for ever; if in part, not in whole, Four points we may observe hence:—1. That it is a great advantage to come to a resolution as to a course of godliness. 2. Those that resolve upon a course of obedience have need to fly to God’s help. 3. Though we fly to God’s help, yet sometimes God may withdraw, and seem to forsake us. 4. Though God seem to forsake us, and really doth so in part; yet we should pray that it may not be a total and utter desertion.—Thomas Manton.

Prayer:

It is my desire to keep Your statutes both and night. I know that it doesn’t look like it, and so it is because I sometimes turn from them. I am sorry for such dishonor and disobedience towards You, Father. Thank you, But I also have rest that even though I fall, I do not fall altogether. Thy love for me has been shown in the Son of Thy Love.

Vs. 7 – I will praise You with uprightness of heart, When I learn Your righteous judgments.

In this verse David expresseth his esteem of the word, by telling what he would give for the knowledge and practice of it. As we use to tell a man how thankful we would be if he would do thus and thus for us; so, Lord, if thou wilt give me to learn thy righteous judgments, then I will praise thee, &c. (Manton, T. (1872). The Complete Works of Thomas Manton (Vol. 6, p. 61). London: James Nisbet & Co.)

Prayer:

I will praise You with uprightness of heart, when I learn Your righteous judgments. Yes indeed, as I learn Your righteous judgments my heart rejoices. Teach me, my Lord, more of Your judgments that my heart and lips will have more praise to lift towards heaven.