Psalm 119:25-32

Psalm 119:25-32

Cling to His Word

I.                    Only clinging to God’s Word produces true hope in troubled times; so we must acknowledge our total dependency on Him (Vv. 25-29)

a.       We don’t know the exact circumstance in which the psalmist found himself, but we know from his language that they were dire. Whether he is under the actual threat of death, or he’s so overwhelmed by his circumstances that he doesn’t think he go on, and would prefer it if God just took him out the world, he cries out to God from a soul that is laid low. His “soul weeps because of grief”, which when considered alongside his statement that, “I have told of my ways, and You have answered me”, reveals that even in the midst of the attacks on him by others and life in a broken world, the psalmist has come to see his own sins, been grieved by his transgressions against God, and repented. The brutal assault of the fallen world and his own inability to live sinlessly has worked together to compel the psalmist to see that he can’t bear up under the weight of life. But he’s moved from hopelessness to hope as he lays it all out before God, surrenders to Him, and seeks His revival, His instruction, and His strength. He humbly seeks God’s grace to instruct Him, and grant Him discernment through His Word and promises. Instead of being overwhelmed by the waves of life crashing against Him, He prays that God would give Him a heart to be in awe of Him and meditate on His marvelous wonders revealed in His Word. He acknowledges that he doesn’t have the ability to see the right way and walk in it, so he asks God to graciously give Him the wisdom and strength not take the wrong way and follow the desires of the world, but to live obediently to His Word. The psalmist desires for his circumstances to teach him about his great need and God’s great goodness. God alone gives life and can renew it, and He renews us through His revelation and promises in His Word. God promises life in Him, hope that doesn’t disappoint, and strength that won’t fail us. He grants all this through His Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and He instructs us, convicts us, and encourages us in these truths with His Word. So often when we experience the difficulties of life, we either turn to our own strength and means to endure, or call out to God to get us out of it. But we should join the psalmist in laying it all out before God, calling out for Him to teach us what He’s showing us through our trials, acknowledge our dependency on Him, and ask Him bring us back to life, teach us, strengthen us, help us understand and seek His way, and trust in His Word. (Vv. 25-29; 1 Kgs, 19:1-18; 2 Kgs. 18:13-19:36; Ps. 68:35; Prov. 14:12; Isa. 40:28-31; Matt. 11:28-30; Luke 18:9-14; 21:33-36; John 15:1-7; 17:17; Rom. 8:1-9, 18, 24-28; 2 Cor. 1:3-11; 2:14-16; 4:6-10; 12:7-10; Eph. 1:18-23; 3:14-20; Col. 1:9-14; Jas. 1:2-8; 1 Pet. 5:6-10)

II.                 Only clinging to God’s Word produces true hope in troubled times; so we must resolve to walk faithfully in His way (Vv. 30-32)

a.   We all have choices in life, and every choice large or small has consequences. The consequence of the psalmist’s choice to allow the threat of his enemies and the weight of the world to overwhelm him, resulted in his feeling like he just couldn’t go on, and would be crushed by life’s circumstances at any moment. But, because he knew God, it also resulted in him becoming aware of his great need, turning to God, and seeking His renewal, strength, and understanding in His Word. So now the psalmist is renewed with hope, and is moved with resolve to fervently and diligently seek God’s way. Before he laid out all his troubles before God and cried out in need, but now he lays out God’s Word before himself. Instead of clinging to the dust of death, he clings to the life-giving Word of God and God’s sure promises, which never disappoint. The psalmist has clearly seen that the world and its promises never fulfill, and only produce fear and disappointment. Now he has seen God’s great strength and sure promises deliver him and renew him. So he has chosen God’s way revealed in His Word, and he’ll run the race set before him by training and living obediently to His Word. When we walk in obedience to God’s Word, He’s always faithful to expand our understanding, strengthen our hearts, and set us in open spaces when life begins to press us into a corner. On this side of the cross, we must cling to God’s Word, turn away from the empty promises and fleeting pleasures of this world, and run our race with endurance by keeping our eyes on Christ and pressing on in to know Him more fully. As we cling to God’s Word, His grace and goodness will continually compel us to respond faithfully and resolutely to walk in His way, and be continually renewed in Him. (Vv. 30-32; Josh. 24:14-15; 1 Kgs. 18:21; Matt. 7:24-27; Acts 11:21-23; Rom. 5:1-5; 1 Cor. 15:58; 2 Cor. 4:6-10Phil. 3:7-16; Col. 3:1-4; 2 Tim. 2:15-16; 3:16-17; 4:5-8; Heb. 12:1-3)