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'Christ in You...'
by Dale Krebbs
The book of Psalms is the longest Psalm and also the longest chapter in the Bible. It is perhaps the most loved, the most read, and the most memorized section of the Bible.
This Psalm has a theme throughout that is easy to miss because it speaks to so many people in so many different ways. There is a feeling of desperation in chapter after chapter, and verse of verse. Why did the Psalmist write what he did, the way he did, with the emotions that are so profound and inspiring?
Try to imagine the emotion that the Psalmist is experiencing as he pens these verses. He is led by the Holy Spirit to pen for us something very important for all of us as Christians to possess deep down in our hearts. When taken as a whole, what is the state of mind he is experiencing? God through this Psalm is speaking many things to many different peoples, cultures, circumstances of life. But one thing exhibited by the writer of this Psalm stands out above all…
His longing to be able to obey - he longed for the power to obey God. To obey in every aspect of his life.
This is clearly seen in one section of this Psalm that reveals this deep-down longing. Notice this section:
“I cleave to Your testimonies; O Lord, put me not to shame! I will [not merely walk, but] run the way of Your commandments, when You give me a heart that is willing. Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes, and I will keep it to the end [steadfastly]. Give me understanding, that I may keep Your law; yes, I will observe it with my whole heart. Make me go in the path of Your commandments, for in them do I delight. Incline my heart to Your testimonies and not to covetousness (robbery, sensuality, unworthy riches).Turn away my eyes from beholding vanity (idols and idolatry); and restore me to vigorous life and health in Your ways. Establish Your word and confirm Your promise to Your servant, which is for those who reverently fear and devotedly worship You. Turn away my reproach which I fear and dread, for Your ordinances are good. Behold, I long for Your precepts; in Your righteousness give me renewed life“.- Psalm 119:31-40.
He pleaded to God to empower him to be able obey.
Psalm 119 is a humble prayer for the desire and the longing to be empowered to seek God and to be enabled to surrender completely and be totally submitted to Him. The qualities that the Psalmist desires are not possible to completely fulfill without the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Psalm was written primarily for those who would live after Jesus came to Calvary, and the power to obey it fully came on Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came permanently into the world to enable mankind to fulfill the longest prayer in the Bible.
The Psalmist longed to be able to comply with what he knew was the whole righteousness of God. All of God’s servants, all the prophets, and all God’s called out ones longed for the times when, through faith in Jesus Christ, all who are called and enabled by the Holy Spirit, would be able to fulfill their submission to Jesus Christ that would finally fulfill the longings of the writer of Psalm 119.
Now it is possible for those who belong to Christ to fulfill the longings expressed in this Psalm.
May the Holy Spirit grant you the same longings to obey, and the power of the Holy Spirit, to be filled with the righteousness that the Psalmist also longed for.
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