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Psalm 119 verses 33to 40 – I did wonder whether or not we should continue in Psalm 119 - until I re-read this section. “Teach me O, Lord to follow Your decrees; then I will keep them to the end.” Teach = to point out – or to indicate.

Each verse is a prayer - and that happens in no other OCTONARY – and each verse begins with the same Hebrew letter – a magnificent piece of inspired and inspirational writing – and in the metrical version this section is frequently sung.

Lord - You teach - and I will keep. Lord, you do Your bit - and I’ll seek to do mine. I know You will continue doing Your bit, O, Lord, and my intention is to keep what You teach me - right to the end - until it is all over down here. David is so conscious of his extreme need.

“He who is his own pupil, has a fool for his master!”

Jesus, teach me - and I will do whatever You say and reveal. Jesus, open my eyes, and I will follow.

A soldier does not give himself orders - nor does he choose pleasant short-cuts - but receives his commands and route from his Commanding Officer.

Some people dote upon their own wisdom - and then, one day they find it was not all that wise. David wants to know not only God's Ways - but how to walk in them - how to live like that.

Those who are taught by GOD do not forget what they have learned.

I think of one man who has been taught of God - who has turned his back on it all - and who now cannot criticise and even mock enough, what was once so dear to him - and he writes regularly in such a cynical manner of what he once held dear - as if the memory of it haunts him - as if he really wishes he could get back to where he once was in GOD.

Perseverance is a scarce commodity – and the only way we can learn perseverance is by persevering! Give thanks for men like Peter and Paul and John - and others whom you may know - who persevered - but remembering that there are those who are looking and watching and expecting us to persevere.

Verse 34 – David is repeating his request for understanding - if you give - I will keep - and obey it with ALL MY HEART. This is not going to be just a superficial interest. Not only teach me, dear Lord - but enable me to understand - not so that I might be regarded as someone great - someone so wise - but that I may obey and keep and worship. “I want to worship the Lord with all of my heart.”

Verse 35 – He knew the way was narrow and few there be that find it, so he is asking again for DIRECTION - and we need to do this too - because so often we arrive in new territory - we have never been here before - I have never lived today before - and Lord, I need You to direct - or else I may get lost. The directions to get around Inverness are no use if you are living in Forres.

Direction and directions can be two very different things.

Lord - what do You want us to do - how do You wish us to serve in a way that pleases You? If You do that - I will find delight. Make me to go - to walk - in YOUR WAYS. Why do I find myself in situations which upset me? Lord, am I missing something - have I missed hearing Your Voice? Have You given me directions and I have gone my own way - and so I feel confused - lost - or down?

Verse 36 – Turn my heart - David knows where the problem lies. Turn my heart - Lord, if you get my heart then You have all of me - ‘Take my life and let it be” - but I need YOU to turn my heart - call me - draw me - pull me - magnetise me - but do it. I need YOU to turn my heart - if not it will be wandering off all over the place - towards selfish gain - surely NOT! COVETOUSNESS is the word used.

Here is a man who has known the anointing of God since he was a boy! Is it possible to look out for selfish gain? O yes it is! And he knew it - and so do we!

Verse 37 – “MAKE MY EYES TO PASS FROM SEEING VANITY”. These eyes are a problem to David - and are they not also a problem to us? Vanity - vain empty things – television - greater riches - how can I accumulate more, even at the expense of those around me? Eyelids are something for which we can give GOD thanks - we can close our eyes and turn away from viewing things that are unhelpful.

I had a man say to me on Thursday Morning - “The things of this world are holding me back - and I know it - and I also know that I could die to-morrow.” And, I said to him - and would you say to God - O You can’t take my life today because I haven’t quite finished with the things of this world!” And he went strangely silent and quiet!

Worthless things - so many things are just absolutely worthless - in the light of eternity - in the light of being obedient and faithful and loyal to Jesus.

Again - a man said to me the other day - O I have this dream of going around as an evangelist with just a coat - with no other possessions. I asked him where he worshipped just now? Nowhere. What would you preach - what would be your good news? Going around with no possessions and preaching, sounds very picturesque - but it is not romantic when you suddenly have people hunting for you because of what you are saying.

RENEW my life - according to Your Word - I need that renewal - I need that refreshing - I need that encouraging and support and strength which can only be received through the Light of Your Holy Word - nothing else can do it.

LORD, forgive me for the wasted moments - when I have turned to worthless things - things that have not helped me spiritually - and have not really helped me physically either. Give me so much life - that I have no desire - no time - no room for vain empty things.

Verse 38. SET YOUR WORD BEFORE YOUR SERVANT - BEFORE MY EYES, MY MIND - MY FEET - AND MY HEART. The Psalmist is prayerfully asking help in each of these various areas of his life.

Lord, You promised Your servant - fulfil that - fulfil these promises - so that YOU may be feared - so that I may fear YOU - and so that when people see You working in me and through me, they too may fear YOU - that is, HOLD YOU IN REVERENCE AND AWE BECAUSE YOU ARE HOLY AND JUST AND FAITHFUL.

Verse 39 – David realised that it was possible for him to do something which was caused him to be disgraced - and that he too had that capacity to bring shame on the Name of GOD. Take these possibilities from me - let that sort of thing never happen to me.

Don’t ever allow me to become an embarrassment to the Body of Christ - don’t ever allow me to do anything that would make people say - “That’s the Church for you!”

Your laws are good - Your ways are good - You are a good God - You are a Loving Heavenly Father - and I do not want to behave in any way that would bring a shadow or cloud upon your NAME. This kind of fear is positive and healthy and protective.

Verse 40 – This intense longing - this desire - it is in us all - we want more of God - we want to walk closer with God - we long to see more people coming to believe in Jesus Christ - enjoying the Blessings, Rewards and Challenges of Discipleship.

RENEW my life in YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. How often does David pray for Renewal? Certainly never once too often! We tend to long for the promises - rather than the precepts - what HE entrusts and commits to man - the commandments.

There is a note of - ONWARD - ON WE GO - YOU and ME TOGETHER, O GOD - and we can do it - provided You keep renewing me - renewing me, with the Power of the Holy Spirit. As I seek to live in the knowledge of Your Word - practising HOLINESS - supply me with Your Life that I may so live - in victory - victoriously.

“Lord our God – Help us to go on – to persevere – to be faithful – to be gracious and loving – knowing that You will never let us down – nor fail us – nor disappoint us. We trust You and we worship You, in and through our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ – trusting You to lead us and guide us as we serve. Amen”

"'Winging It" from Stan Smith

Thorn in the Flesh