A Sincere Prayer

David’s Prayer (Psalm 119)

So how is your Prayer life?

Are you comfortable praying to God?

Is it just a routine? Are you sincere?

Many times I have read various psalms. It was not until recently when I read it in full Context, did I realize that Psalm 119 was a personal prayer between King David and the LORD. I found this to be a heart felt sincere prayer from David.

It is interesting to note that he talked about many things. As we look at a few sections of this prayer, I think it would be wise to meditate on the various situations brought to light, and compare our prayers to them.

Psalm 119 is a long psalm with 176 verses, so we will only be able to touch o n a few of them. Reviewing an entire sections at a time will be the best way to keep everything in context.

The sections of this Psalm are organized in a poetic style where they form an acrostic. Every section begins with the next letter in the Hebrew alphabet.

So let us begin...

Aleph (Happiness)

So how do we know how we are supposed to act?

How do we know how we are supposed to make choices?

What are the general principals to live by?

What does God expect from us?

Psalm 119:1–8 “ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, Who walk in the law of the Lord. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, And that seek him with the whole heart. They also do no iniquity: They walk in his ways. Thou hast commanded us To keep thy precepts diligently. O that my ways were directed To keep thy statutes! Then shall I not be ashamed, When I have respect unto all thy commandments. I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, When I shall have learned thy righteous judgments. I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.”

Let us discus terms used so we do not get confused:

Commandment: Law from GOD / direct order

Testimonies: an ordinance (maintain order). God’s standard of conduct.

Statutes: a regulation (to regulate) designed to follow the Laws/Commandments

Precepts: rule, guiding principal or requirement meant to govern daily life.

Commandment: Law from GOD / direct order Testimonies: an ordinance(maintain order).. God’s standard of conduct. Statutes: a regulation (to regulate) designed to follow the Laws/Commandments Precepts: rule, guiding principal or requirement meant to govern daily life.

Psalm 119:1 “ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, Who walk in the law of the Lord.”

So the first word used is “Blessed” which is the English translation of ‘Aye sear’ which means happy.

Happy is the person who is without blemish in the direction they are to go.

They go without blemish when they follow God’s commandments.

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

People are happy when they keep God’s standard of conduct. And honestly follow Him.

Psalm 119:3 “They also do no iniquity: They walk in his ways.”

People are happy when not caught up in sin. They walk a good/safe path that God would like them to walk.

Psalm 119:4 “Thou hast commanded us To keep thy precepts diligently.”

People have been directed to work hard at following His guiding principals for daily life.

Psalm 119:5–6 “O that my ways were directed To keep thy statutes! Then shall I not be ashamed, When I have respect unto all thy commandments.”

directed: a steady or Fixed path, a firm way. (not wavering)

David wishes that he could go without breaking one of God’s commands. Does he wish it was easier to not break one? (that he could do them automatically)

David wouldn’t be ashamed if he was able to keep them without failing. Don’t we wish we could be the same way?

Psalm 119:7–8 “I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, When I shall have learned thy righteous judgments. I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.”

Righteous judgements: evaluating a situation and acting objectively and morally.

David is saying he would be able to be honestly doing well following God, when he learns how to evaluate his path and how to walk it.

Don’t forsake: Don’t leave me on my own.

Beth (Clean)

So how does a person maintain a pure lifestyle?

How does a person cleanse themself when they mess up?

David reaffirms how to live.

Psalm 119:9–16 “BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, That I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O Lord: Teach me thy statutes. With my lips have I declared All the judgments of thy mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, As much as in all riches. I will meditate in thy precepts, And have respect unto thy ways. I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.”

Psalm 119:9 “BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word.”

David reaffirms if he follows God’s direction he can live clean.

And by following God’s word he can cleanse himself from effects of a sin...

Psalm 119:10 “With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.”

David shares that he is truly trying to seek God.

David asks God to help him walk correctly, and not stumble.

Psalm 119:11–12 “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, That I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O Lord: Teach me thy statutes.”

David understands that as he learns God’s ways, he can live better, so he asks God to teach him.

Psalm 119:13–14 “With my lips have I declared All the judgments of thy mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, As much as in all riches.”

David values the words of God. He speaks them aloud.

David feels they are a treasure to him.

Psalm 119:15–16 “I will meditate in thy precepts, And have respect unto thy ways. I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.”

David learns and meditates on God’s guiding principals in order to apply them.

He cherishes them and vows not to forget them.

Caph (Save me)

Psalm 119:81–88 “CAPH. My soul fainteth for thy salvation: But I hope in thy word. Mine eyes fail for thy word, Saying, When wilt thou comfort me? For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; Yet do I not forget thy statutes. How many are the days of thy servant? When wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me? The proud have digged pits for me, Which are not after thy law. All thy commandments are faithful: They persecute me wrongfully; help thou me. They had almost consumed me upon earth; But I forsook not thy precepts. Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; So shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.”

Psalm 119:81–82 “CAPH. My soul fainteth for thy salvation: But I hope in thy word. Mine eyes fail for thy word, Saying, When wilt thou comfort me?”

David cries out to God to intervene and help/save him.

He keeps faith in God’s word, but is looking for his comfort to him.

(like in Dad’s arms?)

Psalm 119:83 “For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; Yet do I not forget thy statutes.”

David is saying that he is being worn down by the situation he is in, yet he is trusting God’s regulations of how to live.

Psalm 119:84–87 “How many are the days of thy servant? When wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me? The proud have digged pits for me, Which are not after thy law. All thy commandments are faithful: They persecute me wrongfully; help thou me. They had almost consumed me upon earth; But I forsook not thy precepts.”

David is worried about the bad people around him trying to hurt him.

David points out that they don’t fear God.

David states that he has done nothing wrong or deserving to be hurt.

He still holds onto God’s guiding principals for daily living.

Psalm 119:88 “Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; So shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.”

Revive me...You are Good....I will listen to You!!! I will keep your standards for living. (What standards did he follow?)

Koph (Prayer Time)

Psalm 119:145–152 “KOPH. I cried with my whole heart; Hear me, O Lord: I will keep thy statutes. I cried unto thee; save me, And I shall keep thy testimonies. I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word. Mine eyes prevent the night watches, That I might meditate in thy word. Hear my voice according unto thy lovingkindness: O Lord, quicken me according to thy judgment. They draw nigh that follow after mischief: They are far from thy law. Thou art near, O Lord; And all thy commandments are truth. Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old That thou hast founded them for ever.”

Psalm 119:145–146 “KOPH. I cried with my whole heart; Hear me, O Lord: I will keep thy statutes. I cried unto thee; save me, And I shall keep thy testimonies.”

Again, David cries out to God to intervene and help/save him.

He still keeps faith in God’s word.

Psalm 119:147–148 “I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word. Mine eyes prevent the night watches, That I might meditate in thy word.”

David is sharing that he comes to meditate on God’s word and pray to God before the sun comes up, and before night watches times.

(wake, 9am, noon, 3pm, 6pm, bed, midnight)

Psalm 119:164 “Seven times a day do I praise thee Because of thy righteous judgments.”

Psalm 119:149 “Hear my voice according unto thy lovingkindness: O Lord, quicken me according to thy judgment.”

Again he requests: Revive me...You are Good....

Revive me according to how You judge it to be. (He lets God decide..)

Psalm 119:150 “They draw nigh that follow after mischief: They are far from thy law.”

He is surrounded by troublemakers that don’t listen to God.

Psalm 119:151–152 “Thou art near, O Lord; And all thy commandments are truth. Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old That thou hast founded them for ever.”

He understands that God’s rule are a true standard and will last forever.

Tau (My Prayer)

Psalm 119:169–176 “TAU. Let my cry come near before thee, O Lord: Give me understanding according to thy word. Let my supplication come before thee: Deliver me according to thy word. My lips shall utter praise, When thou hast taught me thy statutes. My tongue shall speak of thy word: For all thy commandments are righteousness. Let thine hand help me; For I have chosen thy precepts. I have longed for thy salvation, O Lord; And thy law is my delight. Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; And let thy judgments help me. I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; For I do not forget thy commandments.”

Psalm 119:169–170 “TAU. Let my cry come near before thee, O Lord: Give me understanding according to thy word. Let my supplication come before thee: Deliver me according to thy word.”

He says: Hear me God

Use your word to teach me understanding/wisdom

Help me, like Your WORD states that You will

Psalm 119:171–172 “My lips shall utter praise, When thou hast taught me thy statutes. My tongue shall speak of thy word: For all thy commandments are righteousness.”

After you teach me your standards of life, I will praise you.

All Your laws are good and right.

Psalm 119:173 “Let thine hand help me; For I have chosen thy precepts.”

Help me.. I am following Your day to day directions.

Psalm 119:174–175 “I have longed for thy salvation, O Lord; And thy law is my delight. Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; And let thy judgments help me.”

I desire your saving.. I choose to follow your direction and guidance.

If you protect me and look after me.. I will keep praising you with my breath.

Let your decisions help me. (He knows God judges right)

Psalm 119:176 “I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; For I do not forget thy commandments.”