Psalm 119:37

(as many of you know) is the longest chapter in Scripture.

The psalmist celebrate the beauty and all the benefits of scripture in an acrostic of 22 stanzas

where each verse of a given stanza begins with the same letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

Our passage today goes from vv33-40.

Let’s walk through it a bit, "Teach me, Lord, the meaning of your statutes, and I will always keep them. "Help me understand your instruction, and I will obey it and follow it with all my heart.” ()

The prayer of the psalmist here is that God Himself would be his teacher.

He says, “Teach me, Lord, the meaning of Your statutes”.

He had prophets, and wise men all around him, priests too and he was himself, well instructed in the law of God

yet his desire is for God to teach him.

For those that God teaches His way and grants understanding the response in vv33-34 is,

"Teach me...and I will always keep them. "Help me understand ...and I will obey it and follow it with all my heart.”

We see the steadiness in their obedience, “I will always keep them.”

I will keep them to the end of my life, which will be the surest proof of sincerity!

If you’re travelling, it will not avail you to only stay on the road for a while.

You cannot complete your journey that way!

You see the tenderness in his obedience, “I will obey it and follow it with all my heart.”

Which ever way the whole heart goes the whole man goes!

And that way ought to be the way of God’s commands!

"Help me stay on the path of your commands, for I take pleasure in it. "Turn my heart to your decrees and not to dishonest profit.” ()

Pleasure (in v35) This is the joy derived from what is valuable.

v35 is a proper response when faced with obedience to God! “I take pleasure in it.”

Then in v36 he says, “Turn my heart”.

In addition to illumination, we need God’s Spirit to give spiritual life!

God must bend one’s heart toward obedience and away from disobedience.

Salvation is a work that affects the heart, transforming it and redirecting it.

The prophet prophesied that in the New Covenant that God would, “I will put my teaching within them and write it on their hearts. ...” ()

So we have this plea for God to turn our hearts and then the plea in v37 to

turn our eyes and then we come to the words I’d like for us to focus upon this morning.

“give me life in Your ways.”

We’re going to consider this simple PLEA under three simple headings.

A Clarification, Consequence, and Confidence.

FIRST, let’s have

A CLARIFICATION of the Plea.

The Psalmist asks for “life”. “Give me life”, he says.

Biblically this is understood several ways.

It could be the literal raising up of a dead body and is given life!

It could be as David, in , of restoring a body, that declined and decayed with sickness or sorrow, to cheer and vigorous new life!

Then there are the biblical metaphors we use of,

Taking a soul that is dead in transgressions and sins and that person being made alive by God,

quickened to life with Christ, by grace!

That’s the giving of life.

It also means the giving of life to the soul that’s become dull and drowsy.

Life and activity given to spiritually lazy and to those that are sluggish!

Think of the clarification under two sub headings of laziness and activity.

You have the lazy person who’s resolved.

When a person gets settled upon the garbage dump of sin and resolves to lie still in it.

Solomon wisely states, "A door turns on its hinges, and a slacker, on his bed.” ()

Just like a door turns on its hinges and never goes anywhere, so to, does the slacker!

You have the lazy person who’s delaying.

You have the lazy person who’s delaying.

When a person intends to look into the matters that pertain to their souls, but not yet.

They just want to borrow another day!

Much like the slacker in Prov. 6: "A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the arms to rest,” ()

When the slacker is called to arise in the morning, he resolves to do it,

He only wants a little more sleep and slumber.

Another short nap first and then they’ll do it.

As soon as we do this, I’ll commit to God.

As soon as we do that, I’ll commit to God.

Those foolish virgins (in ) who deferred oil for their lamps for later,

found themselves denied by Christ at His coming.

"“When they had gone to buy some, the groom arrived, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut.” ()

You have the lazy person who’s hindering.

Or the fool in who had so much he didn’t know what to do with it all.

He says, "I will do this,’ he said. ‘I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones and store all my grain and my goods there. "Then I’ll say to myself, “You have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy; eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.” ’” ()

“Take it easy; eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.” that Hebrew phrase is to imply that

he has all that is necessary for gratifying all his senses and all his desires.

"“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is demanded of you. And the things you have prepared—whose will they be?’’” ()

Alexander the great was asked how he came about to conquer the known world.

His response was this: “Never wilfully to postpone to a future time any thing which ought now to be done.”

If we’re to conquer more than the world, meaning satan and your own flesh (the worst and strongest enemy of all)

“Never wilfully to postpone to a future time any thing which ought now to be done.”

we must never postpone to a future time, anything which ought to be done now!

Activity in our duties is a victorious conquest over the great Goliath, laziness.

The Plea is asking for life in the ways of God.

What a shame it would be, dear believer, for a unsaved man, in his ways, to out do us, in God’s way!

Activity is a shield against becoming tepid and lukewarm laziness. "Do not lack diligence in zeal; be fervent in the Spirit; serve the Lord.” ()

Let’s fly upon the wings of the wind beloved! Our hearts must be as the central or

most important source of motion or action.

The text says, “fervent in spirit,” boiling or burning hot, all on fire and flame; “serving the Lord:”

“fervent in spirit,” boiling or burning hot, all on fire and flame; “serving the Lord:”

Then the next verse says, “be persistent in prayer.” which is strenuously and steadfastly wrestling with God, like Jacob did.

As last week, when we heard from Isaiah, "No one calls on your name, striving to take hold of you.” ()

You have the lazy person who’s hindering.

"Now we desire each of you to demonstrate the same diligence for [for what?]the full assurance of your hope until the end, "so that” [what? so that what?] “so that you won’t become lazy but will be imitators of those who inherit the promises through faith and perseverance.” ()

So in terms of Clarifying this plea, it’s a plea to stir up our lazy souls to diligence in the work of God

SECOND, we see

You have the lazy person who’s hindering.

SECOND, we see

The CONCLUSION of the Plea.

We can conclude that every saint is very apt to become lazy in the way and work of God.

The plea, “give me life” makes this conclusion plain.

Lord I’m like a dull knife! I’m worn out!

David as a case in point, the man after God’s own heart needed new life in the ways of the Lord!

We all become too earthly and we begin to weep and rejoice only over earthly things and temporal comforts etc.

Too often you leave the prayer meeting as if you’ve not even prayed.

You heard messages but you’re unmoved by the word of God and so it’s as if you hadn’t even heard anything!

You struggle to remember when you intentionally did anything to serve others, for the glory of God!

So how do we get rid of this unwelcomed guest of spiritual laziness?

Let me give you a whip of 6 strings to scourge this lazy beast out of us!

1st. Keep a strict watch over your eyes at all time, especially when you are serving!

The eye must be looked to, because it has been the window by which Satan has crept in,

and all manner of poison conveyed to the soul.

Our eyes are the portals that sin and satan come creeping in at.

The eye must be looked to, because it hath been the window by which Satan hath crept in, and all manner of poison conveyed to the soul.Our eyes are the portals that sin and satan come creeping in at.

We follow the godly example of Job laid out for us, "I have made a covenant with my eyes. How then could I look at a young woman?” ()

If you are to keep your house warm in winter you have to keep your doors and windows shut!

If you are to keep to love of God aflame in your duties, you keep the doors and windows of your eyes shut!

2nd. Send your sin packing!

2nd. Send your sin packing!

Sin gives way to laziness and laziness gives way to sin! It’s a two way street.

Laziness is the souls lethargy!

Lethargic Christians are drowsy, sleepy, negligent, and forgetful.

Sin numbs and stupefies the heart.

Take a knife and stab it into the ground repeatedly and it takes away the edge.

Take fire and heap dirt upon it and it deadens the heat!

Let earthly mindedness creep into your heart and what do you think is going to happen?

It takes the spiritual edge off, it deadens the heat of your zeal for God!

The disease of sin is said to, “plunge people into ruin and destruction.” ()

3rd. Frequently attend a life giving ministry.

plunge people into ruin and destruction.

3rd. Frequently attend a life given ministry.

In v50 of we read of God’s promise giving life to the psalmist. says, “For the word of God is living and effective...”

Not just in and of itself is it living and effective but in the virtue of and efficacy of it.

For the word of God is living and effective

God told the prophet Jeremiah, “I am going to make my words become fire in your mouth. ...” ().

I am going to make my words

become fire in your mouth.

We note fire. It is active by nature and when it gets around other materials it creates activity in those materials.

If one is laying in the cold winter, you bring them in, in front of the fire until they’re warmed and nimble again!

These people are the wood,

4th. Lay hold upon Christ, whose promise and office it is to make us lively and active.

and the fire will consume them.

Jesus said, "A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.” ()

4th. Lay hold upon Christ, whose promise and office it is to make us lively and active.

People with stiff joints take mineral baths, which heal and help them?

The blood of Christ is the most precious mineral hot-bath in the world.

Doubtless, He will cure and make alive all cold and dull, and lazy souls that come into Him!

It is the fountain (spoken of in ) opened up “to wash away sin and impurity.”

Laziness is a very foul and filthy impurity. “the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” ().

“

Laziness is the devils pillow that he lays his head on in the souls of men.

Come to Christ, who Peter calls the “Living Stone” and you shall come from Christ as “living stones” (,)

to wash away sin and impurity.”

the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”

5th. Cry out for live-giving love towards the ways of God!

I am sure, where love is in the heart, it will carry a man in the way of God with life.

Puritan Sermons, Volume 1 Qui Non Vult Fieri Desidiosus, Amet

I am sure, where love is in the heart, it will carry a man in the way of God with life.

I am sure, where love is in the heart, it will carry a man in the way of God with life.

How in the world did the apostles triumph in tribulations? "...because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit...” ()

Love turns all pains into pleasures, and perils into perfumes.

It was love that compelled the apostle to persuade others towards Christ and His gospel ().

Love is a grace like pregnancy. It’s always delivering some good task or another.

Paul’s exact words in are these, “For the love of Christ compels us”

For the love of Christ compels us”

Compelled by this love it says of Paul, “I worked harder than any of them” ().

Hard work described in in “I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum.”

I worked harder than any of them”

Jerusalem is the center point and the regions round about, a space that couldn’t be less that 4,000 miles.

I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum.”

Love compelled him to work harder than any other Apostle.

There was never a more fierce persecutor of the gospel, nor a more fervent propagator of the gospel:

the persecution came from his hatred against Christ,

the service proceeded from his love to Christ.

6th. Applying God’s promises.

"His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. "By these he has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire.” ()

Promises are steel spurs that will reach the dull heart to the quick.

The very great and precious promises communicate God’s nature to us and allows are nature to participate.

Hear how David presses against God. For God to be as good as His Word: "My life is down in the dust; give me life through your word.” () "I am severely afflicted; Lord, give me life according to your word.” () "Champion my cause and redeem me; give me life as you promised.” ()

"but those who trust in the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not become weary, they will walk and not faint.” ()

During times of trial to you believe that our God is able, willing, and true to mount you up upon those wings and fly you over difficulties?

Thus, we are assured of His assistance.

7th. Come under life-giving examples.

8th. (related to 7) is to Keep life-giving company.

9th. Consider life-giving thoughts.

10th. Consider Christ, in how active He was in His work

THIRD, we see

Our CONCLUSION about the Plea.

I draw one major and obvious conclusion: we all need this giving of life from God to shake us out of laziness.

How do we know that your service to the body and to your neighbors is wrought be the Spirit of God?

Let me just make four quick statements concerning this confidence.

(1.). It’s God’s option to hear prayer. "All humanity will come to you, the one who hears prayer.” () "The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is his delight.” ()

(2.) It’s God’s promise to hear prayer to those that are His: "...Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.” ()

Let us spread out our sails by prayer and He will fill them with His Spirit.

He will “give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him.” ().

(3.) It’s God usual course to perform His promise: "Lord, you have heard the desire of the humble; you will strengthen their hearts. You will listen carefully,” ()

(4.) It’s been the normal practice of God’s people to look after their prayers to see what if any success they have had.

Prayers don’t come out of the ark of their souls, as the raven did, never to return;

out of the ark of their souls, as the raven did, never to return; but, as Noah’s dove, to come back again with an olive-branch into the soul.

but, as Noah’s dove, to come back again with an olive-branch into the soul.

"I will listen to what God will say; surely the Lord will declare peace to his people, his faithful ones, ...” ()

I will put my teaching within them and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.

TWO. When our activity carries us above the reach of any creature.

For example, when dust is carried up on high, the wind does it;

It’s needed because our standing with God is brought into question w/out it.

dust is carried up on high, the wind does it; when dust and ashes are carried up on high in a duty, the wind of the Spirit does it.

when we, mere dust and ashes are carried up on high in any given task (like evangelism),

Peter says, “you yourselves, as living stones, a spiritual house, are being built” ()

the wind of the Spirit does it.

When Daniel shall continue active in prayer three times a day, with

his windows open, that all might see him, when there were lions in the way indeed; (;)—

It’s not enough to be a stone in Christ’s building, but we must be living stones.

you yourselves, as living stones, a spiritual house, are being built

when Luther in facing outward troubles shall have such inward enlargements,

that he comes off from his knees with a, “We have conquered! We have conquered!”

None but the Spirit of God could enable these things!

THREE. When we feel and find our hearts, after obeying, are filled with spiritual joys and heavenly comforts.

Jesus says, "“I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.” ()

With Jesus’s joy in you, it’s often like a merchant’s ship returning from the Indies,

loaded down as deep as possible, just enough to float upon, carrying all the varieties of spices and precious commodities.

Peter calls it, rejoicing “with inexpressible and glorious joy.” ().

W/out this life-giving power from God we cannot perform any of our tasks rightly.

This joy is one of the fruit of God’s Spirit that He works w/in us!

When we’re dead-hearted our obedience is just drudgery!

David, spending time in prayer asks, “Let the light of Your face shine on us, Lord.” (), then God loads down David’s merchant ship (in the next verse with, “You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and new wine abound.”

We must go to God and say,"Give me life in accordance with your faithful love, and I will obey the decree you have spoken.” ()

It’s not enough to pray, we’re to pray with life and vitality! "...revive us, and we will call on your name.” ()

No life given, no true obedience.

No reviving, no true prayer.

I believer that we’re all lead to the same conclusion.

We absolutely need God to grant this new life giving power into our church body!

To commend this conclusion to you, let this truth serve you both as a reproof and a exhortation.

REPROOF. David considers the dulness and deadness of his spirit, many people do not.

They just drudge forward in a cold track of duties, and never really stop and regard the frame of their hearts.

Most of us pay close attention to our bodies. We get a sniffle, we’re running for the z pack to boost our immune system.

Are you as diligent to manage your soul the same way?

If our bodies be ill or out of sorts, we’re in the hallway speaking about it or complaining about it,

but if your love for your brothers and sisters grows cold or your zeal for God begins to evaporate,

Your delighting in Him is diminishing and often times you never lay it to heart!

See this too as an exhortation.

I want to exhort you to seek after and attain this living frame of heart!

Pray for it and pursue it! Liveliness in our obedience both depends upon God’s blessing.

Unless He put life and keep life in our souls, all comes to nothing!

Come to God for this new life because of His Name’s sake: "For your name’s sake, Lord, let me live....” ()

Come to God because He’s merciful:"Your compassions are many, Lord; give me life...” ()

Come to Him on account of what Christ said, "... I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.” () "The one who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him.”” ()