Psalm 119 Daleth | HSB Series
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The Word will take us from clinging to dust to kicking it up!
The Word will take us from clinging to dust to kicking it up!
Psalm 119:25–32 (KJV 1900)
25 DALETH. My soul cleaveth unto the dust: Quicken thou me according to thy word. 26 I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: Teach me thy statutes. 27 Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: So shall I talk of thy wondrous works. 28 My soul melteth for heaviness: Strengthen thou me according unto thy word. 29 Remove from me the way of lying: And grant me thy law graciously. 30 I have chosen the way of truth: Thy judgments have I laid before me. 31 I have stuck unto thy testimonies: O Lord, put me not to shame. 32 I will run the way of thy commandments, When thou shalt enlarge my heart.
25 DALETH. My soul cleaveth unto the dust: Quicken thou me according to thy word.
26 I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: Teach me thy statutes.
27 Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: So shall I talk of thy wondrous works.
28 My soul melteth for heaviness: Strengthen thou me according unto thy word.
29 Remove from me the way of lying: And grant me thy law graciously.
30 I have chosen the way of truth: Thy judgments have I laid before me.
31 I have stuck unto thy testimonies: O Lord, put me not to shame.
32 I will run the way of thy commandments, When thou shalt enlarge my heart.
Troubled Soul
Troubled Soul
The Psalmist is not sure whether he can go on.
What does he do in that situation? He lifts up his soul to God.
Psalm 119:25 “25 DALETH. My soul cleaveth unto the dust: Quicken thou me according to thy word.”
25 DALETH. My soul cleaveth unto the dust: Quicken thou me according to thy word.
Psalm 119:28 “28 My soul melteth for heaviness: Strengthen thou me according unto thy word.”
28 My soul melteth for heaviness: Strengthen thou me according unto thy word.
Whatever we do, or whatever our state may be, let us deal candidly with God & declare to Him our whole case. - William Plumer
Not about information but about living honestly before the Lord.
Not about information but about living honestly before the Lord.
If we are sad, the Lord can cheer us. If we are in the dark, the Lord can give us light. If we have no strength, He can strengthen us. If our wants are many, He can supply them. If we are shut up & cannot come forth, He can enlarge us. Whatever is our case, let us state it all ... before the Lord.
Psalm 119:27 “27 Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: So shall I talk of thy wondrous works.”
27 Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: So shall I talk of thy wondrous works.
Quicken Me: Bring me to life according to your Word
Quicken Me: Bring me to life according to your Word
Revive Me
Revive Me
Psalm 119:25 “25 DALETH. My soul cleaveth unto the dust: Quicken thou me according to thy word.”
25 DALETH. My soul cleaveth unto the dust: Quicken thou me according to thy word.
This is something the psalmist knows he can't do for himself.
Have you ever been there? You were at the point you didn’t know how you would go on. You were ready for it to be over & you couldn't go on? So you call out to God, revive me!
He’s crying out to God as he lies face down on the ground. He’s sunk to the dust under the crushing weight of trouble & grief.
Adam was created out of the dust of the earth & dust is often associated in the OT with Sheol, the place of the dead.
The point is that our God can bring life from death! Exodus 8:19 “19 Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had said.”
19 Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had said.
By your Word
By your Word
Psalm 119:28 “28 My soul melteth for heaviness: Strengthen thou me according unto thy word.”
28 My soul melteth for heaviness: Strengthen thou me according unto thy word.
Revival, in the biblical sense, is marked by an awareness of sin & an urgency to confess & make things right. Psalm 119:26 “26 I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: Teach me thy statutes.”
26 I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: Teach me thy statutes.
Such comfort in the words. Thou heardest me. John 10:28-29 “28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.”
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
Understanding that the life of the faithful is in God's hand & under His protection is vital to your revival & being strengthened.
and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.”
Make Me: Teach me and I will speak of your great name.
Make Me: Teach me and I will speak of your great name.
Psalm 119:27 “27 Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: So shall I talk of thy wondrous works.”
27 Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: So shall I talk of thy wondrous works.
He wants God to cause him to understand the way of God’s precepts. He longs to not just know, but to understand, God’s Word to such an extent that it transforms his whole life, inwardly & outwardly.
Two words God loves to hear from us are these: Teach me
Psalm 119:12 “12 Blessed art thou, O Lord: Teach me thy statutes.”
12 Blessed art thou, O Lord: Teach me thy statutes.
The written Word of God & the activity of the Spirit of God go together.
The Spirit speaks through the Word that He inspired.
Ecc 4:13 “13 Better is a poor
13 Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.
Strengthen Me
Strengthen Me
Psalm 119:28 “28 My soul melteth for heaviness: Strengthen thou me according unto thy word.”
28 My soul melteth for heaviness: Strengthen thou me according unto thy word.
It’s as if his soul is melting away in the shedding of his tears.
Story of Elijah in 1 Kgs 19.
1 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time. 3 And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beer-sheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there. 4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers. 5 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. 6 And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. 7 And the angel of the Lord came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. 8 And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God. 9 And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? 10 And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. 11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: 12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. 13 And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah? 14 And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. 15 And the Lord said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria: 16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room. 17 And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay. 18 Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him. 19 So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him. 20 And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee? 21 And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.
Elijah prays for revival. God brings fire down from heaven.
So excited he outruns a chariot to the capital to wait for the nationwide revival.
He is met with this message. 1 Kings 19:2 “2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.”
2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.
God strengthen Elijah. I Kings 19:6 “6 And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.”
6 And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.
Side note: Reminded this is also the chapter he meets Elisha. We never know when God will bring people into our lives that will multiply our life’s investment. 1 Kings 19:19 “19 So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.”
19 So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.
Strength is available
Strength is available
God will strengthen by feeding upon His Word. Psalm 138:3 “3 In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, And strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.”
3 In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, And strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.
When we are most aware of our utter helplessness & most reliant on God’s strength, it is then that the soul that weeps because of grief is strengthened. 2 Cor 12:9 “9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Remove me: Protect me from lies and provide for me your law.
Remove me: Protect me from lies and provide for me your law.
Psalm 119:29 “29 Remove from me the way of lying: And grant me thy law graciously.”
29 Remove from me the way of lying: And grant me thy law graciously.
This is done by the grace of God exercising itself through His written Word.
As we saw last week. Psalm 119:9 “9 BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word.”
9 BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word.
God’s law is a gift
God’s law is a gift
Psalm 119:29 “29 Remove from me the way of lying: And grant me thy law graciously.”
29 Remove from me the way of lying: And grant me thy law graciously.
The only way to expel the lie is to accept the truth of God & His Word.
Grant me Your law graciously that I might conform to its directions.
If the law be not in our hearts the lie will enter. - Spurgeon
Shame me not
Shame me not
Psalm 119:31 “31 I have stuck unto thy testimonies: O Lord, put me not to shame.”
31 I have stuck unto thy testimonies: O Lord, put me not to shame.
“There's an old saying in Tennessee — I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again.”
This aversion to shame has been & will continue to be seen throughout this psalm (6, 31, 46, 80, 116).
Shame is the result of wandering from the faithful path.
The only way to escape shame is by making God & His Word the priority of our lives.
Shame call to hide
Shame call to hide
Shame calls us to hide like the woman at the well.
But just because pride moves us to hide our shame in the wrong places doesn’t mean that our instinct to hide is completely wrong. It isn’t.
We do need a place to hide, but we need to hide in the right place.
And there is only one place to hide that offers the protection we seek, where all our shame is covered and we no longer need to fear: the refuge of Jesus Christ Hebrews 6:18-20 “18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: 19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; 20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.”
18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: 19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; 20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Enlarge my heart
Enlarge my heart
Psalm 119:32 “32 I will run the way of thy commandments, When thou shalt enlarge my heart.”
32 I will run the way of thy commandments, When thou shalt enlarge my heart.
Confessing, Clinging, Choosing to Run
Confessing, Clinging, Choosing to Run
When his heart is set free from the constraint of trouble & anxiety, the psalmist will use his liberty for more energetic service.
An enlarged heart is a soul that has been strengthened through the steady intake of God’s Word.
In the beginning of this section he’s clinging to the dust (25). By the end he’s clinging to God’s Word.
He’s moved in a beautiful progression from confessing to choosing to clinging to running.
That's the response & the resolution of the believer to God's grace & power in the way of godliness. Hebrews 12:1 “1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,”
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Conclusion
Conclusion
What a change from vs 25 to vs 32. From cleaving to the dust to running in God’s will.
How is this possible?
According to God’s Word.
Feel like you are melting? He will strengthen you!
Feel like our clinging to dust? The Word will teach you how to stand up and run!