Tuesday, January 09
Down But Not Out
Psalm 119:25-32
Daleth
25 My soul clings to the dust; Revive me according to Your word.
26 I have declared my ways, and You answered me; Teach me Your statutes.
27 Make me understand the way of Your precepts; So shall I meditate on Your wondrous works.
28 My soul melts from heaviness; Strengthen me according to Your word.
29 Remove from me the way of lying, And grant me Your law graciously.
30 I have chosen the way of truth; Your judgments I have laid before me.
31 I cling to Your testimonies; O LORD, do not put me to shame!
32 I will run the course of Your commandments, For You shall enlarge my heart.
Psalm 119:25-32 is the fourth stanza of this psalm, and every line or verse begins with the fourth letter of the Hebrew alphabet “Daleth”, in the Hebrew Bible. The previous stanza or section ended with the psalmist delighting in God's Word, and this one opens with him down in the dust! The enemy attacks us the hardest when we are enjoying the blessings of God, and we must expect it. When things are going well and we "feel good," it is dangerous to relax and lay aside the armor (Eph. 6:10-18). "We must be as watchful after the victory as before the battle," said Andrew Bonar, and he was right. When he found himself down, the psalmist knew what to do—he prayed!
The first thing he prayed for was for the LORD to, "Revive me" (v. 25). Remember back in verse 23, his enemies were slandering his name. Later we read in verse 61, they were restricting him, lying about him (v. 69), causing him to suffer (v. 83) and be despised (v. 141), and even threatening his life (v. 109). So it is no wonder that he felt like an insect in the dust. But when we seem to be at our worst, the Lord comes along with the very best and gives us the grace that we need. Remember the Apostle Paul’s testimony in 2 Corinthians 1:3-11 and in 12:1-10.
The Hebrew word for “revive" is sometimes translated, “preserve my life," but much more is involved in this request. It involves saving his life, of course, but also invigorating him and breathing new life within him. The psalmist prayed this prayer often (vv. 25, 37, 40, 50, 88, 93, 107, 149, 154, 56, 159), and the Lord answered him each time.
He also prayed, “Teach me" (vv. 26-27). Too often we ask, "How can I get out of this trouble?" when we should be asking, "What can I get out of this experience?" In times of trouble, we need God's wisdom lest we waste our suffering (James 1:2-8). The psalmist knew there were still lessons to learn in the school of life and he did not want to miss them. He talked to the Lord about what was happening to him, and the Lord answered by giving him wisdom and strength. By faith, he expected to see God's wonders displayed in the midst of his battles.
He prayed, "Strengthen me" (vv. 28-30). Throughout the psalm, the writer makes it clear that he is suffering because of his commitment to God and His Word (vv. 28, 50, 67, 71, 75, 83, 92, 107, 143, 153). He was actually risking his life to obey the Lord (v. 109). Yet he did not rage against his enemies and seek to destroy them; rather, he wept over them and turned them over to God (vv. 115, 136). All he wanted was strength to keep on living for the Lord and magnifying His Word. He discovered that God's grace was indeed all that he needed (2 Cor. 12:9). He would walk in the way of God's truth and avoid the enemy's way of deception (vv. 29-30, 104, 128). When we find ourselves pressured by the enemy, our first response is usually to pray that God will change them, when perhaps our best response would be that God would change us and enable us to overcome.
He then prayed, "Defend me" (vv. 31-32). The writer did not want to bring shame to the name of the Lord (vv. 31, 46, 78, 80), so he turned the situation over to Him by faith. If we think up clever schemes to defend ourselves and slander others, then the Lord will not be able to defend us (Rom. 12:17-21). As we hold to His Word and trust His promises, the Lord is able to work in His way and in His time. Faith delivers us from the confinement of the enemy's plots and sets us free to enjoy a larger place. The psalmist has gone from biting the dust (v. 25) to running freely in the way of the Lord! (See vv. 45, 96; 4:1 and 18:36.)
The Word of God and prayer are inseparable. I like what Oswald Chambers said, It is not so much that prayer changes things, but that prayer changes me, and I change things!”
God bless!