Because the psalmist is living his life according to the precepts of God’s Word, he is able to rejoice in the life God has laid out before him. This Psalm is truly the “Song of the Joyful Sojourner” as we see the psalmist navigate his way through the unexpected turns and potential pitfalls of life. I pray that you will sense the joy of the psalmist, even when despairing, as we continue our excursion by looking at the fourth grouping of 8 verses under the heading of the fourth letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
(Daleth) – The fourth letter of the Hebrew alphabet begins this 8-verse section
This section begins with the psalmist admitting his discouragement and even despair as he faces unimaginable grief. In the first verse, he confesses his pain, and asks God to revive him:
My soul cleaves to the dust; revive me according to Your word (vs 25).
Whatever he was facing, he admitted to God that his soul was “clinging to the dust,” suggesting that he was feeling that his soul was close to entering the grave. Certainly, we have all had those desperate times when we have felt that our soul was on the brink of death (at least, metaphorically). Maybe some of you are there right now. So how did the psalmist respond to his dilemma? He asked God to revive him! But notice that he was not looking for a simple “picker-upper,” but he cried out to God to revive him “according to His Word.” Yes, he was looking to be revived by reading and meditating on the truths and promises found in God’s Word. He knew that if he kept his life in line with those truths and promises, he would be revived, as will each of us in times of trial.
I have told of my ways, and You have answered me; Teach me Your statutes (vs 26).
The psalmist declared that he had “told of his ways,” and at first glance, we might think that he was telling others of the path he had chosen to walk. However, at second glance, it is more likely that he had told God of his ways, and God had answered him by allowing him to continue living his life according to His precepts. He was transparent and honest with God, as we should all be. Furthermore, he wanted God to teach him more of the many truths found in God’s Word. And this is true for us as well. There are many truths in God’s Word for us to mine, just like a miner searching for gold or silver. We need to continue “digging” into His Word for gems of truth that will enlighten our path.
Make me understand the way of Your precepts, So I will meditate on Your wonders (vs 27).
Haven’t we all asked God this question: “Why do You want me to keep this commandment?” Or “Why do You want me to walk according to this path?” Well, I’m pretty sure the psalmist asked the same “why” questions, and so that is just what he did. Before God could answer his “why” questions, the psalmist responded by saying that he would meditate on God’s wonders, that is, the wonderful things that God had done for the nation: Passover in Egypt; Crossing the Sea (probably the Gulf of Aqaba); Receiving manna and water in the wilderness; Crossing the Jordan River and entering the Promised Land; Conquering Jericho; etc. etc. And I’m sure the psalmist was thinking of the many ways in which God had demonstrated His wonders in his own life. Indeed, we have all seen God do wonderful things in our lives, and when we meditate on and praise Him for all He has done, it helps us understand His holiness and the reasons for His precepts.
My soul weeps because of grief; Strengthen me according to Your word (vs 28).
In the first verse in this section, the psalmist spoke of his soul cleaving to the dust, and now he speaks of it weeping with grief. Again, we have all faced times of discouragement and grief, and that is why the psalmist asked for strength, but that strength had to be “according to His Word.” The psalmist is focusing on God’s character and on His promises, both of which are revealed in His Word. Living in the New Covenant, we are reminded of the Apostle Paul’s experience when he said: “When I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10) because he learned to rely on God’s strength working in and through him and not on his own strength.
Remove the false way from me; And graciously grant me Your law (vs 29).
Another request came from the lips of the psalmist, and this time it was for God to remove any deceitfulness or any attempt at deception in his life, as he realized that these would only lead to destruction. And, of course, he asked the LORD to replace these tendencies with wisdom and understanding about God’s path, which is in line with His commandments. Notice the passion in the words of the psalmist – he wanted nothing to do with any “false” way, but instead, he desperately desired God’s way, the way of truth.
I have chosen the faithful way; I have placed Your ordinances before me (vs 30).
The psalmist had made a choice, and that choice was to follow God’s way. It was the way of faithfulness and truth. And in order to follow His way, he knew that he had to constantly keep His commandments at the forefront of his mind. Likewise, if you and I desire to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, then we need to keep His Word constantly in our hearts and minds.
I cling to Your testimonies; O Lord, do not put me to shame (vs 31)!
To cling gives us the sense of grasping and desperately holding on to the LORD’s testimonies. I think that we can all imagine in our minds someone holding on to a rock ledge “for dear life,” and the psalmist surely felt the same way about holding on to God’s Word. In fact, he considered it a matter of “life and death.” Along with this, he knew that if he didn’t hang on “for dear life,” then he would be put to shame by suffering the embarrassment of claiming to be a follower of the LORD but not keeping His commandments. Being identified as a “hypocrite” was the last thing he wanted, and so he decided to cling to the Word of God. Such sentiment should be ours as well.
I shall run the way of Your commandments; For You will enlarge my heart (vs 32).
And as the psalmist closed this section, he made a commitment to “run” in the way of the LORD’s commandments. I sense that he would not only run “to” them, but also “in” the way of them. He experienced the joy of knowing God through His Word, and that knowledge would “enlarge” his heart by expanding his knowledge of and his passion for God and His Word.
We can learn so much from the life of the “Joyful Sojourner.” Even in times of grief and despair, his constant focus was upon God and His Word. May our lives reflect the life of the psalmist so that we might also live a life like the “Joyful Sojourner.”
Hope to see you next week.
