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Teach Me Thy Statutes
"Teach me Thy statutes." This was the
heartfelt cry of the Psalmist throughout Psalm 119.
Is this the cry of your heart?
Do you have an insatiable desire to know
God's Word?
Do you give yourself daily to a diligent
study of its contents?
Are you teachable with a great desire to
learn more and more from His Law?
The Psalmist repeatedly cried out to God in
Psalm 119 - "Teach me Thy statutes."
And with each prayer, he included a reason
for his earnest plea.
1. Psalm 119:12 -
"Blessed art Thou, O LORD: teach me Thy statutes."
The Psalmist broke out into jubilant praise
to the Lord as the Author of such a wonderful Law which is so
good, holy, pure, rich in content, and well-suited to direct and guide
man.
2. Psalm 119:26 - "I
have declared my ways, and Thou heardest me: teach me Thy
statutes."
He poured out his heart before the
Lord - he "declared his ways."
He made mention of his cares, troubles, and
purposes.
Reserving or keeping nothing back, he laid
them all before the Almighty.
Resultantly, God listened - "Thou
heardest me."
In reaction to such understanding on
God's part, the Psalmist prayed to know his duty before Him -
"Teach me Thy statutes."
In other words, make known to me Your Will.
Tell me what You would have me to do. You have touched my heart in
hearing and answering my prayers. I want to obey You.
3. Psalm 119:64 - "The earth, O LORD, is full of Thy mercy: teach me Thy statutes."
Everywhere he looked, he saw the Marvelous
Goodness of the Lord. There is not a creature that is not a partaker
of it. Resultantly, this revelation of God's compassion and mercy for
all caused him to hunger for a greater knowledge of this Merciful
Redeemer and His Law.
4. Psalm 119:68 - "Thou
art good, and doest good; teach me Thy statutes."
Once again, the Psalmist recognized the
Goodness of the Lord and praised Him for it.
God is so Good. And because He is, He
delights to do Good.
This Songwriter was attracted to such a
Being.
He desired to know Him more and to be like
Him.
He desired to be Good and to do Good so that
he could live a Good life.
He cried out to Jesus -
"Teach me Thy statutes." Since
You are so Good, O God, and delight in doing Good, do this Good for me
- instruct me in my duty so that I may be like You.
5. Psalm 119:108 -
"Accept, I beseech Thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and
teach me Thy judgments."
The
"freewill offerings" were voluntary. They
were offered without restraint or compulsion.
Oftentimes, they consisted of flour, grain,
fruits, or property as being devoted to God.
However, in this case, the Psalmist
offered his prayer and praise as "freewill
offerings" to the Lord.
He offered the
"calves of his lips" - the
"fruit of his lips."
He offered them abundantly and cheerfully.
More than anything, he wanted God to
accept his gifts. Therefore, he cried out for instruction in knowing
God's ways - "Teach me Thy judgments"
- so that I may know what is acceptable in Your sight.
6. Psalm 119:135 -
"Make Thy face to shine upon Thy servant; and teach me Thy
statutes."
Above all else, this Writer desired
God's favor or approval on his life. He wanted to be accepted of Him. He
wanted the Lord to always look down upon him in love. Never wanting to
displease Him or lose His blessing upon his life, he cried out to God -
"Teach me Thy statutes."
In other words, instruct me out of Thy law as to what is pleasing and
acceptable in Your sight.
7. Psalm 119:171 - "My
lips shall utter praise, when Thou hast taught me Thy statutes."
An ever-increasing knowledge
of God excites ever-increasing praise.
Those who are instructed out of His Law have
more reason for which to offer Praise and Thanksgiving before Him.
"Teach me Thy statutes."
The Psalmist gave seven
reasons why he desired instruction from the Holy Word.
If you were to write down your
reasons, what would they be?
Our fundamental purpose for Divine
Instruction should always be so that we may worship God more and more.
We will praise Him in proportion to
our knowledge of Him and His ways.
The more we know of His will, the
more we will praise Him.
How often do you praise the
Lord? Or should we ask - how much of God's Word do you know?
Perhaps it's time like never before for you
to cry out to God to "Teach me Thy statutes" so that you
may worship Him and bring forth "freewill offerings" acceptable
in His sight
He is so Good and does Good. He is indeed
worthy of your adoration.
Don't allow ignorance of His Law any longer
to stand in the way of His deserved praise.
Earnestly plead with the
Lord - "Teach me Thy statutes."
May God Bless His Word. |
