psalm 119:33

33 - Teach me, O Lord, 

the way of thy statutes: 

and I shall keep it

unto the end.

A child-like cry from an old, experienced soul: "Teach me!"

Age taught that one never reaches the end of learning.

"Instruction from above is necessary for the children of God,

while they continue in this world.

The more we know, the more we shall desire to know;

we shall beg a daily supply of grace, as well as bread...

Religion is the art of holy living, and then only known when it is practiced;

as he is not a master of music who can read the notes which compose it,

but he who has learnt to take a lesson readily

from the book, 

and play it on his instrument; 

after which the pleasure it affords will be sufficient motive for continuing to do so."

~George Horne

© 2012 by Melani Brady Shock

psalm 119:33

33 - Teach me, O Lord, 

the way of thy statutes: 

and I shall keep it

unto the end.

A child-like cry from an old, experienced soul: "Teach me!"

Age taught that one never reaches the end of learning.

"Instruction from above is necessary for the children of God,

while they continue in this world.

The more we know, the more we shall desire to know;

we shall beg a daily supply of grace, as well as bread...

Religion is the art of holy living, and then only known when it is practiced;

as he is not a master of music who can read the notes which compose it,

but he who has learnt to take a lesson readily

from the book, 

and play it on his instrument; 

after which the pleasure it affords will be sufficient motive for continuing to do so."

~George Horne

© 2012 by Melani Brady Shock

psalm 119:32

32 - I will run 

the way of thy commandments,

when thou shalt

enlarge my heart.

The word "enlarge" comes from "rachab" in Hebrew, meaning "to become wide, spacious."  "Heart" comes from "leb," which carries the connotation of the inner man, the mind, understanding.

When will we learn that "his ways are higher than our ways and his thoughts are higher than our thoughts" (Is. 55:9)?

The Psalmist says that God Himself must widen my understanding before I can run in the way of His commandment.  Only God can broaden my mind, make my understanding wider, enlarge my concept of this whole soul thing.  And then, I will be able to run in the broad space.  Then I will be able to confidently state without a doubt who He is, who I am, and what He is asking of me.

The word "run" (ruwts) implies that the obstacles are removed, the difficulties are lifted, the path is cleared.  Proverbs 4:7 talks about making sure we get understanding with all of our wisdom.  (I blogged about that on quest miles--you can read about it at http://questmiles.blogspot.com/2012/03/with-all-thy-getting.html ).  I must have God's voice to enlarge my heart.  I must have God's voice to gain understanding to accompany the wisdom.  I must have God's voice to reveal to me the life in His Word for me for today.

"To others, David might appear to be speeding marvelously along the path of life; 

yet he himself deemed his movements far less rapid.  

His humility was one of the evidences of his holiness."

~Hugh B. Moffatt, 1871

"The running Christians are comparatively few; 

walking and sitting Christians are comparatively common; 

but the running Christian is so uncommon 

as often to be though almost mad." 

~Philip Bennett Power, 1862

How dangerous for us to depend on our own understanding to advance.  We will only gain territory by running the way of HIS commands.  "...enlarge my heart."  I must depend on God for my every directive.  

My prayer: Don't let me run until you have given me space to run!

© 2012 by Melani Brady Shock

psalm 119:32

32 - I will run 

the way of thy commandments,

when thou shalt

enlarge my heart.

The word "enlarge" comes from "rachab" in Hebrew, meaning "to become wide, spacious."  "Heart" comes from "leb," which carries the connotation of the inner man, the mind, understanding.

When will we learn that "his ways are higher than our ways and his thoughts are higher than our thoughts" (Is. 55:9)?

The Psalmist says that God Himself must widen my understanding before I can run in the way of His commandment.  Only God can broaden my mind, make my understanding wider, enlarge my concept of this whole soul thing.  And then, I will be able to run in the broad space.  Then I will be able to confidently state without a doubt who He is, who I am, and what He is asking of me.

The word "run" (ruwts) implies that the obstacles are removed, the difficulties are lifted, the path is cleared.  Proverbs 4:7 talks about making sure we get understanding with all of our wisdom.  (I blogged about that on quest miles--you can read about it at http://questmiles.blogspot.com/2012/03/with-all-thy-getting.html ).  I must have God's voice to enlarge my heart.  I must have God's voice to gain understanding to accompany the wisdom.  I must have God's voice to reveal to me the life in His Word for me for today.

"To others, David might appear to be speeding marvelously along the path of life; 

yet he himself deemed his movements far less rapid.  

His humility was one of the evidences of his holiness."

~Hugh B. Moffatt, 1871

"The running Christians are comparatively few; 

walking and sitting Christians are comparatively common; 

but the running Christian is so uncommon 

as often to be though almost mad." 

~Philip Bennett Power, 1862

How dangerous for us to depend on our own understanding to advance.  We will only gain territory by running the way of HIS commands.  "...enlarge my heart."  I must depend on God for my every directive.  

My prayer: Don't let me run until you have given me space to run!

© 2012 by Melani Brady Shock

he got up!

   Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulcher, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.  And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulcher.  They entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
   And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments.  And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, "Why seek ye the living among the dead?  He is not here, but is risen!  Remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, saying, 'The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again?'"
   And they remembered his words.

Luke 24:1-8

© 2012 by Melani Brady Shock

he got up!

   Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulcher, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.  And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulcher.  They entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
   And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments.  And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, "Why seek ye the living among the dead?  He is not here, but is risen!  Remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, saying, 'The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again?'"
   And they remembered his words.

Luke 24:1-8

© 2012 by Melani Brady Shock

psalm 119:31

31 - I have stuck 

unto thy testimonies:

O Lord, put me not to shame.

The word "stuck" was translated from the Hebrew word, dabaq, which carries the meaning of "to cleave, to adhere." 

"It is not a little remarkable, that while the Psalmist says in Psalm 119:25, 'My soul cleaveth to the dust,' he should say here, 'I have cleaved unto thy testimonies'; for it is the same original word in both verses.  The thing is altogether compatible with the experience of the believer.  Within there is the body of indwelling sin, and within there is the undying principle of divine grace.  There is the contest between them 'the flesh lusteth against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh' (Galatians 5:17), and the believer is constrained to cry out, 'O wretched man that I am' (Romans 7:24).  It is the case; and all believers find it so.  While the should is many times felt cleaving to the dust, the spirit strives to cleave unto God's testimonies.  So the believer prays, 'Cause that I be not put to shame.'  And keeping close to Christ, brethren, you shall not be put to shame, world without end."

~John Stephen

© 2012 by Melani Brady Shock

psalm 119:31

31 - I have stuck 

unto thy testimonies:

O Lord, put me not to shame.

The word "stuck" was translated from the Hebrew word, dabaq, which carries the meaning of "to cleave, to adhere." 

"It is not a little remarkable, that while the Psalmist says in Psalm 119:25, 'My soul cleaveth to the dust,' he should say here, 'I have cleaved unto thy testimonies'; for it is the same original word in both verses.  The thing is altogether compatible with the experience of the believer.  Within there is the body of indwelling sin, and within there is the undying principle of divine grace.  There is the contest between them 'the flesh lusteth against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh' (Galatians 5:17), and the believer is constrained to cry out, 'O wretched man that I am' (Romans 7:24).  It is the case; and all believers find it so.  While the should is many times felt cleaving to the dust, the spirit strives to cleave unto God's testimonies.  So the believer prays, 'Cause that I be not put to shame.'  And keeping close to Christ, brethren, you shall not be put to shame, world without end."

~John Stephen

© 2012 by Melani Brady Shock

psalm 119:30

30 - I have chosen

the way of truth:

thy judgments have I

laid before me.

Digging a little deeper into the original language...

Chosen = to approve and select

Laid = to be equal, resemble

I have [selected and approved] the way of truth: 

thy judgments have I [made equal to me 

and made myself resemble].

We do not "fall" into holiness, we choose holiness.

We do not "fall" into truth, we choose truth.

We do not "fall" into discipleship, we choose discipleship.

We do not "fall" into making the right choice based on the Word of God, we must deliberately choose the right choice--every single time.

We do not "fall" into integrity, we choose integrity.

We do not "fall" into good company, we choose good company.

We do not "fall" into daily communion with Him, we choose daily communion with Him.

Men do not drop into the right way by chance; they must choose it, and continue to choose it, or they will soon wander from it.  Those whom God has chosen in due time must choose his way.  There is a doctrinal way of truth which we ought to choose, rejecting every dogma of man's devising; there is a ceremonial way of truth which we should follow, detesting all the forms which apostate churches have invented; and then there is a practical way of truth, the way of holiness, to which we must adhere whatever may be our temptation to forsake it.  Let our election be made, and made irrevocably.  Let us answer to all seducers, "I have chosen, and what I have chosen I have chosen." O Lord, by thy grace lead us with a hearty free will to choose to do thy will; thus shall thine eternal choice of us bring fort the end which it designs

~Charles Haddon Spurgeon

© 2012 by Melani Brady Shock

psalm 119:30

30 - I have chosen

the way of truth:

thy judgments have I

laid before me.

Digging a little deeper into the original language...

Chosen = to approve and select

Laid = to be equal, resemble

I have [selected and approved] the way of truth: 

thy judgments have I [made equal to me 

and made myself resemble].

We do not "fall" into holiness, we choose holiness.

We do not "fall" into truth, we choose truth.

We do not "fall" into discipleship, we choose discipleship.

We do not "fall" into making the right choice based on the Word of God, we must deliberately choose the right choice--every single time.

We do not "fall" into integrity, we choose integrity.

We do not "fall" into good company, we choose good company.

We do not "fall" into daily communion with Him, we choose daily communion with Him.

Men do not drop into the right way by chance; they must choose it, and continue to choose it, or they will soon wander from it.  Those whom God has chosen in due time must choose his way.  There is a doctrinal way of truth which we ought to choose, rejecting every dogma of man's devising; there is a ceremonial way of truth which we should follow, detesting all the forms which apostate churches have invented; and then there is a practical way of truth, the way of holiness, to which we must adhere whatever may be our temptation to forsake it.  Let our election be made, and made irrevocably.  Let us answer to all seducers, "I have chosen, and what I have chosen I have chosen." O Lord, by thy grace lead us with a hearty free will to choose to do thy will; thus shall thine eternal choice of us bring fort the end which it designs

~Charles Haddon Spurgeon

© 2012 by Melani Brady Shock