psalm 119:29

29 - Remove from me

the way of lying:

and grant me thy law graciously.

It is interesting that David asked God to "remove from me" the way of lying instead of "remove me from" the way of lying.

He took ownership of his sin instead of blaming it on external circumstances.  Dear God, deliver us from the 21st century "victim mentality!"

Another interesting approach in this verse is his petition for God to "grant me thy law graciously."  David set aside his pride and asked God to pity him, to favor him with forgiveness.  He did not consider forgiveness his by right, but knew that it would be only by God's favor that He would reach into time and bring the dispensation of grace into David's dispensation (law) and forgive him.

Eternal words are timeless--they know no human boundaries.

"In the first clause you have his malady, David had been enticed to a course of lying.

In the second we have his remedy, and that is the law of God.

~Thomas Manton

© 2012 by Melani Brady Shock

psalm 119:29

29 - Remove from me

the way of lying:

and grant me thy law graciously.

It is interesting that David asked God to "remove from me" the way of lying instead of "remove me from" the way of lying.

He took ownership of his sin instead of blaming it on external circumstances.  Dear God, deliver us from the 21st century "victim mentality!"

Another interesting approach in this verse is his petition for God to "grant me thy law graciously."  David set aside his pride and asked God to pity him, to favor him with forgiveness.  He did not consider forgiveness his by right, but knew that it would be only by God's favor that He would reach into time and bring the dispensation of grace into David's dispensation (law) and forgive him.

Eternal words are timeless--they know no human boundaries.

"In the first clause you have his malady, David had been enticed to a course of lying.

In the second we have his remedy, and that is the law of God.

~Thomas Manton

© 2012 by Melani Brady Shock

psalm 119:28

28 - My soul melteth for heaviness:

strengthen thou me

according to thy word.

The word "melteth" comes from dalaph, a Hebrew word meaning "to drop or drip (to weep)." Heaviness is transcribed from tuwgah, a Hebrew word meaning "sorrow." Strengthen is transcribed from quwm, a Hebrew word meaning "to arise."

A melting heart--the ultimate state of depression.  The deepest depths.  A place where the hole is so deep and the night so black, no hope can survive.

The Psalmist knew that state.  I am personally familiar with that state.  So many of the prophets and those called and chosen by the Creator have known that state.  And millions of Americans and precious people who sit in the hallowed walls of our churches are there.  Perhaps you are there or have been there.

How many thousands of books have been written in some form on "How to Overcome Depression?"  If one would but dare claim it, the answer lies in one verse!

A prayer--a whispered plea from a desperate heart--a thin wail--"Strengthen thou me according to thy Word..."

"Strengthen" asks for more than strength to stay where you are.  The word means "to arise and go forward."  It says, "Let me walk OUT of here..."

"...according to thy Word!"  Metabolizing the Word gives us strength to climb from the black hole of hopelessness.  It's a process of eating!

If you are in the black of night, wrap yourself in the pages of ink that lives.  Eat it and metabolize it and walk into hope!

© 2012 by Melani Brady Shock

psalm 119:28

28 - My soul melteth for heaviness:

strengthen thou me

according to thy word.

The word "melteth" comes from dalaph, a Hebrew word meaning "to drop or drip (to weep)." Heaviness is transcribed from tuwgah, a Hebrew word meaning "sorrow." Strengthen is transcribed from quwm, a Hebrew word meaning "to arise."

A melting heart--the ultimate state of depression.  The deepest depths.  A place where the hole is so deep and the night so black, no hope can survive.

The Psalmist knew that state.  I am personally familiar with that state.  So many of the prophets and those called and chosen by the Creator have known that state.  And millions of Americans and precious people who sit in the hallowed walls of our churches are there.  Perhaps you are there or have been there.

How many thousands of books have been written in some form on "How to Overcome Depression?"  If one would but dare claim it, the answer lies in one verse!

A prayer--a whispered plea from a desperate heart--a thin wail--"Strengthen thou me according to thy Word..."

"Strengthen" asks for more than strength to stay where you are.  The word means "to arise and go forward."  It says, "Let me walk OUT of here..."

"...according to thy Word!"  Metabolizing the Word gives us strength to climb from the black hole of hopelessness.  It's a process of eating!

If you are in the black of night, wrap yourself in the pages of ink that lives.  Eat it and metabolize it and walk into hope!

© 2012 by Melani Brady Shock

psalm 119:27

27 - Make me to understand

the way of thy precepts:

so shall I talk 

of thy wondrous works.

"Make me to understand..." The word "talk" is translated from the Hebrew word "siyach" which means to speak or to sing, but also carries the meaning of "talking with one's self...meditating...pondering."

"Make me to understand..."

The three most dangerous words used in Bible study are "Well, I think..."

What we think is not even part of the equation! The bottom line is "What does HE think? What does the Word say?" The argument there is that the depths of the Word are bottomless, therefore it is beyond the grasp of human reasoning to comprehend the broad grasp of the commands of God. While this is absolutely true, there is revelation that comes to those who pay the price to consistently dig, pray, ponder, wait, ask, immerse, and become one with the Scriptures.

A foundational principle of the Word is that some revelation is only given by God himself in His time as He chooses. 1 Corinthians 2:13 plainly tells us that we can only learn some things by the Holy Ghost. This comes when we begin metabolizing the Word--ingesting it into our Spirits so much that it becomes part of the fiber of our being. When this happens, revelation begins opening up to us layer by layer as the Spirit leads us.

Beware of becoming impatient with the Word and seeking revelation from others who do not house the Spirit!

© 2012 by Melani Brady Shock

psalm 119:27

27 - Make me to understand

the way of thy precepts:

so shall I talk 

of thy wondrous works.

"Make me to understand..." The word "talk" is translated from the Hebrew word "siyach" which means to speak or to sing, but also carries the meaning of "talking with one's self...meditating...pondering."

"Make me to understand..."

The three most dangerous words used in Bible study are "Well, I think..."

What we think is not even part of the equation! The bottom line is "What does HE think? What does the Word say?" The argument there is that the depths of the Word are bottomless, therefore it is beyond the grasp of human reasoning to comprehend the broad grasp of the commands of God. While this is absolutely true, there is revelation that comes to those who pay the price to consistently dig, pray, ponder, wait, ask, immerse, and become one with the Scriptures.

A foundational principle of the Word is that some revelation is only given by God himself in His time as He chooses. 1 Corinthians 2:13 plainly tells us that we can only learn some things by the Holy Ghost. This comes when we begin metabolizing the Word--ingesting it into our Spirits so much that it becomes part of the fiber of our being. When this happens, revelation begins opening up to us layer by layer as the Spirit leads us.

Beware of becoming impatient with the Word and seeking revelation from others who do not house the Spirit!

© 2012 by Melani Brady Shock

psalm 119:26

26 - I have declared my ways,

and thou heardest me:

teach me thy statutes.

The word "declared" comes from a Hebrew word meaning "numbered, recounted."  "Heardest" comes from "respond, reply."

Those who "declare" their ways lay them all out before God. The daily actions, the personal thoughts and intents, and the sins. All of it.

Those who will know HIS ways must first tell Him THEIR ways--the good, the bad, and the ugly. He already knows...so why not just tell Him?

It is only after we fully declare ALL our ways to Him that we can be taught by Him. Anything less on our part results in self-deception.

My prayer is that I would be so honest with myself and God every single morning that I would recount and number my ways to Him. But repentance alone is not enough. I must then listen. I must then go to the Word and let it speak to my heart, my mind, my soul, my spirit. I must recount, then learn as He teaches.

Prayer and the Word are inseparable. If I pray without the Word, I am not listening. If I read without prayer, I am not responding.

"We can never do without teaching, even in old age. 

Unless the Spirit of God teaches us we learn in vain."

~Martin Geier

© 2012 by Melani Brady Shock