Psalm 119:26
When I told of my ways, you answered me; teach me your statutes! Psalm 119:26
“Open confession is good for the soul. Nothing brings more ease and more life to somone than a direct acknowledgement of the evil taht has caused the sorrow and weariness. Such a declaration proves that the person knows his own condition and is no longer blinded by pride. Our confessions aren’t meant to make God know our sins, but to make us know them.”
Charles Spurgeon, The Golden Alphabet
In this verse we find an expression of the psalmist's longing for a deeper understanding of God's ways.
1. A Prayer for Understanding: Psalm 119:26 begins with the psalmist's plea: "I have declared my ways, and You answered me; teach me Your statutes." Here, the psalmist acknowledges that they have declared their ways before God. They have opened their heart and life to God, confessing their actions and seeking His guidance. This view, this act of confession and humility is an essential part of a believer's relationship with God. The psalmist doesn't boast in their own righteousness but rather humbles themselves before the Almighty. The psalmist understands that true wisdom and understanding come from God alone.
2. A Personal Encounter with God: The phrase "and You answered me" highlights the psalmist's personal encounter with God. The doctrine of the "Effectual Call" is central. It emphasizes that God's call to salvation is not just a general invitation but a specific, personal encounter between God and the believer. When the psalmist says that God answered them, it signifies a profound connection between the Creator and His creation. In seeking understanding, the psalmist recognizes that true wisdom is a gift from God, and it comes through a personal relationship with Him.
3. A Desire for Deeper Knowledge: The psalmist's plea for God to teach them His statutes reveals a hunger for deeper knowledge and a commitment to a life rooted in God's Word. As God reveals Himself to us through His Word, we learn to continue to place a stronger emphasis on the study and application of Scripture. It encourages believers to diligently seek God's guidance through the Bible, recognizing it as the ultimate source of authority in all of life’s matters. The psalmist's desire to learn God's statutes reflects this commitment to a life guided by the unchanging truth of God's Word.
Psalm 119:26 illustrates the importance of seeking understanding through personal humility, a genuine encounter with God, and a commitment to God's Word. It reminds us that the journey of faith involves a continual quest for deeper revelation of God and a life shaped by the teachings of Scripture. All believers should strive to emulate the psalmist's desire to be taught by God's statutes, acknowledging that in Him, we find the true source of wisdom and understanding.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1-5 ESV
God, thank you for revealing yourself through Your Word. Thank you for reconciling me back to you through Your Son. Thank you for leaving Your Holy Spirit as a down payment of Christ’s return. I am a wayward child that needs his Father. You are my first Father and my Last Father. You are the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. Keep me close to you at all times. Amen
Application Questions:
When you lack understanding, where do you turn? Do you cry out to God? Or do you turn to comfort, control, approval, or power?
Where do you need the need a personal encounter with God, your first and last Father?
How can you pursue a deeper knowledge of God and practice “preaching the gospel to yourself” more in your daily life?
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