Psalm 119:13 “I have recited aloud all the regulations You have given us.” [NLT]
In v.12, David said teach me Your commands. Kings of Israel were directed 18 “When he sits on the throne as king, he must copy for himself this body of instruction on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests.19 He must always keep that copy with him and read it daily as long as he lives. That way he will learn to fear the Lord his God by obeying all the terms of these instructions and decrees. “ [Deuteronomy 17:18-19]
In Psalm 119:13 David said You have taught me as I have read aloud Your commands on a daily basis. I can recite them to other people. This was true of David’s life until his affair with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband in 2 Samuel 11. David was forgiven by God but there were horrible consequences for his family.
Prayer: O Father keep me close to Your words and away from sin so I can share Your commands with others in the power of Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
Psalm 119:12 “I praise you, O LORD [C]; teach me Your decrees.” [Statutes in most translations – NLT]
The LORD is and must be blessed or praised, for He is the only way to holiness. The Disciple’s [Y] way to holiness is to conform to the image of the crucified Jesus. David [B] then turned to his weakness and inability to conform to the image of Jesus in his own strength. He said teach me Your commands from Your Word!
Prayer: O Father I desire the holiness of You, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Please teach me Your commands and by Your power help me obey Your commands. Jesus said there 3 steps, “…, If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” [Luke 9:23 NASB]
Psalm 119:11 “I have treasured Your word in my heart, So that I may not sin against You.” [NASB]
David said “Here is the best thing. Your Word, hidden in the best place, in my heart, for the best purpose, that I might not sin against You.”[B] The Bible is inspired by God the almighty powerful, Omnipresent, Omniscient, Omniaspient, Omnipotent Creator who is always present to give Disciples [A] wisdom, strength, and intimacy with Jesus:
Omnipresent– God is always present everywhere with the fullness of who He is. He is present in the lives of all believers at the same time. [Psalm 139:7-10; John 17:22-23]
Omniscient– God has complete knowledge of everything; past, present, and future. [Psalm 139:1-10)
Psalm 119:10 “With all my heart I have sought You; Do not let me wander from Your commandments.” [NASB]
There are spiritual and carnal Disciples. The spiritual Disciple has set his entire heart toward God, but the carnal sets his heart toward self. In v.10a, the writer states the desire of his heart – to be spiritual. He recognizes that is only possible with the power of the Almighty God. So he asks that God not let him wander or stray from keeping His commandments into a carnal heart.
A spiritual heart requires intimacy with Jesus that comes from the Word and prayer. This requires dedicated time in the Word and prayer and awareness of His presence all during the day.
Pray: O Father, help me have a spiritual heart instead of a selfish carnal heart.
Psalm 119:9 “How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word.” [NASB] “How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping watch [on himself] according to Your word [conforming his life to Your precepts].” [AMP]
The first step in keeping any person pure is to have peace with God as shown in this link “For how to have peace with God and become a Disciple [Y] click here“. Then a Disciple can keep their path pure by being obedient to the commands of Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. For how to be led by the Holy Spirit and grow as a Disciple click here.
Pray to have at least 30 minutes a day in Bible study and prayer. During the day pray before decision-making, problems that arise requiring guidance, or to be thankful for a blessing. How often do you or I go all day without a moment of prayer to the all-powerful creator of the universe for guidance? I recommend keeping a journal to record your time with Jesus, record thoughts from the Bible study, and prayer requests and answers.
Psalm 119:8 “I will keep Your statutes; Do not utterly abandon me!” [NASB] “I shall keep Your statutes; Do not utterly abandon me [when I fail].” [AMP]
I will keep Your commandments – a calm but firm commitment of obedience. Sometimes we read the scripture but do not make a firm commitment of obedience. Then David [Y] knowing his sinful nature pleaded with God “Do not utterly abandon me [when I fail].”
Pray this scripture as your commitment to obedience every moment of today.
Psalm 119:7 “I will give thanks to You with uprightness of heart, When I learn Your righteous judgments.” [NASB] “I will give thanks to You with an upright heart, When I learn [through discipline] Your righteous judgments [for my transgressions].” [AMP]
We will praise God and give thanks to Him when we learn about Jesus through His discipline by His righteous judgment for our sins. It is a serious matter to God when His Disciple [Y] breaks His commandments. Because God is good there will be consequences for sin!
Prayer: Lord please help me to be thankful and praise Jesus even with Your discipline.
Psalm 119:6 “Then I will not be ashamed When I look at all Your commandments.” NASB
“Then” refers to v.5 “Oh that my ways may be established. To keep Your statutes!” This was an earnest prayer for God to establish David’s way so that he could keep the commands of God. Then with God’s help keeping His commandants, David would not be ashamed when he looked at God’s commandments. We are promised, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” [Galatians 2:20] and “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” [Philippians 1:13]
Prayer: Father, help me be totally committed to keeping Your commandments through faith in the sanctifying power of Jesus. You said, “Be holy because I am holy”.
Psalm 119:5 “Oh that my ways may be established To keep Your statutes!” [NASB]
“This is a prayer of regret because the psalmist has not kept the commands of God diligently. It is a cry of weakness, appealing for help to One who can help him. It is a prayer of faith from one who loves God and trusts in Him for grace.” Spurgeon in “Treasure of David” page 1110.
Psalm 119:4 “You have charged us to keep Your commandments carefully.” [NLT]
The LORD Is serious about Disciples [Y] keeping His commands. Jesus set the example for His Disciples through these samples of His prayer life.
Jesus woke early in the morning to pray: “34 And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. 35 And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.“” [Mark 1:34-35]
Jesus prayed all night before making a major decision: “12 In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. 13 And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles:” [Luke 6:12-13]
Jesus prayed before His Transfiguration and God announcing Jesus as His Son: “28 Now about eight days after these sayings He took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 And as He was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. 35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!”
Jesus Prayed to the Father for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit: “16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever” [Luke 9:16]
In John 17 Jesus prayed for Himself [vv.1-5], His current Disciples [vv.6-19], and all future Disciples [vv.20-26]:“20 I am not asking on behalf of these alone, but also for those who believe in Me through their word, 21 that they may all be one; just as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 The glory which You have given Me I also have given to them, so that they may be one, just as We are one;”
Jesus prayed that His Fathers will be done about His crucifixion: “42 He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cup cannot pass away unless I drink from it, Your will be done.”” [Matthew 26:42]
How does mine and your prayer life compare to that of Jesus? I would like to challenge us to pray at least 15 minutes per day, set a timer on your phone!
My Personal Journey by Henry Luke 