Study of Psalm 119. Psalm 119:33-34

This continues the study of Psalm 119.  (Start the series here: http://createapositiveday.blogspot.com/2017/09/study-of-psalm-119-psalm-1191.html)


God Provides (by Rhonda Sawtelle)

Psalm 119: God's Word....

vs. 33, 34: Provides Application

Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes, and I shall keep it to the end.
Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law; indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart. Psalm 119:33-34

Teach. Keep. Give. Keep. Observe. 

Teach: a primitive root; properly, to flow as water (i.e. to rain); transitively, to lay or throw (especially an arrow, i.e. to shoot)
Keep: guard with fidelity, observe
Give: a primitive root; to separate mentally (or distinguish), i.e.(generally) understand -- attend, consider, be cunning, diligently, direct, discern
Observe: A primitive root; properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc. be circumspect 

O Eternal One, show me how to live according to Your statutes, and I will keep them always. Grant me understanding so that I can keep Your law and keep it wholeheartedly. Psalm 119:33, 34 (VOICE)

Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes, and I will [steadfastly] observe it to the end.Give me understanding [a teachable heart and the ability to learn], that I may keep Your law; and observe it with all my heart. Psalm 119:33, 34 (AMP)

A teachable heart and the ability to learn — and apply what is learned. When we study God's Word, we should be learning and with that learning comes the responsibility to act on what we learn. 

A teachable heart and ability to learn. Oh, that would be my prayer each day as I study God's Word. 

Proverbs 10:15-17: Keep. Refuse. Two verbs.

The rich man’s wealth is his strong city; the destruction of the poor is their poverty. The labor of the righteous leads to life, the wages of the wicked to sin. He who keeps instruction is in the way of life, but he who refuses correction goes astray. Proverbs 10:15-17

Destruction: the ruin of the poor (is) their poverty; as consequence of evil-doing

Labor: wages (as earned by work)

Life: as consisting of earthly felicity combined (often) with spiritual blessedness

Wages: income, revenue

Wicked: criminal, guilty of crime

Keep: guard, to protect, attend to

Instruction: discipline, chastening, correction

Life: of mode of living, or of character

Refuses: forsake, fail to follow: obey advice, instruction, wisdom, reproof

Correction: chastisement

Goes astray: physically—cause to wander about; mentally and morally—cause to err

Keeps Instruction. Refuses Correction. 

Two verbs. Keep. Refuse. Powerful verbs which have lasting consequences. 

Keep. Guard. Protect. Attend to.

Wisdom isn't once acquired then forgotten! Wisdom must be guarded and attended to, as one would maintain a garden or home. You keep watch over it, preserve it, tend to it. That means that wisdom must be a part of our daily lives. We cannot neglect wisdom! 

Refuse. Forsake. Fail to follow. 

The results are what you'd expect—wandering about, lost and getting into trouble. Simple. Refuse wisdom as you find yourself in the middle of trouble. 

Keep. Refuse. Two verbs. Two Choices. Two different consequences. 

Keeping begins when a heart is permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31 MSG). And then the fear of God, creates the desire to continuing keeping! Do not refuse wisdom—KEEP IT! 

Proverbs 1:15: Choices—verbs, action—Walk and Keep

My son, do not walk in the way with them, keep your foot from their path. Proverbs 1:15 (NKJV)

walk: go, depart, proceed

the way: of moral action and character, in the bad sense
keep: withhold, hold back (imperative—strong advise!)
path: of moral action, and character (absolute—referring to action)

After reading Proverbs 1:11-14 and the choices that the sinners were making (killing, stealing) once again, we are warned DO NOT proceed down this path. Don't do it! 

Choices. There are two Verbs this verse which give sound advice: Walk and Keep. Walk is proceeded by DO NOT and Keep is written as very strong advice! These verbs are flashing in NEON signs; they are blinking stop signs. 

Often we get caught up in the here and now, and can't see what lies ahead. Right now it's fun and the excitement of the group has drawn us in. However, we are warned of what lies ahead. And we are given STRONG advice—don't even start down this path. Do not go or proceed any further in this direction! Hold back from going with them down this path of sin. 

How often do I ignore the flashing stop sign signals God puts before me? How often do I try to justify and rationalize my choice for following a group? How often do I ignore sound advice and go it on my own? 

Only when my heart is permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31 MSG), will I be able to hear the advice, and willing to follow the advice. Choices—verbs, action—Walk and Keep. Which will I choose?