Often in the Word of God, He will use the same original word a few times in a row to highlight a point. Unfortunately we miss that with some of the English translations. But in studying Psalm 119:25-32, I dug in enough to unearth a word the Lord choose to bookend this stanza with.
In the NIV the word is 'laid low' in verse 25 and ' hold fast' in verse 31. But in both instances the word is a Hebrew word meaning 'cleaving to, or clinging to'. So WHAT is the psalmist clinging to as the stanza opens? "I am laid low in the dust" He is clinging to the ground here. Then near the end of the stanza, what does he cling to? "I hold fast to your statues, O Lord" Now he is clinging to God's Word.
What happened to change his perspective here? He does something over and over, that I noticed...
* he asked God to preserve his life
* he asked God for insight
* he asked God to teach him
Do you see it? He was seeking God! He asked God, he asked God, he sought God! We will not cling to God's Word accidentally! It is a purposeful choice to turn our faces towards Him and seek Him in His word. Verse 30 teaches us, "I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart on your laws," we must choose to set our heart on His truth and then pursue Him with all we've got! Oh, it is so worth it!! What are YOU choosing?
4 comments:
So good! Amen! One of our elders preached this morning and he made this statement that impacted me: "You will not be able to discern God's will until you experience Him in His word." And then one of our youth shared in testimony tonight in their recap of youth camp how one of the pastors spoke about gazing at God instead of just giving Him a glance.
Yes, I want to "set" my heart on God's laws!
Jennifer
I love that 'gazing at God rather than just giving Him a glance'...I went to Deeper Still this weekend and the whole event's theme was the very thing the Lord has been dealing with me about...FIX my eyes on Jesus FULLY! But a full on gaze! I love that!!
Can't wait to hear about Deeper Still. So wish I could have gone.
Leah
Oh, this is so full of truth, hope and RICH encouragement. GETTING INTO HIS WORD...He lit a fire in my for that almost 10 years ago, and it still burns hot and bright.
Lovingly,
Yolanda
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