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The Word-ship of God
Worship amidst Hardships
This study’s purpose has been to discover different aspects of worship from Psalm 119. So far, we have looked at purity, obedience, servitude as three ways to discover a greater worship. This month we look at the fourth section of the psalm, subtitled “Daleth.”
25My soul cleaves to the dust;
Revive me according to Your word.
26I have told of my ways, and You have answered me;
Teach me Your statutes.
27Make me understand the way of Your precepts,
So I will meditate on Your wonders.
28My soul weeps because of grief;
Strengthen me according to Your word.
29Remove the false way from me,
And graciously grant me Your law.
30I have chosen the faithful way;
I have placed Your ordinances before me.
31I cling to Your testimonies;
O LORD, do not put me to shame!
32I shall run the way of Your commandments,
For You will enlarge my heart.
Down ’n Out
The psalmist sets up this section with a vivid description of his state. He said his “soul cleaves to the dust.” To get an idea if what he is saying we can look to Genesis 2:24 when it says “…a man shall leave his father and mother, and be joined to his wife.” It is the idea of two becoming one. This is how the psalmist felt; he felt that his soul had joined with the dirt on the ground. One could say that he felt as worthless and low as a worm wiggling in the dirt.
He went on to relay such feelings as weariness (revive me), sorrow (my soul weeps), confusion (make me understand), weakness (strengthen me), and shame (do not put me to shame). Remembering when we have been down and out, we can attest that many of these words perfectly describe our state at the time. We can feel tired, sad, confused, weak, and ashamed.
Origins of our Hardships
Two main causes of hardships can be discovered if we consider our own previous suffering. Their causes were either a result of something we did or from someone or something outside us, beyond our control.
There is a sense that the psalmist had something to do with his downfall when he mentioned his “false way” (29) and “I have told of my ways” (26). Often that is the case in our own hardships. We make a wrong decision—often without seeking the Lord’s guidance first—and then suffer the consequences. We carry bitterness and regret for those decisions, which then color all succeeding decisions.
Other times, something happens in our lives, which is totally out of our control. We find that we “weep because of grief” (28). It is the kind of grief that not only saddens us, but actually weakens us, making it difficult for us to function normally.
It is hard to say which hardship is more difficult to endure, the one caused internally or externally. Both give birth to their own problems. If we are at fault, then it can seem impossible to move past regret and questions of “what if.” On the other hand, when something external causes us to fall, we are left feeling a total loss of control. We feel utterly powerless. Neither case is what we would call desirable.
Why God Allows Hardships
The main reason God allows any troubles to come our way is so He can receive the ultimate glory. Verse 27 talks about meditating on God’s wonders. There is something about the awesomeness of God that presents itself even amidst our hardships. We do not always know the reasons we face trouble, as was the case with Job. But, we can trust that in the end, all glory will go to the Father.
As far as we are concerned, though, our psalm suggests three lessons that result from our hardships, all of which help us to worship God.
1. When we are faced with hardships, especially those that are extreme, we learn to give up our own plans and accept God’s. We can choose God’s way over our own. The psalmist said, “I have told of my ways” (26) and “Make me understand the way of Your precepts” (27). In others words, “Lord, I have laid my plans out there and realize that they are nothing compared to Your plans. Help me to accept them.”
2. More than accepting God’s plans with a bit of reservation, we can actually learn to trust God with His plans for us. Trust begins with truth. When we recognize God as truth, we will want to be like Him and will pray, “Remove the false way from me (29). Once truth becomes a part of us we choose “the faithful way” (30) just as we see God has been so faithful to us. Finally, when we are dedicated to practice the truth and faithfulness we see in God, we can learn how God wants us to live and do it (31). Just as our soul previously clung to the dust, it can then cling to God’s ways.
3. A third lesson we can learn from our hard times is compassion. If we are not careful, our troubles can make us bitter, selfish people. The psalmist closed this section of his psalm with a desire that should be ours as well. “For You will enlarge my heart” (32). When we take our troubles to the Lord, we obtain the right perspective—a Kingdom perspective. When we rise up out of our valley, our hearts can travel to those still lingering in their own dark valleys.
God’s Word
When we are struggling, nearly suffocating, from our troubles we can go to God’s Word for breath. Two final things to remember are that God’s Word revives us (25) and it gives us strength (28). When we are mentally, spiritually, or sometimes even physically facedown on the floor, God’s Word is the smelling salts that revive us. It also is the nourishment we need strengthen us so we can get back into the game.
No matter what you are facing in you life, take this verse to heart. Memorize it and never forget it: “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).
Next month, we move on to the fifth section in Psalm 119, where we will look at righteous worship. Until then, my prayer is that the Lord blesses you in way that furthers His Kingdom.
Articles that have been previously posted can be found on the Article Archives page.