A Greater Understanding
Psalm 119:27-32 Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works. My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word. Put false ways far from me; and graciously teach me your law. I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your ordinances before me. I cling to your decrees, O Lord; let me not be put to shame. I run the way of your commandments, for you enlarge my understanding.
God’s Word is a powerful thing, because not only does it bring revival to our hearts, not only does God breathe His Sprit into us through His Word, not only does God deliver His new life for us through His Word, but His Word also brings understanding. And understanding is wisdom.
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you don’t understand what’s going on – either around you, or in you, or both? Sure you have. So have I. I mean, sometimes we don’t even understand ourselves, let alone our circumstances, or the way other people behave and think.
And the absence of that understanding, that wisdom if you will, makes life a difficult thing to live. Understanding as it turns out, is the key to living life.
Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works. My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word. Put false ways far from me; and graciously teach me your law. I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your ordinances before me. I cling to your decrees, O Lord; let me not be put to shame. I run the way of your commandments, for you enlarge my understanding. (Psalm 119:27-32)
Understanding is mentioned twice in that passage, once at the beginning and once at the end. Again we see that the Psalmist is going through difficult times – my soul melts away for sorrow – and yet the thing he asks for is understanding.
That in itself is surprising enough. We spend our time asking God to take the pain away when our souls are melting away through sorrow, but the Psalmist is asking instead, for understanding. But understanding of what? Of the ways of God’s precepts. In other words:
Okay God, Your Word, Your precepts, they’re all fine. That’s a given. But now, God, I want to understand the ways of your precepts. I want to understand how the rubber hits the road. I want to understand how I can live them out, because I want your strength, I want to put false ways far from me, so teach me. I’ll cling to your Word, because I know that as I live it out, you’re going to enlarge my understanding.
What a powerful prayer. It’s a prayer for on the job training. You imagine asking God for that, over and over again … imagine the understanding, the wisdom, the power that God is going to unleash in your life. Just imagine!
Here’s the thing. God wants to do powerful things in you and through you. He does. And He’s put His Word there, the Bible, through which to give you, all the understanding that you need.
Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works. Wow!
That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.
Blessed by this devotion?
Share it with a friend!
Respond