Text: Psalm 119:27.
Introduction
1. Psalm 119 is an acrostic poem composed of twenty-two stanzas, each of which uses and emphasizes on£of the letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
2. It is a poem that exalts the law, the testimonies, the ways, the precepts, the statutes, the commandments, the words, and the promises of God.
3. One of the finest ways to pray effectively is to pray the prayers of biblical characters.
4. We can pray the same prayers that the psalmist prays with great profit.
5. Let us look at some of the prayers in this stanza of Psalm 119 that we might have some assistance in our prayer life.
"Revive me according to thy word" — Psalm 119:25b.
1. Prayer for revival
a. We hear the psalmist praying for a revival or for a renewal in his innermost being.
b. He is discouraged and depressed.
c. He feels as if he is down in the very dust of life.
d. He cries out to God for a revival and a restoration of the vital energies of life.
2. There are times when each of us needs to pray this prayer.
"Make me understand the way of thy precepts" — Psalm 119:27a.
1. Prayer for clarity and understanding
a. The psalmist is here praying for insight into the inner meaning of the teachings of God's Holy Word.
b. We can discover truth by research.
c. We can discover truth by reason and logic.
d. But the greatest discovery of truth comes through divine revelation. E. G. White says: "There are many things apparently difficult or obscure, which God will make plain and simple to those who thus seek an understanding of them. But without the guidance of the Holy Spirit we ]shall be continually liable to wrest the Scriptures or to misinterpret them." Steps to Christ, p. 110.
e. The psalmist is crying out to God for inward spiritual understanding so that he will then be able to speakof all of God's wondrous works.
"Strengthen me according to thy word!" — Psalm 119:28b.
1. The psalmist was aware of his weakness and his inability to do what he needed to do.
a. He felt overwhelmed with heaviness and grief and sorrow.
b. He stood in need of divine spiritual resources.
c. He cried out to God for strength to face life.
2. In the New Testament we are encouraged to be strong in the Lord and the power of His might. Eph. 6:10.The implication is that we have no hope of overcoming evil and achieving what we need to achieve apart frorrthe strength that comes from God.
3. Paul found strength through Jesus Christ and was confident that he could make all adjustments in all of the .things that he needed to do through faith in Jesus Christ. Phil. 4:13.
There is not a day that goes by when we, as the children of Cod, do not need to say, "Amen" to this petiion offered by the psalmist.
Put false ways far from me" Psalm 119:29a
1. The psalmist was eager to have removed from him the ways of falsehood, the ways of untruth that would lead to the wrong kind of destination in this life and to failure as far as the next life was concerned.
a. He felt a need to be delivered from deception, falsehood, and untruths.
b. This is a prayer that we need to pray so that we might be able to see through the sham of much that is presented in our world today.
c. We need to be delivered from falsehood and deception.
2. The psalmist was eager to enjoy the grace of living according to God's truth rather than being destroyed by falsehood.
Let me not be put to shame!" Psalm 119:31.
1. The psalmist had a healthy fear of failure.
a. He did not want to experience humiliation and embarrassment.
b. He did not want to cast reflection upon his God.
c. He prays that he might be saved from failure.
2. Paul warned the followers of Christ at Corinth against the danger of failure and expressed his determination that, through discipline and dedication he would avoid personal disappointment and failure. 1 Cor. :24-27.
Conclusion
1. In the words of this stanza in Psalm 119 we find many petitions from the heart of the psalmist that we can and should concur with.
2 . As we read this prayerfully, we should be able to say a sincere "Amen" to each of these petitions.
3. The psalmist had prayed our prayer for us.
Spirit of Prophecy supplement
Our heavenly Father waits to bestow upon us the fullness of His blessing. It is our privilege to drink largely at the fountain of boundless love. What a wonder it is that we pray so little! God is ready and willing to hear the sincere prayer of the humblest of His children, and yet there is much manifest reluctance on our part to make known our wants to God. What can the angels of heaven think of poor helpless human beings, who are subject to temptation, when God's heart of infinite love yearns toward them, ready to give them more than they can ask or think, and yet they pray so little and have so little faith? The angels love to bow before God; they love to be near Him. They regard communion with God as their highest joy; and yet the children of earth, who need so much the help that God only can give, seem satisfied to walk without the light of His Spirit, the companionship of His presence. Steps to Christ, p. 94.
Marcos Carcia writes from Quito, Ecuador