Psalm 119:33-40 - Instruction asked for

The psalmist prays for divine instruction in God’s requirements. His prayer is a request for lifelong transformation, or for what we would describe as progressive sanctification (v. 33). When he has such understanding, he will engage in wholehearted obedience of God’s law (v. 34). In his daily life, he will be following his divine Guide with delight (v. 35) as he moves through life.

The question arises, ‘Where and how would he receive such instruction?’ He could obtain it by attending a synagogue or the temple and listening to what he heard there. He could find it through fellowship with like-minded people. And he could grow in knowledge by personal meditation.

The alternative is a lifestyle that focuses on himself (v. 36), and such pursuits are worthless, even although they might seem attractive to look at. Such things don’t give spiritual life to a believer; therefore the psalmist wants to have nothing to do with them. He prefers to engage in what pleases God, but for that to take place he must receive spiritual life and energy from the Lord (v. 37).  

The psalmist desires that God would fulfil a promise made to him connected to his role as the Lord’s servant (v. 38). Since the fulfilment would result in others fearing God, the promise must have been connected to a position of influence that the psalmist had. He wanted to influence others for spiritual good through the role that God had given him.

One lesson from this request of the psalmist is that we should pray for the things that God has promised to give. When we think about them, we realise that there are many things that we can pray about, whether with regard to our spiritual growth or with regard to how to live daily in the world.

At the same time, the psalmist was afraid that he would be removed from his position (v. 39), and if that happened God’s rules would not be followed even although they are good and beneficial. Nevertheless he asks the Lord to consider the intensity of his longing for God’s ways, and to give him the power to practice them (v. 40). Whatever the situation, his desire and his responsibility was to obey God from the heart.