My soul clings to the dust; revive me according to Your word. I have declared my ways, and You answered me; teach me Your statutes. Make me understand the way of Your precepts; so shall I meditate on Your wonderful works. My soul melts from heaviness; strengthen me according to Your word. Remove from me the way of lying, and grant me Your law graciously. I have chosen the way of truth; Your judgments I have laid before me. I cling to Your testimonies; O Lord, do not put me to shame! I will run the course of Your commandments, for You shall enlarge my heart. (Psalm 119:25-32)

Hope In The Word

There are times in the lives of God’s people that hard times press down upon the soul causing despair and anxiety. It is not a lack of faith but a time to appeal for more courage to face the uncertainties of life. The image of man is made in the frail form of fleshly weakness that can manifest itself at times in the lives of the strongest believers. David felt overwhelmed by the afflictions of life and appealed to the word of God as his guide and companion from the valley of anguish. There is a refreshing hope from the knowledge of the word of the Lord that brings showers of blessings on souls downtrodden from grief, worry and unanswered questions of tomorrow. The psalmist knows that if he can find his way in the word of God he will find joy, peace and answers. Understanding the statutes of righteousness is where hope abides. Trusting in the way of the Lord allows the heart of man to know eternal truths the wisdom of man can never engage. The fundamental message of the psalm embraces the knowledge of God’s word as the only source where men will find the answers to life, the courage to face the trials that are real and strength to overcome adversity. God’s word is the blueprint, model, template and pattern of truth alone. Whatever affliction David was experiencing he knew his only hope was in the truth of God.

The fourth section of this psalm declares the need of depending on the word of God for salvation. There are terms like ‘revive me,’ ‘teach me,’ ‘make me,’ ‘strengthen me,’ ‘remove from me,’ and ‘grant me’ expressing David’s deep longing for the Lord to work in his life in a vibrant way. This is a heart open to the fashioning of God’s word to change the soul of man according to the will of the Lord. Reading the word of God will have little impact if there is no desire to allow the word to change the life of the reader. Words will not have power if the power of change is not in the heart. There must be a longing to understand the way of God’s law and to meditate on the wonderful works of the Almighty. This spirit comes from a life fully enveloped by the presence of God. It has been said the word of God comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable. Change is the key to approaching the message delivered by the hand of God.

David appealed to his knowledge of God’s word as the way of truth. The children of God under Christ have so much more to be thankful for in the revelation of the grace of God yet so often more limited than those of David’s day. The shepherd king was a man possessed with the burning desire to know all he could about his God. He chose the way of truth and laid the judgments of God before his path every day. Clinging to the testimonies of righteousness David sought to please the Lord in every part of his life. Enjoying the fully revealed word of God the child of God must long for the commandments of God as a daily source of knowledge. The hope of salvation enlarges the heart to overcome the times of despair in life and times when the soul clings to the dust. There is no greater presence to experience than the revival found in the contemplation of the precepts, statues, testimonies and commandments of God. His word is truth and in that truth is life. Spend time in the word of God and when life brings the hardships and trials that are certain to come, hope will be found in His message of love.