Psalm 119 - 11.18.22

Scripture

Psalm 119:37, 57

Turn my eyes away from worthless things;
    preserve my life according to your word.

Observation – What does it say?

King David pens not only the longest Psalm, but the longest chapter in the entire Bible. And the subject? God’s word. Love for God’s words, a longing to better understand God’s words, a passionate pursuit to immerse himself in God’s words, a commitment to mediating on and memorizing God’s words, a hope and trust in God’s words, a vow to obey God’s words.

Despite David’s passion for God’s words, verse 37 reflects his honest need for God’s help in avoiding empty and worthless things.

Understanding – What does it mean?

David longed to focus on knowing and obeying God’s words, but like all of us, he wrestled with worthless things that attempted to distract him. I’m not sure what it was for him, but for me it can be a number of things – tv, social media, games on my phone, online shopping for things I don’t really need. Like we talked about last Sunday, the struggle is real to keep our focus off treasures on earth that are in the end worthless, so we can instead invest everything to store up treasures in heaven.

I resonate with David’s prayer.

It reminds me of the plea in the old hymn, Come Thou Fount, “Bind my wandering heart to Thee.”

Life Application

David reminded himself a few verses later,

Psalm 119:57

You are my portion, Lord;
    I have promised to obey your words.

God, today I remind myself that you are my portion! Whom have I in heaven but you, and earth has nothing I desire besides you (Psalm 73:25). I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ (Phil 3:8). I am my beloveds and he is mine (Song of Songs 6:3)! Nothing compares to you. You are all I need. You are all that satisfies. May I be consumed with you alone!

Lord, I remind myself of the commitment I’ve made to make you not only my Savior but my Lord. Every moment, every breath, every penny belongs to you. Please help me, and help us, to live out the commitment we made to follow Jesus, forsaking all others. I give you my life once again today. All that I am is yours. Please turn my eyes away from worthless things and toward you. Amen.

-Levi Thompson