SOUNDING OUT:
Teach Me!

  Charles Spurgeon in his introduction to Psalms 119 in The Treasury of David comments on the distain some have for the psalm saying:

  Although each verse vibrates with a chord that includes God, God's Word, and the Psalmist himself, the frequent repetitions arrange themselves into refrains designed to impress important truths upon the mind much like waves upon the seashore. Rather than boring redundancies, the repetitions impress the mind and form a tupos which should long be remembered.

  Although repeated more than 200 times in 176 verses, references to the Word of God, instead of being mundane and boring are full of vitality and fervor. Acting as a point of contact between the psalmist and God, the psalmist uses God's Word to understand God's love for him and demonstrate his love for God. He used God's Word in a variety of ways with a profundity of thought. It was his comfort, his source of strength, his standard for life, his love and delight. His interaction with God around the magnificence of His Word rewarded him with even greater desire and appreciation for it than he had before.

  God's Word framed his meditation and forged his attitudes. In this issue of the Iinternet Newsletter I'd like to focus on one of his attitudes, his desire for God's instruction. He declares his great longing for God's Word, affirming that: "My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times (verse 20). "…I have longed after thy precepts…" (verse 40). "How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" (verse 103). "I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments." (verse 131).

  The psalmist cries out for instruction in different ways. He pleads with God to: "Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law." (verse18) "hide not thy commandments from me." (verse 19) "Make me to understand the way of thy precepts…" (verse 27) However, I'd like to concentrate on two frequently repeated requests: "Teach me!" and "Give me understanding!"

  In the King James version "teach me" occurs 15 times and nine of them are in Psalm 119. This heartfelt request often follows an expression of God's greatness. It is as if after graciously learning these truths, he requests further instruction that will take him even deeper into how important this awareness is to his life.

  Do you see the fervor that the "O LORD" adds to the request? There is indeed a longing to be taught.

  This same request, "teach me," follows the psalmist's declaration of his ways. Again, it is as if after graciously learning the truth he declares, he requests further instruction that will take him even deeper into how important the lesson has been.

  He also commits himself to action that flows from this request.

  He acknowledges what he has learned from God's Word as reason for his request.

  The psalmist also acknowledges the responsibility that comes from this request

  He gains understanding as he learns God's Word and uses it to develop an aversion to other ways. It can direct even the most simple or naïve of us.

  The phrase "Give me understanding" occurs five times in the King James Version and all of them are in Psalm 119. Understanding is a fruit of obedience. The psalmist explains, "I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts." (verse 100). When we faithfully do what God asks of us, we will understand why. Knowledge provides a basis for action. Wisdom is demonstrated when we act on what we know. When we faithfully apply wisdom over time we gain understanding. Obedience fosters understanding, and understanding provides more reason for continued obedience. In Psalm 119 the psalmist asks God specifically for understanding knowing that it would foster greater understanding.