Focus Verse (Psalm 119:5)
“O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!”
——Psalm 119:5 (KJV)
Context for Psalm 119:5
ALEPH (Psalm 119: 1-8)
(1) Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.
(2) Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.
(3) They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.
(4) Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.
(5) O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!
(6) Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.
(7) I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.
(8) I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.
Notes for (Psalm 119:5)
Who:
(5) “O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!”
I believe the word “my” references the author and believer. The word “thy” references the “Lord” mentioned in verse 1.
What:
(5) “O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!”
I personally believe that that author was exhibiting the fruit of the Holy Spirit when writing this verse. This definitely strengthens my faith that the Bible is the Word of God, even the Old Testament. Let’s take a look at the fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23 (KJV):
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
In Psalm 119:5, I believe “O” word indicates a strong loving desire. The phrase “that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes” specifies that the loving desire is towards obeying the Word of God.
Additionally, the author wants to exhibit goodness. I believe the Holy Spirit grabs us by the heart and compels us to Holy, Christlike behavior.
Next, Meekness is also indicated here. Only through meekness and by yielding to God and his Holy Spirit can we do his will. The author is actually inviting God to direct his ways to keep God’s statutes.
Finally, Faith (Faithfulness) is indicated in the words of Psalm 119:5. The author has a desire to be a faithful servant to God.
Where:
(5) “O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!”
The word “ways” indicates the highways of life. The word “directed” indicates that the author wishes his “ways” matches the Lord’s ways. The believer wants to be in a better spot spiritually.
Why:
(5) “O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!”
Love and Remembrance - As stated earlier, I believe the love for God is implicit here. In the Old Testament, I believe the Levitical animal sacrificial system and even events such as the parting of the Red Sea pointed to Christ.
The Israelites were delivered from bondage to the Egyptians after crossing the parted Red Sea. Deuteronomy 16:12 (KJV) states: “And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt: and thou shalt observe and do these statutes.”
In fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy and law, Jesus came in the flesh, shed his blood for our sins, and rose again on the third day giving us that blessed hope of eternal life free from the bondage of sin. Romans 6:22-23 (KJV) states:
“But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Being a Witness:
Psalm 119:5 leads straight into Psalm 119:6 (KJV) which states, “Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.”
It should be the hope of every believer that our behavior and walk in our daily lives should honor God. Preachers sometimes advise their congregation to live in a way that honors and pleases God. That’s the only Bible that some people get to see.
The Bible offers an interesting Old Testament example of the importance of keeping God’s commands for the sake of bearing witness to God and his character.
In Deuteronomy 4:5-8 (KJV), God commands Israel to keep his commands so that other Nations would understand that Israel will have God given wisdom and that they serve a living God who responds to Israel’s requests.
(5) Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it.
(6) Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.
(7) For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for?
(8) And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?
(9) Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons;
When:
(5) “O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!”
Our obedience to God should be a 24 hour a day seven day week priority.
Takeaways from (Psalm 119:5)
(5) “O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!”
1.) God Values Meekness
I think meekness stands out here. The author is demonstrating willingness to set aside their own interests for the interests of God.
I believe the author wants to understand their unholiness and God’s holiness. He wants to understand God’s characteristics.
God commands us to be humble. He hates arrogance. Proverbs 8:13 (KJV) states, “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.”
2.) Love
During the Author’s time, Israel was commanded to obey God’s commandments in reverence to the nation’s deliverance from the bondage of Egypt by God. I think these events pointed to Jesus who delivered us from the bondage of sin.
While we are never saved by works, we obey God because he first loved us by sending his Son to shed blood for our sins on the Cross and raising again on the third day. I John 4:18-19 (KJV) states:
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us.”
Additionally, John 3:16 (KJV) states, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Jesus paved a way to have eternal life him. Someone who took on the punishment of our sins that we deserved is certainly worthy of our obedience.
3.) Faith (Faithfulness)
I find it interesting that the author is inviting correction from the Lord. Psalms 19:14 (KJV) also describes this attitude well, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.”
I believe the Holy Spirit compels us (the believer) to study the Word of God to know what is right. I think we should pray that this thirst continues.
We should be thankful to God when the words we read in the Bible convicts us. Hebrews 12:5-6 (KJV) states, “And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.”
4.) Witness
In the Old Testament, the Israelis’ obedience to God’s was to serve as witness to other nations. Deuteronomy 4:6-8 (KJV):
(6) Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.
(7) For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for?
(8) And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?
Today, the Holy Spirit works through the believer to serve as a witness to the one who bled and died for our sins. Jesus is our understanding and wisdom in the sight of the people of the world. John 15:26 (KJV) says the following: “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:”
When someone asks you why do you love so easily, have joy despite circumstances, peace, patience, gentleness and meekness?
You can tell them how your righteousness is not your own but is the righteousness of Jesus Christ. You can tell them about how you are an adopted Child of God made possible by the blood of Jesus shed at Calvary. You can tell them how Jesus sent the Holy Spirit who comforts and guides you in your walk with God.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I pray that you direct our steps as believers through the Holy Spirit so that we may bear fruit that serves as a witness to your Son Jesus who came in the flesh to shed blood for our sins on the Cross at Calvary and rose again on the third day for our Justification. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
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