25 My soul cleaves to the dust;
Revive me according to Your word.
26 I have told of my ways, and You have answered me;
Teach me Your statutes.
27 Make me understand the way of Your precepts,
So I will meditate on Your wonders.
28 My soul [k]weeps because of grief;
Strengthen me according to Your word.
29 Remove the false way from me,
And graciously grant me Your law.
30 I have chosen the faithful way;
I have [l]placed Your ordinances before me.
31 I cling to Your testimonies;
O Lord, do not put me to shame!
32 I shall run the way of Your commandments,
For You will enlarge my heart.
In this section of Psalm 119, the psalmist is sad and distraught. Why? It seems as if it is because he knows he hasn’t been following God’s law very well. His very soul weeps because of grief, because of the “false way” within him. Would that we were so moved by our own transgressions! So how do we get there?
The psalmist includes all sorts of things, mostly involving God’s help. We need His statutes to strengthen us, and lead us in the right way. And though we may stumble, we are not helpless in this battle. Twice so, because we can “choose the faithful way” and because God is standing by to help us all along life’s journey.
Yet there is something we must also consider, besides gaining the “head knowledge” of what God asks us to do. In v. 32, the psalmist asks God to “enlarge my heart.” That’s kind of a funny thing to say, and yet think of it truly. This world would be a better place, even the church would be a better witness with larger hearts and smaller gavels.
We cannot truly reflect God’s love and grace and all that He is, if we only have the law in our head. It must enter our hearts, and we must gain more capacity for love and compassion if we are to properly represent God to our fellow man. Or for that matter, if we are to do anything that God has called us to do…
So today, once more, ask God to enlarge your heart, let His love permeate your being. In all your dealings with others, great or small, let God’s heart be on display in and through your own.