Psalm 119:17-32 A Wisdom Psalm By Anonymous
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Psalm 119:17-32 Not Getting Down With The Word
Psalm 119 is a wisdom psalm about the glories of Scripture. It is a teaching poem that has 22 stanzas corresponding to each letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Yesterday we saw the first two stanzas correlating to “A,” and “B.” Today Gimel which is like a “G” in English or “gh.” Daleth is like a “D” in English.
In Hebrew each verse in the stanza begins with the same letter. The purpose was to make it the psalm easier to memorize.
The Gimel section encourages knowledge of the Word for protection from enemies (v.23). We need to ask God before we study to give us the Holy Spirit to “open our eyes” (v. 18). People can get a lot of information out of the Word, but it takes the Holy Spirit to help us understand it and apply it (see Sensitivity To The Holy Spirit).
You don’t always need to call a friend when you’re in trouble. You can use the Word as your “counselor” (v. 24, cf. James 1:5).
The Daleth section tells us that a lot of depression can be cleared up by trusting God and reading His Word. The psalmist was so low that his soul “cleaved to the dust” (vv. 25, 28)! He asked God to teach him what to do (vv. 26-27). He meditated on the Word, he didn’t just study it and learn it (v. 27).
The psalmist wanted to do what God wanted him to do (vv. 29-32).
Are you feeling down today? Are you doing everything God wants you to do? Are you asking God the Holy Spirit for guidance according to His Word?
You could end up being a “fat-heart” instead of a “fathead” (v. 32).
Proverbs 15:31-32 Re-Proof Of Wisdom
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Have you heard the definition of insanity as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results? That is insane. Verse 31 says as much. If you don’t listen to the counsel of others and humble yourself to learn, you are insane (cf. Ps. 119:24 above; 2 Tim. 3:16; Prov. 11:14; 24:6).
If you do listen to others who are smarter than you are, you will be a wise guy (v. 31b).
If you hate yourself, you will not listen to correction (v. 32a). You will grow wise if you do (v. 32b).