July 29, 2025 -- Psalm 119:33 -- Teach me, O LORD

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes;
and I will keep it to the end.
Psalm 119:33 ESV
 
There is an urgency in this verse. The Psalmist prays in the imperative voice teach me! He requires the help of the Holy Spirit and the instruction of God’s written rules to be impressed on his heart. There are so many temptations in life and peer pressures which attempt to pull him from his obedience to God. At verse 25 he’d noted that his soul clings to the dust. He feels the pull towards the cravings of his sinful humanity. Unless the teaching of the LORD stands as a barrier between him and his inclination to wrongdoing, he will, as he noted in verse 29, go down a false way.
 
Recently, as I was teaching at Teen Challenge, one of the men commented, “In the bible the writers are so open about their sins and the challenges they face in life. Why don’t I hear this kind of talk in my local church?” What a great question. What an honest question that is. I wonder if regular church goers are afraid to be honest. I wonder if churchgoers have put on niceness and forgotten the fact their old nature is totally depraved. Though now a new creation in Christ, there are still in the world all around them, temptations arising within their own hearts, and alluring temptations fired at them from the demonic realms. Men who are in recovery have this preached to them all the time, but when they leave recovery, it seems the life of Christ and the required self-denial is not mentioned nearly often enough in Christian churches.
 
How frightening church can be for those who are aware of their sin, aware of the Savior’s reconciling blood by which their sins have been punished in His Person at the cross and believers are given His righteousness. Yet they do not find the soul’s hard struggle to stay pure and walk in holiness reflected among the well-dressed people in the pews. Jesus taught such a high level of required obedience, even if to look lustfully, is to commit adultery. One who hates a brother in his hearts, is a murderer. It would appear to strangers church people do not struggle at all. King David, whom the bible describes as a man after God’s own heart, wrote, “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me” Psalm 51:3. No wonder the psalmist cries out to God, “teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes.” The bible is far more honest and revealing of the heart’s condition than many religious people allow. Obviously, this lesson must be repeated and emphasized so that such open awareness of one’s waywardness is matched by the experience of His gracious correction and instruction and communal walking in obedience. Precious Christian, be aware that your soul’s struggle is reflected in the Bible. Be assured, there are fellow Christians who hear your pain, know your struggles and desire to walk in real, deep fellowship with you.
 
Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes,
and I will keep it to the end. Psalm 119:33
 
https://youtu.be/FSHe-kibZDg?si=urLIDFWyMzCsiVjD Teach Me Thy Way, O Lord
 

Copyright © 2025 Sh'ma Christian Ministries, All rights reserved.