Cleaving To The Word Series

BIG IDEA:

COMMITMENT TO GOD’S WORD IS THE PATHWAY TO PERSONAL

REVIVAL (= REVIVED SPIRITUAL STRENGTH)

I. CONDITIONS THAT CALL FOR PERSONAL REVIVAL

A. (:25) Emotional Death

"My soul cleaves to the dust"

We came from dust and our body will return to the dust (imagery of death)

B. (:28) Overwhelming Grief

"My soul weeps because of grief "

C. (:29) Moral Failure

"the false way" -- contrasted with "the faithful way"

could be talking about injustice others commit against you; but more likely is talking about personal moral failure

D. (:32) Constricted Heart

need to have one’s heart "enlarged"

II. CATALYST FOR PERSONAL REVIVAL = CONFESSION + GOD’S WORD

(Talking here about God’s initiative and grace and power)

A. (:26) Confession

"I have told of my ways, and Thou hast answered me"

B. (:25,28) God’s Word

(:25) "Revive me according to Thy word"

(:28) "Strengthen me according to Thy word"

Again, note all of the different words used to refer to God’s Word:

"statutes" (:26)

"precepts" (:27)

"law" (:29)

"ordinances" (:30)

"testimonies" (:31)

"commandments" (:32)

III. COMMITMENT TO GOD’S WORD

(Talking here about man’s responsibility)

A. Commitment to Learn."Teach me Thy statutes" (:26)

There is a necessary learning process; Growth doesn’t just happen automatically and instantly:

Requires God’s Grace to:

- Reveal truth

- Cause one to understand truth

B. Commitment to Meditate

"So I will meditate on Thy wonders" (:27) - as those wonders are revealed in God’s Word

C. Commitment to Obey - conscious choice involved; determination

"I have chosen the faithful way"

"I have placed Thine ordinances before me"

"I cleave to Thy testimonies"

"I shall run the way of Thy commandments"

But still dependent on God’s Grace

* * * * * * * * * *

DEVOTIONAL QUESTIONS:

1) How honest are we before ourselves and God about the depths of our own sin? Do we ever weep before God in grief over our sin? Do we practice open confession

where we declare all of our ways to God?

2) When we are down and depressed where do we turn for the lifting of our spirits? Do we practice denial and feed our fleshly appetites with food, with entertainment, with activity? Do we give in to despair and become paralyzed as we pity our sorry lot? Or do

we turn to God’s Word and allow God to revive our hearts?

3) How determined and dedicated are we in terms of choosing “the faithful way”?

4) Under what circumstances does our heart feel constricted? Where does our old nature tend to rear its ugly head? How have we seen God enlarge our heart over the years of walking with Him?

Download the entire Psalms commentary in pdf format

(including notes on each psalm from other commentators)

from:

http://www.bibleoutlines.com