Psalm 119:17-24 The Psalmist's Prayer
1. A Prayer of Recognition
His Prayer - 17 Deal bountifully,
His Place - with thy servant, (? Gimel - Camel)
His Pursuit - that I may live,
His Path - and keep thy word.
2. A Prayer for Revelation
A Desire for Sight - 18 Open thou mine eyes,
A Desire for Light - that I may behold wondrous things
The Salvation of the Sinner, The Sanctification of the Saint,
The Satisfaction of the Sovereign, The Celebration of the Saviour.
A Desire for Right - out of thy law.
3. A Prayer of Reclamation -
Because Of -
His Profession - 19 I am a stranger in the earth:
This world is not my Home - Strangers Need - A Guest, A Guard, and A Guide.
Proverbs 18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
His Privation - hide not thy commandments
His Persuasion - from me. - Fanny J. Crosby's Hymn -
I must have the Saviour with me, For I dare not walk alone;
I must feel his presence near me, And his arms around me thrown.
Then my soul shall fear no ill; Let him lead me where he will,
I will go without a murmur, And his footsteps follow still.
The Continual Need for -
The Presence of God, The Power of God,
The Purpose of God, The Plan of God, The Panoply of God (Covering)
4, A Prayer for Regulation -
The Desire - 20 My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath
The Delight - unto thy judgments
The Duration - at all times.
5. A Prayer of Reparation
The Source - 21 Thou hast rebuked the proud
The Sentence - that are cursed,
The Sin - which do err from thy commandments.
6. A Prayer for Restoration
It's Gift - 22 Remove from me (Deliverance From God Alone)
It's Goal - reproach and contempt;
It's Grounds - for I have kept thy testimonies.
7. A Prayer of Remonstration
The Company - 23 Princes also did sit
The Contempt - and speak against me:
The Condemned - but thy servant
The Consoled - did meditate in thy statutes.
8. A Prayer of Resignation To -
The Word of God - 24 Thy testimonies also
The Will of God - are my delight
The Ways of God - and my counsellors.
Whosoever will reign with Christ in heaven,
must have Christ reigning in him on earth (John Wesley)
