In Psalm 119 the writer used ten synonyms for the Word of God:
• Law (25 times)
• Word (20 times)
• Saying (19 times)
• Commandment (21 times)
• Statutes (21 times)
• Judgment (23 times)
• Precepts (21 times)
• Testimony (23 times)
• Way (11 times)
• Path (five times)
But what is of interest in He (Psalm 119:33-40) is the number of verbs the writer used in this stanza—eight.
In fact, each verse contains a verb: six connecting his desire for the Word and two his desire to depart from evil.
Here, take a look:
Psalms 119:33-40 (KJV): “Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end. Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight. Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness. Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way. Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear. Turn away my reproach which I fear: for thy judgments are good. Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.”
The writer asked the Lord to teach, give, make, incline, stablish, and quicken him; all verbs that we could also request of the Lord when it comes to His Word and personal righteousness. The double use of “turn away” is also very appropriate in our asking of the Lord today. But why did the Psalmist speak of vanity and reproach?
The vain things of this world—riches, honor, and carnal pleasure—compose the vanity the author wanted to turn from.
His genuine desire was to be made alive by “the way” and not “the world.”
The reproach he wanted to turn away from was his instability in walking in the Way. He feared succumbing to his own weaknesses away from the Word’s goodness would, in turn, bring a personal reproach—a reproach that we, too, truly want to avoid.
It is so disappointing that the vain things of this world, those false and worthless things, can even rival His Word in today’s Christian; but, regrettably, it does. Thus, the need for a true revival of His Word amongst us.
