|
Psalm 119:32 "I
will run the way of thy commandments,
when thou shalt enlarge my heart." Having
gotten in the way, David is hastening on the way, for running implies being in a
hurry. He says, “I
will run.” The pace of life
on this earth is ever increasing. Yet,
despite the speed of life, there are few who are truly hastening toward Heaven.
Many claim Heaven as their final destination, but, to all outward
appearances, seem to be in no hurry to get there.
They seem to want to take their time walking in the By-Path Meadow.
They seem to relish the things of earth and wish to tarry here a little
longer. Therefore, they move on
with snails’ pace toward the David says, “I will run.” Furthermore, running implies a freedom from hindrance. The writer of Hebrews instructed the Hebrew Christians to “lay aside every weight” and to “run with patience the race that is set before us” (Heb. 12:1). The ancient Greeks would compete naked to eliminate any restriction of movement. They wanted their bodies to be free to perform. The Psalmist here indicates that he has laid aside the old man’s garments to free the new man to “run the way.” We find many Christians today with their bodies bound with the world’s fashions and barely able to walk a little in the way. Additionally,
running implies an expenditure of energy and force and a firm resolve to move
deliberately toward the goal. David
says, “I will run.”
He is bringing his energies to bear upon his task.
There is no doubt that the runner with his blood, sweat, and straining
muscles is in the race. He is
resolved and persevering until he reaches the finish line.
David’s striving is a real effort and means that there is a measurable
progress in a period of time. David
is making tracks and covering ground. There
are too many professed Christians today who are pretty much in the same place
spiritually they were years ago. For
them, the race seems to be mostly a spectator’s sport. One
must also admire here David’s pragmatic approach to God’s Word.
He finds a “way” in the
truths of Holy Scripture. The
legalist runs after the law to “bind
heavy burdens and grievous to be borne,” in order to “lay
them on men’s shoulders” (Matt. 23:4).
The antinomian runs after grace to use his “liberty
for a cloke of maliciousness” (I Pet. Daniel prophesied of the last days saying, “Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased” (Dan. 12:4). We have witnessed this with the religionists of this day. There is much running back and forth. Everyone seems to going in different directions. It would also seem that knowledge has been increased. However, for all this running and increase of knowledge, we find no surge of practical godliness and personal holiness. We find many today that can teach systematic doctrine, who know little to nothing of holy living. The
Psalmist declares, “I will run the way
of thy commandments.” All of
his struggle and effort is directed and regulated by God’s Word.
He finds here no book of mere intellectual stimulation, but rather words “to
keep and to do” (Josh. 23:6). He
confesses, “I made haste, and delayed
not to keep thy commandments” (Psa. 119:60).
The Psalmist loves God’s Word and delights to walk in His way.
He believes the words of Moses to the children of Finally, David says, “When thou shalt enlarge my heart.” God would enlarge his heart by shedding abroad His love and grace within it. He would enlarge his heart by filling it with wisdom from on high. He would enlarge his heart by marking in it the “remembrance of his holiness” (Psa. 97:12). For every growth in knowledge, for every growth in grace, the Psalmist would accelerate his pace. He says, “I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.” May God give us grace to desire an enlarged heart more than an enlarged head and to get on in the way to Heaven. Amen. |