On Monday, we looked at the shortest of the Psalms. Today we are going to look at the beginning of the longest Psalm, Psalm 119.

“Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord. Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts. They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths.” (Psalm 119:1-3)

Would you like to be a person of integrity who follows the instructions of the Lord, obeys His laws, and searches for Him with all your heart? The writer of Psalm 119 says that those people are joyful and do not compromise with evil. Do you compromise with evil? Think about the ways in your life that you compromise your beliefs. Maybe there is a movie or television show that has a lot of blasphemous language, nudity, sex, or violence but the story is so good and everyone else is seeing it, so you compromise. Maybe there’s a popular artist or song that promotes sinful behavior, celebrating a sinful lifestyle, but the beat is so cool, so you compromise. Perhaps a cause or charity sounds really good and your favorite celebrity supports it but this cause spreads anti-Biblical beliefs and you decide to compromise. Look at your movie collection, your music library, your social media posts or the accounts you follow—do these reflect compromise with this world or do they reflect a person of integrity who follows the instructions of the Lord, obeys His laws, and searches for Him with all their heart?

“Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees! Then I will not be ashamed when I compare my life with your commands. As I learn your righteous regulations, I will thank you by living as I should!” (Psalm 119:5-7) 

Do you feel shame if you were to compare your life with God’s commands? Are you trying every day to keep his commands? We won’t measure up to God’s perfect standard on our own, which is almost the entire point! We need to strive for the standard that Jesus set as we walk with Him. We need to work hard so that our actions can consistently reflect God’s decrees. When we live like this and we learn God’s regulations, we will be living as we should, which is another way we can thank God for all He has done for us.

“How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word.” (Psalm 119:9)

This is a question not only young people have but people of any age: how do I stay pure? By obeying God’s word. Can you imagine what the younger generation would look like if they were taught this verse and if they saw the older generation obeying it? There’s no claim that this is an easy thing to do—it’s not! It is, however, a black and white question and answer: you want to stay pure, obey God’s word. It takes work and dedication. You have to be uncompromising with this world and not love it or anything in it. John wrote in 1 John 2:15, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.” Obey God’s word and you will stay pure.

“I have tried hard to find you—don’t let me wander from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:10-11)

Do you try hard to find God? Sometimes we get to the end of the day and realize we haven’t talked to God at all or we haven’t opened our Bibles. That’s not trying hard to find him. If we don’t try hard to find God then we could very easily wander from His commands. We have to be intentional in our walk with Christ. The more we try hard to find God, study the Word, and commit Scripture to memory, the more equipped we will be to resist temptation and sin. When Satan tempted Jesus in the dessert, Jesus answered each temptation with Scripture. If Jesus needed to hide the Scriptures in His heart to fight temptation, how much more do we need to do so? Hide God’s word in your heart so that you may not sin against Him.

Make time throughout the weekend to read all 176 verses of Psalm 119 and notice which sections you relate to most. Will you find yourself relating to verses 81-88, where the writer says, “I am worn out waiting for your rescue, but I have put my hope in your word. My eyes are straining to see your promises come true. When will you comfort me?” Or do you relate more to the confidence found in section 41-48 where the writer says, “I will keep on obeying your instructions forever and ever. I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to your commandments.” Where will you see yourself in Psalm 119?

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

—Redeemed