One Who Practices the Way (the Word)

[Psalm 119:1-8]

The main point of Psalm 119:1-8 is that those who practice the Way are blessed. In other words, today’s passage says that those who keep God’s (law) are blessed (verse 1). Indeed, those who obey God’s law and whose deeds are perfect are blessed (verse 1). So how do these blessed people live? The passage tells us two things.

First, the blessed person does not commit injustice.
Look at the first part of Psalm 119:3: “They do no wrong...” How can we avoid doing wrong? We need to learn righteous judgment. Look at verse 7: “When I learn your righteous judgments, I will thank you with a sincere heart.” When we learn righteous judgment, we can clearly distinguish right from wrong, good from evil. Those with righteous judgment do not commit injustice. But if we lack righteous judgment, we will choose the wrong path (evil), and by choosing the wrong path, we will defile ourselves. Then we will inevitably face shame (verse 6).

Second, the blessed person keeps God’s commandments.
Look at Psalm 119:1: “Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD.” The blessed person learns righteous judgment through God’s law. And with this righteous judgment, he chooses the right path (good) and does not choose the wrong path (evil). Anyone who learns righteous judgment never chooses the wrong path. Therefore, he does not commit injustice. Then how do we learn righteous judgment? It is through God’s law. The more we learn God’s law, the more righteous judgment we develop. Thus, we gain the ability to clearly distinguish right from wrong. This can be called biblical discernment. With this discernment, when we choose good and hate evil through righteous judgment, our hearts become sincere. And a person with a sincere heart will never choose the path of injustice.

We need to have righteous judgment through God’s Word. And we must live a life that chooses good and hates evil through righteous judgment. That is, we must not stop at merely learning the Way (the Word), but become those who practice the Way. We must become doers of the Word and not hearers only, deceiving ourselves (James 1:22). We must be diligent in this. In other words, we must diligently keep God’s Word (verse 4). We must never be diligent in committing injustice (verse 3). We must pray to God for this (verse 2). In other words, we must seek God wholeheartedly in order to obey His Word (verse 2). And in prayer, we must practice God’s Way (Word).

Those who practice God’s Word are blessed (verse 2). They will not be put to shame (verse 6). And they will give thanks to the Lord (verse 7).

Wishing you to be one who practices God’s Word,

Shared by Pastor James Kim
(Pursuing a sincere heart even amid a crisis of integrity)