A Prayer for Understanding: Psalm 119:17-24

A Prayer for Understanding

Psalm 119:17-24

I pray Psalm 119:18 each time I go to the Bible, “Open my eyes that I may behold wonders in your law.” I'm asking specifically that I would have spiritual eyes to see what is wonderful as wonderful. And don't think that it doesn't matter that you read glorious things without seeing them as glorious. It matters, and therefore we should plead with God to open our eyes.
John Piper

Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, prayed “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened” (Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭17‬-‭18‬). Paul knew that in order for the Ephesian believers to truly understand the things of God, they would need the Lord to enable their spiritual understanding. The physical ears, eyes, and mind may be fully engaged and functioning, but without the enabling power of God, His Word will fall on deaf ears and hard hearts. We need the Spirit’s help when we come to God’s Word. 

The Scriptures tell us that the natural man does not accept the things of God because they appear as foolishness to him, and in fact he cannot even understand them (1 Corinthians 2:14). Yet we who belong to Christ have the Spirit of Christ and the mind of Christ. When we sit under the preaching of God’s Word, read it, study it, memorize it, or meditate on it, the Spirit within us can reveal His truth to us so that we might know the things freely given to us by God (1 Corinthians 2:12). By His grace, the Lord teaches us His way even in times when we are not asking Him for His help. But how much more could we learn and know and grow in Him if, when we come to His Word, we cry out to Him to open our eyes, increase our understanding, help us to see wonderful things and behold His beauty (Psalm 27:4; 119:18)? This is the psalmist’s cry in this section of Psalm 119. He asks that the Lord deal bountifully with him (119:17), open his eyes to see wondrous things from God’s law (119:18), and that the Lord would not hide His commandments from him (119:19). He knows God’s testimonies will counsel his soul (119:24). We too need Him to deal bountifully with us for the profit of our souls.

When Paul prayed for the Ephesians’ understanding to be enlightened, it was for a purpose. He wanted them to be able to understand beautiful truths about our Christian life. He wanted them to know the hope of God’s calling, the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe (Ephesians 1:18-19). Do you want to know more of the hope we’ve been called to? Do you want to understand more the riches of glory and of grace that are yours in Christ? Do you want to see more clearly the surpassing greatness of His power toward you? Do you want to see His Word as wonderful and filled with glorious truths? Do you want to see Him as beautiful and worthy of your praise and your life? I do. 

Let’s pray through this section of Psalm 119 for the eyes of our hearts to be opened to the glorious truths in His Word.

119:17-18 Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and keep your word. Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. 
Pray:
▫️The Lord would deal bountifully with you and give you spiritual understanding. 
▫️As He increases your understanding, this would help you to live and keep His Word.
▫️He would open your eyes so that you can behold wonderful things in His Word. 

119:19-20 I am a sojourner on the earth; hide not your commandments from me! My soul is consumed with longing for your rules at all times. 
Pray:
▫️The Lord would not hide His commandments from you. You would not be like the natural man who sees God’s ways as foolish and cannot even understand them. 
▫️You would be filled with longing for His rules at all times. Not only would God give you understanding and wisdom from His Word but also an intense longing to know more of Him and His Word.

119:21-22 You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones, who wander from your commandments. Take away from me scorn and contempt, for I have kept your testimonies.
 
Pray:
▫️God’s Word would be profitable to you by teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training you in righteousness that you may be adequate, equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
▫️The increasing of your understanding of God’s Word and God’s ways would also increase your wisdom in keeping His testimonies. 

119:23-24 Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statutes. Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors.
Pray:
▫️Through meditation on His Word, you would have a deeper intimacy with the Lord. As you think about and talk to yourself about the Scriptures, He would illuminate your understanding and the way His Word applies to your life.
▫️His testimonies would be your delight.
▫️ His Word would be the best counselor for your soul. As you learn from Him, you would be equipped to counsel and comfort others with the counsel and comfort you have received.
‭‭
May the Lord do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, for His glory and our good. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Scripture quotations are from The ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway. Used by permission. All right reserved.

Photo credit to marina_mv08

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