26 Things the Psalmist Asks of the Lord

This summer, the girls over in the private, Sweeter Than Honey Facebook group and I spent 52 days in the book of Psalms. It was a lovely time together as we journaled a prayer each day—52 prayers from David and other writers of the psalms. This journal is a treasure!

On June 7, when we arrived at Psalm 119, we discovered 26 things the psalmist asks of the Lord. These are 26 things we should ask of the Lord as well.

​Let's look at those today!

"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. I am a sojourner on the earth; hide not Your commandments from me!" Psalm 119:17-19

"My soul is consumed with longing for Your rules at all times. You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones, who wander from Your commandments. Take away from me scorn and contempt, for I have kept Your testimonies. Even though princes sit plotting against me, Your servant will meditate on Your statutes. Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors.

​My soul clings to the dust; give me life according to Your Word! When I told of my ways, You answered me; teach me Your statutes! Make me understand the way of Your precepts, and I will meditate on Your wondrous works. My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to Your Word! Put false ways far from me and graciously teach me Your law! I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set Your rules before me. I cling to Your testimonies, O Lord; let me not be put to shame! I will run in the way of Your commandments when You enlarge my heart!

Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes; and I will keep it to the end. Give me understanding, that I may keep Your law and observe it with my whole heart. Lead me in the path of Your commandments, for I delight in it. Incline my heart to Your testimonies, and not to selfish gain! Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in Your ways. Confirm to Your servant Your promise, that You may be feared. Turn away the reproach that I dread, for Your rules are good. Behold, I long for Your precepts; in Your righteousness give me life!

Let Your steadfast love come to me, O Lord, Your salvation according to Your promise; then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me, for I trust in Your Word. And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for my hope is in Your rules. I will keep Your law continually, forever and ever, and I shall walk in a wide place, for I have sought Your precepts. I will also speak of Your testimonies before kings and shall not be put to shame, for I find my delight in Your commandments, which I love. I will lift up my hands toward Your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on Your statutes.

Remember Your Word to Your servant, in which You have made me hope. This is my comfort in my affliction, that Your promise gives me life. The insolent utterly deride me, but I do not turn away from Your law. When I think of Your rules from of old, I take comfort, O Lord. Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked, who forsake Your law. Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my sojourning. I remember Your name in the night, O Lord, and keep Your law. This blessing has fallen to me, that I have kept Your precepts.

The Lord is my portion; I promise to keep Your Words.I entreat Your favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to Your promise. When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to Your testimonies; I hasten and do not delay to keep Your commandments. Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me, I do not forget Your law. At midnight I rise to praise You, because of Your righteous rules. I am a companion of all who fear You, of those who keep Your precepts. The earth, O Lord, is full of Your steadfast love; teach me Your statutes!

You have dealt well with your servant, O Lord, according to Your Word. Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in Your commandments. Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your Word. You are good and do good; teach me Your statutes. The insolent smear me with lies, but with my whole heart I keep Your precepts; their heart is unfeeling like fat, but I delight in Your law. It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn Your statutes. The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces." Psalm 119:20-72

26 Things the Psalmist Asks of the Lord From Psalm 119:17-68:

1. Deal bountifully with Your servant (17)
2. Open my eyes (18)
3. Hide not Your commandments from me! (19)
4. Take away from me scorn and contempt (22)
   
   
5. Give me life according to Your Word! (25)
6. Teach me Your statutes! (26)
7. Make me understand the way of Your precepts (27)
8. Strengthen me according to Your Word! (28)
9. Put false ways far from me (29)
10. Teach me Your law! (29)
11. Let me not be put to shame! (31)
    
    
12. Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes (33)
13. Give me understanding (34)
14. Lead me in the path of Your commandments (35)
15. Incline my heart to Your testimonies (36)
16. Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things (37)
17. Give me life in Your ways (37)
18. Confirm to Your servant Your promise (38)
19. Turn away the reproach that I dread (39)
20. In Your righteousness give me life! (40)
    
    
21. Let Your steadfast love come to me (41)
22. Take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth (43)
    
    
23. Remember Your Word to Your servant (49)
    
    
24. Be gracious to me according to Your promise (58)
    
    
25. Teach me good judgment and knowledge (66)
26. Teach me Your statutes (68)

These certainly constitute a powerful prayer!

Five times the psalmist writes "teach me." And then he says something very interesting in verse 71.

"It is GOOD for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn Your statutes." Psalm 119:71

We don't really like the word "affliction" or "afflicted." Those words conjure up visions of hardship and brokenness. But the psalmist tells us that this is GOOD, that THIS is the place we learn about God!

​What have you learned about God in times of affliction?