Psalms 119:33 - Meaning and Application

Here, David earnestly asks God himself to be his teacher. He had prophets, wise men, and priests around him, and he already knew God’s law well. Even so, he begs to be taught by God, because no one teaches like him (Job 36:22).

He is not asking for more facts or religious words. He wants to learn the way of God’s statutes, that is, how to apply them to his own life and govern himself by them. He asks God to teach him the way of his duty, the path God’s commands require, and in hard questions to make clear what he should do, as in, “This is the way, walk in it” (Isaiah 30:21).

He also asks to be taught in a way no human teacher can manage: “Lord, give me understanding.” As the God who made us, God gives us minds and reasoning powers. But as the God of grace, he must also give us understanding to use those powers for the great matters that affect our peace, since our sinful nature resists them. We need an enlightened understanding, because it is almost as bad to have no understanding as to have understanding that is not made holy.

The outward word alone will not do the job unless God gives wisdom within. This is something we owe to Christ, for the Son of God has come and has given us understanding (1 John 5:20).

David also promises that he will be a faithful learner. If God teaches him, he is sure he will learn well. He says, “I shall keep your law,” because no one can truly keep it unless God teaches him, and that is why he asks so earnestly to be taught.

If God by his Spirit gives us a right and good understanding, two things will follow. First, our obedience will be steady: “I shall keep it to the end,” that is, through the whole course of life, which is the clearest sign of sincerity. A traveler gains nothing by staying on the right road for a while if he leaves it before reaching the end.

Second, our obedience will be wholehearted: “I shall observe it with my whole heart.” Then we obey with joy, energy, and firm purpose. The whole person follows whatever the whole heart chooses, and that is how it should be with God’s commandments, because keeping them is the whole duty of man.