You have commanded your precepts
to be kept diligently.
Oh that my ways may be steadfast
in keeping your statutes!
Then I shall not be put to shame,
having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.
Psalm 119.4-6
Psalm 119.4-6
Our psalmist friend realizes something important. God expects diligence when it comes to obeying Him. We live in a day of sloppy obedience within the American Church. There is a kind of obedience, and no one comes out and says, 'Obedience to God's commands isn't at all important' (though there are some even in the evangelical wing of the Church who, believe it or not, come very close to that), but that is the attitude of many. All one needs to do is to examine how people invest themselves. How much time, energy, thought is spent on knowing what God calls for and on working to pursue that? It's just not that important. 'After all, I'm going to heaven anyway, right?' The psalmist knows better and says so.
Now, lots of folk set this all aside because if they were to take it seriously they would feel overwhelmed. They have no idea how to keep God's commands diligently. Even thinking about trying to do that sends them into a panic. 'It is simply impossible.' But our friend knows what to do. 'Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes.' What's that? It's a prayer. The writer is expressing his desire to God. 'I want to keep your commands and to do that diligently. I know myself well enough to know that I can't do that. But You are a God of grace who loves to give good gifts to His children. So, grant to me, by your grace, the ability to obey Your commands in the way that You want them obeyed.' The only possible sane response to clearly seeing God's call for diligent obedience is prayer.
So, was his prayer granted? Well, it depends on what you mean. If you mean, 'Did God make him perfect in his obedience?', then the answer is obvious. No! He still sins. He still gets a bit sloppy in his obedience. But if you mean, 'Is God slowly but surely changing him so that he is becoming better at obedience?', then the answer is also obvious. Yes! And the psalmist knows that's what is happening. That's what the last verse is about. He knows that there is progress and, as a result, he will not be ashamed when his life is put to the test. But note, that doesn't mean that he can sit back and coast. There is still work for him to do. His eyes are fixed on all of God's commandments. He is looking at them, working to understand them, aware that diligent obedience is still important. He is investing himself when it comes to all of this. But his hope of progress is the grace of God.