Put false ways far from me and graciously teach me
your law!
Psalms 119:29
Our psalmist friend
is aware of false ways. These are ways of living that are just wrong. They lead
to a deeper and deeper experience of death. And, as the psalmist also knows,
there are so many ways to fall into a false way. The world, the flesh and the
devil conspire to lead as many as possible into these damning ways of living.
So, knowing the
danger, the psalmist responds in the only way that makes sense. He calls out to
God. He prays. And what he wants his God to do is to teach him. His goal in
this is not to become smarter. No, it is to become wiser. But real wisdom is
only comes by God's Law, the Scriptures. The way to become wise is to become
knowledgeable. It's about getting to know the Bible and thus to know true ways
of living. And that is what our friend asks for.
Now, let's not
forget an important word here, 'graciously'. The psalmist is making no demand
of God. He knows that he has no basis for any such demand. In fact, he knows
that he has forfeited any reason for God to grant him his request. He remembers
the times that he has fallen into a false way. But this does not stop him from
praying. He appeals to God's grace. He asks God to be kind to him because of
His forgiveness. And what encourages him in his prayer is that he knows that
this God, his God, is a gracious God. He does not simply assume that God will
grant his request, but he does expect him to. After all, he believes the
Gospel.
This is how awful
sinners like us grow to be Godly saints.