Does your soul “melt away for sorrow?” Ps119 s30e61

We will have an antidote towards the ever-present disease in our culture today, DOOMSCROLLING. 

How will we get our eyes to turn away from worthless things? What are they going to turn TOWARD? 

Join me for 7 minutes in Ps119 to find out! Then comment gracefully and subscribe on YouTube.

https://youtu.be/qNCJWvvF4zo

Transcript

Does your soul “melt away for sorrow?” Ps119 s30e61

Here is an internet question:  have you ever been trapped into watching some news feed, or tik tok, or Instagram and just doom scrolled? 

Time goes by 5 minutes 55 minutes 5 hours—designed to harvest your eyeballs and serotonin in your head. Don’t be surprised 37          Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; 

and give me life in your ways.*********** 

Ps 119 is a love song to the Word. Which is to say it is a song of desperation. Where else are we going to God Lord? Psalm 73 25 Whom have I in heaven but you? 

And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. 

3 things to remember so far:

WHEN is Psalm 119? 25 When my soul clings to the dust. Give me life according to your word. 28 When my soul melts away for sorrow, strengthen me according to your word.

Are we not the melting soul people? Is this not our burden and our privilege?

         For who is your soul melting? Who is your heart soft in sorrow.

         Are not these cries heard by the Lord. Doesn’t Ps 119 tell us He hears, cares

         Let us come to Ps119 with hearts that melt away for sorrow. #1 Posture

We saw this two days ago with #2  PURITY9  How can a young man keep his way pure? 

By guarding it according to your word. 

11    I have stored up your word in my heart, 

that I might not sin against you.

Probably wont have purity unless you love something more 

You will struggle with porn unless you love something more.

         . And the conviction that I might not sin against you.

#3 PERFORMANCE 37    Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; 

and give me life in your ways.*********** 

Let’s read our 8 verse, 5th stanza and we’ll get to the other two.

He

33    Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes; 

and I will keep it to the end. 

34    Give me understanding, that I may keep your law 

and observe it with my whole heart. 

35    Lead me in the path of your commandments, 

for I delight in it. 

36    Incline my heart to your testimonies,

and not to selfish gain! 

37    Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; 

and give me life in your ways.*********** 

38    Confirm to your servant your promise, 

that you may be feared. 

39    Turn away the reproach that I dread, 

for your rules are good. 

40    Behold, I long for your precepts; 

in your righteousness give me life! 

.Teach, give me understanding, lead me, Incline my heart turn my eyes confirm your promise and turn away the reproach. The person who is having all that is not passive!

And I will keep your statutes, observe with my whole heart, delight in commands, turn not to selfish gain, fear your promised, +declare your goodness

We come with melted souls for sorrow and then we ask the Lord, a few things Teach, give me understanding, lead me, Incline my heart turn my eyes confirm your promise and turn away the reproach

But there is much we can DO: Put self under teaching. Study for understanding. Be led. Actually incline my heart downhill towards your Word, turn my eyes actively away from some worthless things… and turn toward the valuable. Confirm your promise practically, how? Know it believe it, plant a flag there. Stop dreading reproach and rely on the rules and the Ruler. 

Do I look like I long for your precepts?  How’s my calendar and wallet and relationships and conviction going? 

What I am impressed with this stanza is not that Magic results are happening like Poof!, but they are being pursued one step actively at a time. 

This is less pie in the sky and more practical—even performative. 

The Lord has things to say! There is stuff for us to do! There are postures  of the melted hearts of sorrow and there is activities, actions, priorities, fostering inclinations toward and lots of running away: turn my eyes, turn away my fear that I dread, 

37    Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; 

and give me life in your ways.*********** 

Help me do this. God isn’t going to have the spastic control of your little eye MM

He does this with about 100% cooperation to the owner of the eyes

Certainly wants to be involved when eyes are looking at worthless things

Worth remembering specifically

1.POSTURE 28        My soul melts away for sorrow; 

strengthen me according to your word! 

2. . PURITY9           How can a young man keep his way pure? 

By guarding it according to your word. 

11    I have stored up your word in my heart, 

that I might not sin against you.

3. 37          Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; 

and give me life in your ways.*********** 

.Discern worthless things. Doom scrolling internet. TV. 

Not saying don’t use the computer.  Not saying don’t watch TV. 

Am saying, Discern if it is HARMFUL—does it need to be specifically battled. Not an inch. Make a stand

3. PERFORMANCE. Starts with Discern if it is WORTHLESS. If so turn my eyes.

         Who is it that turns your eyes away—you have a big part…

         He does His part too: gives you His ways; gives you life in His ways

         Gives you relationshiop with Himself to enjoy. TURN toward HIM

Waw

41    Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord, 

your salvation according to your promise; 

42    then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me, 

for I trust in your word. 

43    And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, 

for my hope is in your rules. 

44    I will keep your law continually, 

forever and ever, 

45    and I shall walk in a wide place, 

for I have sought your precepts. 

46    I will also speak of your testimonies before kings 

and shall not be put to shame, 

47    for I find my delight in your commandments, 

which I love.

48    I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love, 

and I will meditate on your statutes.