Renewed Commitment

October 26

Jeremiah 48-49

Psalm 119:25-32

Proverbs 25:27-28

Hebrews 7:1-10

Renewed Commitment

“I am laid low in the dust; preserve my life according to Your Word.  I gave an account of my ways and You answered me;  teach me Your decrees.  Cause me to understand the way of Your precepts, that I may meditate on Your wonderful deeds.  My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to Your Word.  Keep me from deceitful ways; be gracious to me and teach me Your law.  I have chosen the way of faithfulness;  I have set my heart on Your laws.  I hold fast to Your statutes, Lord; do not let me be put to shame.  I run in the path of Your commands, for You have broadened my understanding.”  Psalm 119:25-32 NIV 

In this passage David was overwhelmed with grief and sorrow.  We don’t know why he was feeling this way but it seems likely that it was a result of some moral failure and personal struggle with sin.  God’s Word had helped him to recognize sin in his life and he felt a deep sense of conviction and remorse to the point of feeling like he was as low as the dust on the ground.  2 Timothy 3:16 tells us that God’s Word is profitable for rebuking and correcting and it is evident that David was experiencing that reproof from the Lord.  He was weary with sorrow and asked God to strengthen him according to the promises in His Word.  “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” Isaiah 40:29 NIV   David confessed his sin to God and asked God to restore him.  “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” I John 1:9 LSB   David was truly repentant and he did not want to repeat this failure.  He asked God to keep him away from deception and to help him understand God’s precepts, statutes and commands.  He made a commitment to the way of faithfulness and set his heart to follow God.  He experienced a renewed commitment to God and to walk in His ways. 

David’s journey through this process is an excellent example for us to follow.  God’s Word is able to rebuke and convict us when we stray.  It offers us comfort in our sorrow and remorse which leads us to confession and repentance so that our relationship with God can be restored.  It is capable of keeping us from deception as we study and learn His commands and it teaches us His ways.  As we walk through the process David did, we can experience a renewed commitment to God and a resolve to grow closer to Him.  Like David we can choose the way of faithfulness and commitment even after a moral failure and we can trust in God’s willingness and ability to restore us according to the promises in His Word.