Psalms 119:35

Psalms 119:35 is a heartfelt prayer from the psalmist, expressing a profound desire for divine guidance and an intimate connection between obedience and joy. The verse states, "Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight." It captures a central theme of Psalm 119: the deep love and reverence for God's law as a source of life and pleasure.

Context

Psalm 119 is the longest psalm in the Bible, an acrostic poem dedicated entirely to the excellence, beauty, and importance of God's Word (referred to by various synonyms like statutes, precepts, judgments, and commandments). Each section of eight verses begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Verse 35 falls within the 'Daleth' section (verses 25-32), where the psalmist prays for revival, understanding, and strength to follow God's ways. This specific verse highlights the psalmist's active pursuit of God's will, not out of compulsion, but out of a genuine desire for the joy found within it.

Key Themes

• Divine Guidance and Enablement: The plea "Make me to go" indicates a recognition of human weakness and a reliance on God's active intervention to lead and empower the believer. It's a prayer for God to direct one's steps and provide the strength to walk in His ways.
• Joy in Obedience: The verse powerfully connects obedience with delight. The psalmist doesn't obey reluctantly but finds true pleasure and satisfaction in God's commandments. This is a profound spiritual truth: aligning with God's will is not burdensome but a source of deep joy and fulfillment.
• Volitional Surrender: While seeking divine enablement, the psalmist also expresses a personal will to embrace God's path. The delight is not forced but arises from a heart that genuinely loves and values God's instructions.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase translated "Make me to go" is hadrikheni (הַדְרִיכֵנִי), from the root darakh (דָּרַךְ), meaning "to tread, to walk, to lead, to direct." In the Hiphil stem (causative), it means "cause me to walk" or "lead me." This emphasizes God's active role in guiding and empowering the psalmist. The word for "path" is netiybah (נְתִיבָה), referring to a well-trodden way or an established course of life. The word for "delight" is eḥpats (אֶחְפָּץ), from chaphets (חָפֵץ), which means "to desire, to take pleasure in, to be pleased with." It conveys a deep, abiding pleasure and satisfaction, not merely a fleeting emotion.

Related Scriptures

• This verse resonates deeply with Psalm 1:2, which states, "But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night." Both verses emphasize the joy found in God's Word.
• The request for guidance echoes Proverbs 3:5-6, which advises, "In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." This highlights the importance of trusting God for direction.
• The concept of God enabling our obedience is a New Testament theme found in passages like Philippians 2:13, "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure."

Practical Application

For believers today, Psalms 119:35 serves as a model prayer and a profound truth:

1. Pray for Guidance: It encourages us to actively seek God's direction in our lives, acknowledging our need for His leading to walk in His righteous ways.
2. Embrace Obedience with Joy: It challenges the common misconception that God's commands are restrictive or burdensome. Instead, it reveals that true freedom and deep delight are found in aligning our will with His. Obedience is not a duty to endure, but a path to experience God's blessings and presence.
3. Rely on God's Grace: The plea "Make me to go" reminds us that living a life pleasing to God is not solely by our own strength but by His enabling grace. We depend on His Spirit to empower us to desire and walk in His commandments.