Me . . . me . . . me. Usually that repeated word indicates a problem. A problem with focus . . . a problem with self-centeredness. But this morning, the psalmist presents a case for it being “about me.” This morning it’s not about a problem with focus, but a recognition of dependence . . . and the “me . . . me . . . me” is, in fact, an expression of confidence.

As the psalmist pens this portion of his 176 verse, 22 stanza, “Ode to the Word of God”, he seems a bit overwhelmed with some situation in his life. “My soul clings to the dust,” he writes, “my soul melts with heaviness.” (Ps. 119:25a, 28a). His soul was glued to the dirt . . . crushed with an immovable weight . . . the strength of the inner man was ebbing away. Not a bad time to start making things “about me.” Not “woe is me” . . . but, “God help me!” And from where does the psalmist seek that help? From the Word of God. Check it out . . .

“Revive me according to Your word (v.25) . . . Teach me Your statutes (v.26) . . . Make me understand the way of Your precepts (v.27) . . . Strengthen me according to Your word (v. 28) . . . Remove from me the way of lying (v.29) . . . Grant me Your law graciously (v.29).”

There it is . . . all “about me” . . . a cry of dependence. The psalmist, led by the Spirit of God, self-prescribes the remedy for his crushed soul, . . . the Word of God . . . taken in liberal doses . . . multiple times per day . . . no worry of overdose . . . likely to become addictive . . . healing and restoration guaranteed. But, lest we think the “medicine” is self-administered, the psalmist reminds us that apart from God’s intervention, the words we read from the pages of the Bible are just that, words . . . oh, how we need the psalmist’s heart in asking the Author to take the words and make them revelation.

The balm for a crushed soul is application of the Word of God by the Spirit of God. And so, we too must cry out, “Revive me . . . teach me . . . make me understand . . . strengthen me . . . grant me.” It is the cry of dependence. The expression of a heart that has already determined to chose the way of truth (v.30) . . . to cling to His testimonies (v.31) . . . to run the course of His commandments (v.32). But determination alone isn’t enough . . . it needs to be yoked with dependence. A recognition that apart from God’s active agency, there is no revelation, there is no understanding, there is no strengthening, there is no revival.

The latter part of verse 29 caught my attention in particular . . . and I think Peterson nails it in his “The Message” commentary, “Grace me with Your clear revelation.” How arrogant to think that I can study the Word and I can learn it and I can master it. No, anything I understand of the precious Word of God is because of His grace in revealing it to me. When it moves from “facts and data” to heart-stirring, soul-reviving, “words of life”, then know that it is the grace of God working through the Spirit of God to bless the child of God. O’ God, make it about me . . . for without You granting me “eyes to see”, Your Word would just be words.

The other thing that catches my attention is that the psalmist’s dependence isn’t just a desperate sort of “shot in the dark.” He’s not turning to the word of God as He might rub a lucky rabbit’s foot . . . superstitiously covering all his bases . . . approaching the word with an “I don’t know if it will help, but it sure can’t hurt” sort of attitude. No, there is a confidence that God will respond as this song-writer cries out to God to grace Him with understanding of the word . . “For You shall enlarge my heart” (v.32b).

God delights to enlarge one’s heart . . . to broaden one’s spiritual comprehension . . . to widen one’s heavenly understanding. Jesus said that if we ask, we will receive . . . if we seek, then we’ll find . . . if we knock, then the door will be open (Matt. 7:7). Oh, to hunger and thirst for the Word of God . . . in all circumstances of life . . . to cry out to the Father in holy dependence, seeking His gracious revelation . . . then, we can be confident that He will rescue our souls from the dust and lift the heaviness that crushes the soul with concern . . . confident that He will enlarge our hearts.

Dependent and confident . . . to Him be the glory . . . amen!