Consumed With Longing

The assumption of Ps 119 is that we come to the Bible not merely to be educated but to be enriched. Not just to know, but to delight, to worship, to marvel, to wonder. People who have started to taste want to carry on tasting more and more because what we have tasted of God in the Word is marvels and wonders for our amazement, enjoyment and treasure. We are meant to cry out "I WANT SOME MORE" because this is so good. Or, as the Psalmist puts it, "to be consumed with longing." Here are 28 consuming verses from the psalm:

 

  • I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches (14)
  • I delight in your decrees (16)
  • Open my eyes that I might see wonderful things in your law (18)
  • My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times (20)
  • Your statutes are my delight; they are my counsellors (24)
  • I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free (32)
  • Direct me in the path of your commands for there I find delight (35)
  • May your unfailing love come to me, O Lord (41)
  • I delight in your commands because I love them. I lift up my hands to your commands which I love (47-48)
  • Your decrees are the theme of my song wherever I lodge (54)
  • I have sought your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise (58)
  • The earth is filled with your love, O Lord; teach me your decrees (64)
  • You are good, and what you do is good; teach me your decrees (68)
  • The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold (72)
  • May your unfailing love be my comfort (76)
  • Let your compassion come to me that I may live (77)
  • My soul faints with longing for your salvation (81)
  • Save me, for I am yours (94)
  • Oh, how I love your law! (97)
  • How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! (103)
  • Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart (111)
  • My flesh trembles in fear of you; I stand in awe of your laws (120)
  • Your statutes are wonderful (129)
  • I open my mouth and pant, longing for your commands (131)
  • I call with all my heart, answer me O Lord (145)
  • My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises (148)
  • I rejoice in your promise like one who finds great spoil (162)
  • May my cry come before you...my supplication come before you...my lips overflow with praise...my tongue sing of your word (169-172)
  • I long for your salvation, O Lord, and your law is my delight. Let me live that I may praise you (174-175)

 

There it is, right at the end - the purpose of my whole life: let me live that I may praise you. Don't take away the breath out of my body today because I want to exalt you and exult in you. I love the visceral nature of the Psalmists worship. Being consumed = seeking and singing, treasuring and trembling, overflowing and fearing, calling and crying, longing and delighting,tasting sweetness, running, meditating, panting!

Oh, get down on your knees and pour out your heart to him. Express the extent of your thirst to him. Come to him for filling, for delight, and marvel at him today. He loves our scripture-saturated worship.