Psalms 119:5

5 If only my ways were committed to keeping Your statutes!

Psalms 119:5 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 119:5

O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!
] The psalmist, sensible of his own inability, as every good man is, to keep the commands of God, prays for grace, direction, and assistance in it; that the ways of his mind, his thoughts, affections, and inclinations, might be directed to an observance of the divine precepts; knowing he could not command his thoughts, raise his affections, dispose his mind, and incline his heart thereunto; and finding a backwardness to religious exercises and spiritual duties, and that the ways and actions of his life might be guided to the same; being sensible he could not take one step aright without God and Christ; that the way of man is not in himself, and that it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps; that a good man's steps are ordered by the Lord, and he directs his paths: besides the direction of the word, there is need of the Spirit and grace of God, to cause a person to walk in his statutes, and to keep his judgments, and do them; see ( Jeremiah 10:23 ) ( Psalms 37:23 ) ( Proverbs 3:6 ) ( Ezekiel 36:27 ) .

Psalms 119:5 In-Context

3 They do nothing wrong; they follow His ways.

4 You have commanded that Your precepts be diligently kept.

5 If only my ways were committed to keeping Your statutes!

6 Then I would not be ashamed when I think about all Your commands.

7 I will praise You with a sincere heart when I learn Your righteous judgments.