October 20, 2019 -- Psalm 119:36 -- Inclined to God the Glorious
/Incline my heart to your testimonies,
and not to selfish gain!
Psalm 119:36 English Standard Version
The psalmist is praying that the LORD God will tip the scales of his heart so that his heart will always slide towards the things of God. He is aware that without the touch of God’s mercy his heart will always rush towards selfishness. Our hearts are not neutral. We are not generally good. In fact our hearts are bent on evil all the time. Blaise Pascal, long ago noted: “the heart has reasons that reason knows nothing of”.
Briefly consider these words—the LORD speaking to Job after all of Job’s sufferings—
Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:
2 “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
3 Dress for action[a] like a man;
I will question you, and you make it known to me.
4 “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell me, if you have understanding.
5 Who determined its measurements—surely you know!
Or who stretched the line upon it?
6 On what were its bases sunk,
or who laid its cornerstone,
7 when the morning stars sang together
and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
8 “Or who shut in the sea with doors
when it burst out from the womb,
9 when I made clouds its garment
and thick darkness its swaddling band,
10 and prescribed limits for it
and set bars and doors,
11 and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther,
and here shall your proud waves be stayed’?
12 “Have you commanded the morning since your days began,
and caused the dawn to know its place,
13 that it might take hold of the skirts of the earth,
and the wicked be shaken out of it? Job 38 ESV
The weight of God’s glory moves our hearts. We are submitted and submerged at the sheer grandeur of Who He Is. That is the point the psalmist makes, that his heart will not grow cold to the things of God, but tilted by the weight of God's majesty will reverberate with awe and devotion to the LORD of Glory.
If you have time, keep reading through Job 38 and further. What magnificence you will mine there. The Sovereign is not some distant deity, high, far and cold. He is connected with His creation, delighted in the wonders He has made, and keenly aware of all what we do all the while His stateliness and nobility continually are set forth. No corner of the cosmos or millimetre of the earth is free from the weight of His glory.
God of Splendor, before whom the morning stars sing and the angels shout in awe-filled praise, blessed are You. Mighty and Great is Your Name and all honour and praise belong to You. What extravagant mercy You show us in Jesus Christ—that You reveal Your purposes and show us Your salvation. Spirit of the Living, All-Powerful God, incline our hearts to the things of God and the rapturous praise of His Name in Christ Jesus our King and Saviour. Amen.
