Psalm 119:4-6

"You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently. Oh that my ways would be steadfast in keeping your statutes! Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments."

Psalm 119:4-6 (ESV)

When I look at this passage a two words jump out at me right away: diligently an steadfast. Lets start with the first part of this verse. 

"You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently." The Lord has commanded us to keep His commandments. We are to inscribe them on our hearts and live them out in our lives. And very simply they are the ten commandments the Lord gave Moses. But I want to look at the word diligently, when I think of that word I think of perseverance and determination. According to the dictionary to be diligent about something means that we "quietly and steadily persevere, especially in detail or exactness." The Lord wants us to be exact, and persevere in how we follow the commands of the Lord. However, let us be careful in this as well, the Pharisees were diligent in following the law of the Lord looking for eternal life, yet they refused to accept the Savior and did their best to earn salvation by their works. (Take a look at John 5:38-40.)

Secondly we see the word steadfast. The Psalmist asks "Oh that my ways would be steadfast." But what does it mean to be steadfast. Since I've become fond of using the dictionary in these cases lets look and see what it says. Steadfast - marked by firm determination and resolution. 

The Psalmist was looking to be determined in his walk. I think this is something that I myself need to work on some days (most days) is a sheer determination to follow the Lord and walk upright in the ways of the Lord. It's a difficult way to walk, especially in this day and age. That is why we need to cry out to the Lord and ask for him to help us to this. 

And finally we can't forget about verse 6. If any of you have ever been exposed to the "scientific method" you should be familiar with an "If...then..." statement. "If I do such and such then I will have such and such an outcome." Do you see the "If...then..." statement here. It's evident in verse 6. "Then I will not be put to shame having my eyes fixed on all your commandments." The if part comes before that, if we are diligent to keep the commands of the Lord and steadfast in our ways then we won't be put to shame. Have you ever been put to shame by following the Lord. You may have been embarrassed or felt out of place but I certainly hope you weren't put to shame by living your life for the Lord. I think another key here is keeping our eyes fixed on the commands or on Christ. Remember Peter, when he kept his eyes fixed on Christ and not on his surroundings, he was able to walk on water. 

Lord, help me to be like the Pslamist who was diligent at keeping your commands. Not forgetting where my salvation comes from but living according to your Word and determining that my ways will be steadfast. I also ask that you help me keep not only my eyes, but my heart, my mind, and my soul fixed on your commands and on You instead of the waves crashing around me. Then I will not be put to shame. In Your Name, Amen.