Gimel
17 Deal bountifully with your servant,
that I may live and keep your word.
18 Open my eyes, that I may behold
wondrous things out of your law.
19 I am a sojourner on the earth;
hide not your commandments from me!
20 My soul is consumed with longing
for your rules at all times.
21 You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones,
who wander from your commandments.
22 Take away from me scorn and contempt,
for I have kept your testimonies.
23 Even though princes sit plotting against me,
your servant will meditate on your statutes.
24 Your testimonies are my delight;
they are my counsellors.
Daleth
25 My soul clings to the dust;
give me life according to your word!
26 When I told of my ways, you answered me;
teach me your statutes!
27 Make me understand the way of your precepts,
and I will meditate on your wondrous works.
28 My soul melts away for sorrow;
strengthen me according to your word!
29 Put false ways far from me
and graciously teach me your law!
30 I have chosen the way of faithfulness;
I set your rules before me.
31 I cling to your testimonies, O Lord;
let me not be put to shame!
32 I will run in the way of your commandments
when you enlarge my heart!
He
33 Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes;
and I will keep it to the end.
34 Give me understanding, that I may keep your law
and observe it with my whole heart.
35 Lead me in the path of your commandments,
for I delight in it.
36 Incline my heart to your testimonies,
and not to selfish gain!
37 Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things;
and give me life in your ways.
38 Confirm to your servant your promise,
that you may be feared.
39 Turn away the reproach that I dread,
for your rules are good.
40 Behold, I long for your precepts;
in your righteousness give me life!
In 25-32 the Psalmist is in a very different frame of mind. He is down in the depths, with his soul cleaving to the dust, and melting for heaviness (25, 28), and he longs for a time of 'enlargement of heart' (32). The theme of this particular section could well be summed up thus: 'What to do when you are cast down and depressed'. The sense of emergency and crisis in 25-28 is obviously very real: he feels 'dead', and therefore asks for quickening; he feels bewilderment and therefore asks to be taught and given insight into his situation; he is conscious of utter weakness and therefore asks for strength. Such is his prayer. But there is something else also: in 26, he had 'declared his ways', i.e. he has told it all to the Lord. This is the prescription in time of depression. 'Tell Me all about it', says the Lord, and in the words 'Thou heardest me,' we have an assurance for those 'walking in darkness': God hears and God answers! But sometimes this assurance does not suffice to still the distress and lead us into peace. Our souls melt, and wilt, for heaviness. What are we to do then? First of all, we must remember that this is the heart of the crisis, and hold grimly on until His answer does come through. That is the first thing; and the second is this: we must stick grimly to the routine of spiritual life. Go through the motions! This is the point made in 30, 'I have chosen the way of truth' and in 31, 'I have stuck unto Thy testimonies' (or, 'I have cleaved to Thy Word' - we should note the two 'cleavings' in this section, cleaving to the dust and cleaving to the Lord). By and by, an assurance will dawn: 'Thou shalt enlarge my heart.' This is the same thought as expressed in Psalm 43:5, 'I shall yet praise Him'.