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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!

Even though we know the Bible is the word of God, we don’t always feel like reading it. We may not dare to confess that to other Christians. This Psalmist knows it is true of himself and is honest enough to say so. 

In this section he poetically points to some reasons why this is the case.

 One reason is how we feel within ourselves. “My soul clings to the dust” he says in verse 25. It’s a vivid image of depression - that sense of having no real life inside yourself. In verse 28 he says “my soul melts away for sorrow”. No sooner do we have inner energy it is gone. It is as if our inner being is like a leaky pipe. When we feel like that, literally everything is an effort. This includes coming to church and opening our Bible.  

We may feel like that for all kinds of reasons, and it may not be our fault. But the Psalmist also knows that his own sin can lead him away from God’s word. When we walk in ways that God has said “don’t walk”, the last thing we want to do is hear from him. That is why the Psalmist prays “put false ways far from me” (verse 29). 

So what do we do, when due to our feelings or our sin we simply don’t want to come to God’s word? We go anyway. And like the Psalmist - we go prayerfully. 

We don’t need energy to come to God’s word - God gives us life as he speaks to us (vs 25). We come however we are to his word, with all our sin to the Lord and he answers us (vs 26). He  graciously (vs 29) brings us salvation and gives us understanding about his precepts (vs 27). 

As we hear God’s word he helps us understand his wondrous works - his works of salvation in and through the Lord Jesus Christ (vs 27). The Psalmist knows the relationship he has with the Lord who speaks is one of grace. 

By the end of this section the Psalmist has changed. He began by clinging to the dust (vs 25). Now he clings to God’s testimonies (vs 31). This does not mean our feelings will change overnight. We may be clinging to God’s word in the dust - but that is where hope is found. Nothing may change right now, but we like the Psalmist can know that the Lord will not “put us to shame” (vs 31) - that is, he will not cause us to be disappointed on the last day. 

The last verse in this section is a prayer of hope. There may be times when we struggle, but the Lord is in the business of changing our hearts. Enlarging them - so we love the Lord more. This is not something we can do ourselves, but if we pray for it he will answer. And notice the evidence of that enlarged heart? It’s not strong emotion. It is the ability to “Run in the way of your commandments”. To obey the Lord quickly and easily. To enjoy obeying him!