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Profound Thankfulness (Psalm 119:7)

I shall give thanks to You with uprightness of heart, when I learn Your righteous judgments.
Psalm 119:7

Notice how the psalmist refers to God’s word: “Your righteous judgments.” He understands that the origin of these judgments is directly linked with God. He also declares that they are righteous. Now the fact that the Scriptures are given by God and are completely righteous ought to be very motivating to us. After all, what else is there that would be so profoundly valuable? Is there anything in this world that would compare to this amazing gift?

Now the heart of the psalmist is revealed in this verse. He is extremely grateful for the privilege he enjoys to have the righteous judgments of God. He offers praise and thanksgiving to God for this precious gift. His thanksgiving comes from “uprightness of heart.” This could be translated with a sincere and honest heart.

The link between having the righteous judgments and thanksgiving is the psalmist’s delight in learning. This term can be associated with discipleship. It is the idea that because the psalmist has the righteous judgments of God, he can continue to learn them. As we have already seen, when the psalmist speaks of continuing to learn of these judgments, it is with practical application in mind.

For those who have come to know the Lord in truth, a love of and commitment to God’s word must be a reality in their lives. After all, it makes no sense to say that I love God and not have a sincere love for His word. We must approach God’s word with gratitude and with a commitment to learning and application. The entire life of the Christian must be absorbed with the words of the living God.

I shall delight in Your commandments, which I love. And I shall lift up my hands to Your commandments, which I love; and I will meditate on Your statutes. Psalm 119:47–48

O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.
Psalm 119:97

I hate those who are double-minded, But I love Your law.
Psalm 119:113

Therefore I love Your commandments above gold, yes, above fine gold.
Psalm 119:127

Your word is very pure, Therefore Your servant loves it.
Psalm 119:140

Consider how I love Your precepts; revive me, O Lord, according to Your lovingkindness.
Psalm 119:159

I hate and despise falsehood, but I love Your law.
Psalm 119:163

My soul keeps Your testimonies, and I love them exceedingly.
Psalm 119:167

A love for God’s word will be evident in the disciplines of a person’s life. It is easy to claim to love someone or something, but your life will reveal the true loves of your life.

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Rocky Wyatt

Rocky Wyatt came to know the Lord as a young teenager and began working in youth ministry when in college. After serving in churches in Utah, California and Colorado, Rocky moved to Texas to serve as Youth Pastor at Countryside Bible Church. He served there for 26 years where he eventually moved from youth ministry to serve as an Associate Pastor.

Over the course of his ministry, Rocky has always had a desire to train men for pastoral ministry in the context of the local church. In 1992 he started XL Ministries, an organization that is committed to helping churches establish intensive internships for pastoral training. In 2020 he left his position at Countryside Bible Church to become the Executive Director of XL Ministries and now works full time assisting churches in training men for ministry.

He is co-author of The Youth Ministry Training Manual, a textbook for training youth pastors, and has also written multiple other resources for use in various local church ministries. He is currently working on a book to encourage churches to take the primary responsibility to train pastors.

Rocky is married to Pamela, has two sons and daughters-in-law, and ten grandchildren. 

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.1 Corinthians 15:58