Hunger for the Word

“Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness” (Psalm 119:36).

Psalm 119 can be said to be dedicated to those who love God’s word and desire to know all of its truths. Verse 36 reveals to us that we must apply ourselves to understanding the Scriptures if we are to be blessed by it and avoid the snares of the flesh.

We need to stretch

Apparently stretching exercises are good for our muscles and bones. Athletes perform these before engaging in whatever discipline they aim to take part in. The word “incline” can mean “to stretch out”, and carries the idea of adding strength to something. The same thought is found in Exodus 6:6, “Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments.” God will strengthen us if we incline our hearts to His word. It means that we must lay hold of the Scriptures and obey them.

We need to turn

The word “incline” can also refer to turning away from our own way to follow God’s path. This can be illustrated in the story of Balaam’s ass. “And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field” (Numbers 22:23). The psalmist is saying that we must turn to the Lord in our every day life, for we often allow the things of the world to distract us away from serving Him. He has given us His word so that we can focus our attention on spiritual things. Covetousness is highlighted for a reason, for as John Wesley says, “Because it is most opposite to God's testimonies, and does most commonly hinder men from receiving his word, and from profiting by it: and because it is most pernicious, as being the root of all evil.”

We need direction

The word “incline” suggests that we ought to “give attention” to God’s word. This demands our time and commitment. It is simply not natural for a person to want to find strength, salvation and succour in the pages of a book, but for those who follow Christ, the Holy Spirit encourages them to do so. If we fill our hearts with God’s holy word, then we will find it easier to stand firm against the onslaughts of temptation and sin. “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Psalm 119:11) … “Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practice wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties” (Psalm 141:4).

We need to be saturated

Throughout Psalm 119 we read of the need to be full of God’s word, but in verse 36 the writer shows that we can either be filled with the truth or be filled with the world. “Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart” (Psalm 119:2). Basically, it is what ever we incline our hearts to that will fill our hearts. “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21). People, including Christians, are saturated by the world today, but how few know anything meaningful about God’s word. “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof” (Romans 13:14).

Conclusion

This short verse invites us to examine our hearts. Do we have a heart after God? Do we delight in His word? “But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night” (Psalm 1:2). Are we influenced more by the world that Scripture?
The Lord is ever calling us to come unto Him and experience a truly spiritual relationship with Him. “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30) … “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water” (John 7:37-38). What blessings we miss when we do not incline our hearts to the Lord. “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law” (Psalm 119:18).