Psalm 119:45 I Will Walk At Liberty, For I Seek Thy Precepts: Vignette On Liberty, Part 3

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The following picture of ‘liberty’ painted by the author has to do with the intentions of the heart, or the will. Add this to the other parts already posted and you will have a more complete biblical understanding of this important concept.

As you go through your days, observe yourself to see how you have come to define ‘liberty.’ Your own definition will be apparent in your conduct; that is, for example, if you find yourself in opposition to God, then you have undoubtedly clung to a secular definition of this important term. If you desire to progress in sanctification, then that will need to change, the author provides some important information to facilitate submission and obedience.

I have been enabled to see my selfishness again and again, by the Holy Spirit, in my walk with the Lord; Christ calls us to deny self; when we favor self, we are opposing God. At those (many) times, one thing we are definitely doing is subscribing to a secular definition of the term ‘liberty.’

The Freedom of Right, Willedness
R. Tuck
Psalm 119:45
And I will walk at liberty: for I seek your precepts.


I will walk at liberty: for I have sought thy precepts. The Apostle Paul earnestly contends that” we are called unto liberty,” but he carefully distinguishes liberty from self-willedness. A man can never have his liberty save on the supposition that he knows what to do with it, and is able to do what he knows. And so the godly man is a free man, he is able to do what he likes, but the distinct assumption is that his likes have come into the renewing grace, and are still in the sanctifying grace, of God. He is free because he is right-willed, and can be trusted with his liberty. The phrase is significant, “freedom in righteousness.” We get the idea illustrated if we observe our anxiety that our sons should be right-principled ere they go forth to meet life’s temptations. We are not afraid for them to have their freedom, if only they are right-willed. The psalmist may only mean freedom from special circumstances of constraint and intimidation, but we can use his words in a more comprehensive and more general sense.

I. RIGHT-WILLEDNESS AS A CONDITION TO BE GAINED AND KEPT. Here it is the disposition to seek the guidance and help of God’s precepts in every emergency of life. Wrong-willedness is an undue tendency to trust in self for wisdom and guidance. Dependent man never comes right until he wants God; and he never keeps right unless he leans on God. The very essence of the example of the Lord Jesus lies in his right-willedness. No restraint had ever to be put on him, because he always wanted what God wanted for him. We only get our wills set in harmony with God’s in the persuasion and power of God’s Spirit; but we can set ourselves, and keep ourselves, open to his gracious leadings and inspirings and inworkings.

II. RIGHT-WILLEDNESS AS A CONDITION IN WHICH FREEDOM CAN BE ENJOYED. Where there is that disposition and purpose there is always sensitiveness to evil. It is detected at once. It is disliked. To it there is a natural resistance. It is illustrated in Joseph, who “could not do wickedly;” and in the Hebrew youths, who could not “defile themselves with the king’s meat.” These young people could be trusted anywhere, because they were set on doing right. The only man in God’s world who is really free, and can be safely trusted with freedom, is the man who means to do right, who is resolved to do God’s will as he may get to know it. – R.T.

 

To read other short narratives on Ps 119:45 at Bible Hub, click https://biblehub.com/sermons/psalms/119-45.htm