Lesson 5: Defeat’s bitter taste
 www.bible.com/bible/59/psa.119 

 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!

 Our first true spiritual battle comes, and we fall. Verse 25 says our soul clings to the dust, and we desperately want the life we tasted in the last lesson.

Verse 26 is the answer to our defeat is that we tell God of our failure. 1 John 1:9 says when we confess our sin He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We might think we need God’s mercy or grace to forgive us, but this verse says it is His justice that forgives – because the price has already been paid in full.


Verse 27 urges us to understand His ways. Understand, He cleanses us each time.
 
But this does not mean we can go on sinning carelessly, presuming on His justice every time. We must read on in verse 28 how our sin causes us sorrow for we have so desperately sinned against the One who paid the price of torture and death for us. We can only find strength in His word.

Our part of winning over spiritual defeat is found in the next few verses:
- We must put away all false ways (verse29)
- We must allow Him to teach us
- We must choose the way of faithfulness (verse 30)
- We must follow His ways
- We must cling to Him and His word (verse 31)
- We must understand the true nature of shame – it comes from denying Him rather than what others say about us.
- We must hurry to obey what He asks of us (verse 32)
- We must let Him enlarge our heart.