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Here we have David desiring, praying, pleading, and setting forth very clearly what he pants after. May you and I have the same burning desires; and at the same time may we clearly know what we are panting for, so that we may the more intelligently pursue it, and thus go the nearer way to obtain it!

I. LONGING ARDENTLY AFTER HOLINESS (ver. 131).

1. The man of God longeth after the Lord's commandments. Many religious people long after the promises, and they do well; but they must not forget to have an equal longing for the commandments.

2. The psalmist, having told us what he longed for, shows the strength of those desires; for he had been so eager in his pursuit of holiness that he had test his breath. Are you ready to faint? Underneath are the everlasting arms.

3. See how resolved he was. Even though you open your mouth and pant with weariness, yet keep your face set like a flint towards holiness, and let your case be that of one who is "faint, yet pursuing."

4. Note that the follower after holiness seeks renewed strength. Why does he open his mouth and pant? Is it not to get more air, to fill his lungs again, to cool his blood, and to be ready to renew his running?

5. He was dissatisfied with his attainments. His opened mouth and panting heart betoken desires which are not as yet fulfilled.

6. Yet, let no tinge of discouragement mingle with your dissatisfaction: this man is hopeful of better things. He opens his mouth because he looks for something to fill it; he pants because he believes in water-brooks which will relieve his thirst.

II. PLEADING FERVENTLY FOR THE HOLINESS HE DESIRED (ver. 132).

1. He believes in God's power to bless him, and hence he turns to Him, and cries, "Look Thou upon me." Great sinners may be grateful for a look, for it is more than they deserve. Great saints may rejoice in a look; for it means much when the eye which looks is the eye of Omnipotent Love.

2. He appeals to mercy.

3. He pleads as one who loves God.

4. He employs the grand plea of use and wont.

5. He joyfully accepts God's method. We kiss the rod, because the Father who uses it designs to kiss us. We assent to the processes of grace that we may enjoy the results of grace. It may so happen that if God sanctifies you, He may have to grind you very small: cheerfully yield yourself to the mill. If this is the way in which He deals with those that love His Name, do not desire any different treatment.

III. ENLARGING INTELLIGENTLY UPON THE FAVOUR HE SEEKS (ver. 133).

1. Now, let us see how the psalmist puts it. His cry is for holiness, and he describes it as being ruled by the Word of God. "Order my steps in Thy Word." The different sects have differing ideas of holiness, but the reality of holiness is only one. It is this — "Order my steps in Thy Word."

2. He would have holiness in every step of his life.

3. He would have every step ordered. We can never attain to the right proportion of the virtues unless the Lord Himself arranges them in order for us, Do not tell me it is easy to be holy; you want not only the different graces, but all these in order due and measure fit. O Lord, help us! Order our steps.

4. He would have every step full of God: he would have each one ordered of the Lord. He would receive his strength, his motives, his guiding influences direct from the Lord.

5. He would be wholly delivered from the tyranny of sin. "Let not any iniquity," etc. I fear that many professors have never understood this prayer. One man is a splendid man for a prayer-meeting, a fine man for a Bible-class; but at home he is a tyrant to his wife and children. Is not this a great evil under the sun? Another man is stern and honest, and he inveighs with all his might against every form of evil, but he is hard even to cruelty with all who are in his power. One is generous and fervent, but he likes a sly drop; another is good-natured and pleasant, but he puts it on in his bills at times, and his customers do not find the goods quite of the quality they pay for. Beware of pet sins. If you let a golden god rule you, you will perish as well as if you let a mud god rule you. Be this your constant cry — "Let not any iniquity have dominion over me."

( C. H. Spurgeon.)

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KJV: I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments.

WEB: I opened my mouth wide and panted, for I longed for your commandments.