Notice a statement in the 2nd line of Ps. 119:153 that is repeated all over this Psalm. His refusal to forget God’s word serves as the ground of his request in the 1st line. Now we need to be careful in our interpretation of this verse. The Psalmist is not putting forth himself as God’s main motivating factor to grant him deliverance. In other words, he’s not saying: “I’ve been such a good boy, now I’d like a reward.” Rather it’s this: “I don’t want deliverance for any other reason than to conform to your word wholeheartedly. In my affliction I do not forget your word and in my deliverance, I will not forget your word.”
This is in contrast to these sentiments: “Lord, please get me out of this trial so I get my self-centered life back and go back to pursuing exactly what I want, exactly when I want it.” Why would the Lord even answer a prayer for deliverance unless greater obedience and usefulness for his purposes is our ultimate desire?
We should always keep in mind the instructive statement made by the Lord in Is. 66:2…“But to this one I will look, To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.”
You want God’s gaze upon your life? Understand your lowly position in the universe, be crushed because of your sinfulness and tremble at the thought of forgetting God’s commandments.