Psalm 119:32, “I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.”
The word “enlarge” means, “to broaden” and refers to making the heart “wider, larger, or more roomy.”
The more we humble ourselves — and the more bent toward the Lord we are to walk in the light as He is in the light, the more we will have fellowship one with another, and the more will He enlarge our hearts — He will make more room in our hearts to receive more of His grace.
The phrase “to enlarge the heart” means:
- to make it free;
- to deliver it from all hindrances to what is right;
- to fill it with noble and holy purposes;
- to stimulate and renew it with vigor.
The heart is made narrow by selfishness, pride, vanity, ambition, covetousness; but it is enlarged by charity, love, hope, faithfulness, obedience, benevolence….
Sin narrows and contaminates the soul; virtue enlarges and enriches it, as expressed in 2 Peter 1:5 to “add to your faith virtue…” Virtue means, “manliness (valor) … moral excellence….”
We learn to add to, that is, to be fully furnished, supplied, and replete with so much faith, that we (cannot help but) advance to the next level of growth known as “virtue” … and continue to grow through all other areas of development unto a “full discernment,” i.e., a “precise and correct knowledge” of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:5-8).
If we submit to the Lord to enlarge our hearts, we will be able to run in the way of His commandments. There will be:
- more room in our hearts to love Him, ourselves, and the brethren;
- more room in our hearts to esteem others before ourselves;
- more room in our hearts to lay down our lives for the brethren;
- more room in our hearts to be wiser and more prudent;
- more room in our hearts to understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God;
- more room in our hearts to understand what God’s will is;
- more room in our hearts to prove what is that good, perfect, and acceptable, will of God….
Oh yeah, more room will the Lord give to those who truly have and love His commandments … those who truly keep His word faithfully unto death.
In Christ We Do Remain