Psalm 119
TITLE: God’s Word TEXT: Psalm 119
- Descriptions of God’s Word
- God is the Source - It is GOD’S Word.
- God’s Word is Eternal
- God’s Word is True Psalm 119:160
- Demon powers rage against the truthfulness of God’s Word.
- God’s Word is true when I need to be corrected!
We need the inspiration of the Holy Ghost to get after this old man. Get this old man praying and reading Scripture every day.
- God’s Word is Pure
- God’s Word if Faithful and you can depend on it! Psalm 119:138
- God’s Word is Wonderful Psalm 119:129
- Many wonderful things promised in God’s Word!
- Many of these things go unnoticed.
- Wonderful = to astonish, amaze
- Broad = comprehensive, complete (in every direction & application; for every part of our life, God’s Word has the answer)
- God’s Word is going to change you.
- The Psalmist’s Attitude Toward God’s Word
- Our attitude toward God’s Word is very important and should be GOOD.
- you can tell a lot about a person spiritually by their attitude toward God’s Word.
- Psalm 119:161 Princes have persecuted me without a cause:but my heart standeth in awe of thy word.
- 119:24 Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors.
- 119:70 Their heart is as fat as grease;but I delight in thy law.
Is my attitude toward God’s Word: Getting better? What it needs to be?
- 119:92 Unless thy law had been my delights,I should then have perished in mine affliction.
- 119:143 Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me:yet thy commandments are my delights.
SLAY BIBLE APATHY AND SLOTH!
- REJOICE 119:14 I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies,as much as in all riches.
- V. 54 God’s Word is our song
- vs. 176 “servant” vs. 54 “pilgrim” (Never lose sight of your servanthood.)
- God’s Word is our meditation.
The Word is the Answer to Wholly follow the Lord
The Solution is ONLY Follow the Shepherd
The Holy Ghost leads to obey the Word
1 Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD. 176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.
Isa 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 1Pe 2:25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. Mt 18:12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? 13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. Luke 15:4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
Eze 34:6 My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them.
1. Being Arrogant, angry or annoyed losing our place in line, following afar off, becoming disinterested. 2. Being busy not able to keep close enough, becoming distracted. 3. Being chased to and fro by my enemies, and having no place to rest then become discouraged. 4. Being deceived, becoming divided.
5. Being diligent in following, loving Him and loving every Word of God and seeking those that go astray. We go where they are at, to bring them back without being ill affected.
I. The Word is From God
- Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD
115 Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God.
The law is from the Lord. We hold to the inspiration of Scripture - every single word in the original texts is inspired by God
72 The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver. 88 Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.
In 72 and 88 the law is described as being of God's mouth - these are God's words, as though God Himself actually spoke them. That's how important they are. No words are more important than those of the infinite, omnipotent God. God is the source of these Words. “God hath… Spoken” Heb. 1:1-3
- God’s Word is Eternal
Ps 119:89 LAMED. For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.
- The source of this Word is God
- Springing from its source is the truth
- For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven
- He will not change his mind.
- Its truths and existence are eternal.
- For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven
- What God says in time is eternally true.
- Settled in the heavens for ever - what a wonderful statement! What God has promised in His word is decreed and settled.
- Every Promise is Good, we can rely on every Word because God promises them - it's fine, they are settled in the heavens for ever. There's no reason to allow any doubt to creep in. What God has said is settled in the heavens for ever.
- Springing from its source is the truth
Ps 119:152 Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever.
Ps 119:160 Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.
God’s Word is True
151 Thou art near, O LORD; and all thy commandments are truth. 160 Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.
An Absolute God, Absolute Word, Absolute Truth. God's Word IS True. Every single word as originally given is True. Nothing in it is false; we can rely on it and its Truth completely.
God’s Word is Very Pure
Ps 119:140 Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.
The word 'pure' used here comes from the refining process. Metals are refined by getting rid of impurities - once thoroughly refined they are pure. We have already noted that God's word is true , but this is an extra quality. There are many things that may be true, but not pure. But God is pure, God's Word is very PURE.
God’s Word is very faithful
Ps 119:86 All thy commandments are faithful: they persecute me wrongfully; help thou me. 138 Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful.
You can and must depend on God's word. We have seen that the Word is God's - He is the source, it is settled in the heavens for ever, it is true, pure and very faithful. But there is more:
The Word is Wonderful
129 PE. Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them.
God's word is wonderful, it is totally out of the ordinary, miraculous, something to cause our astonishment - revelation of the infinite eternal God. It is so easy to lose the wonder of it; we read, we study, but we can easily lose our amazement, our wonder at such an extraordinary book. It is wonderful! The Word is Wonderful
The Word is “exceeding broad” Comprehensive complete
Ps 119:96 I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad.
The word “broad” here means, in any and every direction; God's word is comprehensive. It is relevant for every detail of our lives, its scope is broad. It is not, limited to our first day of the week (we hear of Sunday Christians) but God's Word is applicable and relevant to everything. That's one reason why the study of the Word is so important.
The source is God Himself, it is settled in the heavens for ever, it is true, pure and very faithful. It is wonderful and exceeding broad (relevant for all details of our lives).
- The Psalmist's attitude to God's Word
What an attitude about God's word - key point(s) - let's consider, what is our attitude toward the Word. How do we feel about God's word? NOW!!!
Standing In awe of the Word of God
161 Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word.
We stand in awe of His Word because we stand in AWE of God. When we reflect on God's word it is awesome. God, the infinite, indescribable one, unsearchable, all powerful, all knowing, the creator of everything should choose to reveal Himself to us through words - that is awesome. He reveals, through His word – that He loves us so much that He gave Himself so that the ungodly can be saved and made acceptable to Him - that is truly awesome. The psalmist wrote "my heart stands in awe of thy word" - he had some understanding of the awe of God's word.
One of the wonderful things about God's word is that although we view it with awe and amazement we can still have great Joy pleasure in it.
God’s Word is My delight
Ps 119:24 Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors. 70 Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law. 77 Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight. 92 Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction. 143 Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: yet thy commandments are my delights. 174 I have longed for thy salvation, O LORD; and thy law is my delight.
The psalmist delights in the word - he looks at it with pleasure. It's a pleasure, a joy. Do we delight in God's word? Do we enjoy reading it? It challenges and corrects us rather than pleased with us - we can delight in correction from the word.
God’s Word is My rejoicing
Ps 119:14 I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.
Ps 119:162 I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.
God’s Words are My songs
54 Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.
God’s Word is Precious
72 The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.
127 Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold.
God’s Word is My meditation
15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. 23 Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes. 97 O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. 148 Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word.
Meditation has got itself a bit of a bad name - meditation linked with emptying of the mind. The psalmist meditated - reflecting on God's word.
"My eyes stay open during the night watches that I may meditate of thy word" Meditation was clearly of enormous importance to the psalmist, several times we find him mentioning it. How important is it to us? giving time for quiet reflection on what God has written should be habitual for each of us.
God’s Word is My desire
20 My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times. 40 Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.
He has an intense desire for God's word. It is that important to him and gives him so much pleasure that he is always wanting God's word - he longs for it
A Determination to Keep the Word to the end
33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.
He is determined to be obedient right to the end. Life has many difficulties and discouragements, but whatever the problems being obedient to God and His word is what is important to him, and he is determined to keep it.
Grief over the attitude of others
Ps 119:53 Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law. 136 Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law. 158 I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word.
Hurt, deeply grieved, weeps, sees God's word being ignored. He has the deepest respect for God's honour. And surely one of the saddest trends in society today is the progressive abandoning of God's standards.
A Christian Nation; where the law was once based on Biblical standards, we find ourselves a very long way down the road,opposed to scripture. And this rejection of God's standards is grievous to those who truly love the Lord.
keeps company with those who keep thy precepts
63 I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.
Ps 119:74 They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word.
Whose company do we enjoy? It is not those that grieve us, because of their disobedience to God; No, we find those who have a similar attitude to God’s word, these are our companions- those who keep God's precepts.
loves
Ps 119:97 MEM. O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.
The one word that summarizes his attitude to God's word; he loves it.
Often we find the author in a difficult situation, let's see his attitude to God's word when he has problems - examples:
even when things are bad:
61 The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law. 69 The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart. 78 Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy precepts. 87 They had almost consumed me upon earth; but I forsook not thy precepts. 143 Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: yet thy commandments are my delights.
God's word gives life
Ps 119:93 I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me.
God's word doesn't just give information, it gives life. God's word is powerful and effective, and is life giving. How many there have been who have never heard a preacher but have picked up God's word or just part of God's word, read it and have found life. God's word is life giving. It can totally change the spiritually dead, it makes them alive.
God’s Word gives understanding
98 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. 99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.m 100 I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts. 104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. 130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
The Word of God is a lamp and a light
105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
The Word of God is hid in our heart so we don't sin (verse 11)
11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
Purity. Sexual purity is the most obvious. These words here are directed particularly to the young men, but let's not suppose that whatever our age or gender we are immune from the dangers. The word is clear, and we should, of course, remember that purity involves not just what we do, but what goes on in our minds as well.
For those struggling with these issues, they are not something we tend to talk about much, but for those struggling with these issues, the psalmist tells what is required - "by taking heed according to your word". God's word needs to be hid in the heart and then obeyed.
Peace in every trial
Ps 119:165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
)Peace. Not the absence of external conflict, many troubles and problems facing the psalmist, - just to remind ourselves of some of the difficulties he was going through:
23 "princes also did sit and speak against me"
51 "the proud have had me greatly in derision"
61 "the bands of the wicked have robbed me"
69 "the proud have forged a lie against me"
78 "they [the proud] dealt perversely with me without a cause"
87 "they had almost consumed me upon earth"
110 "the wicked have laid a snare for me"
143 "Trouble and anguish have taken hold of me"
157 "many are my persecutors and mine enemies"
161 "princes have persecuted me without a cause"
His life was full of external troubles, God did not keep him from them - but he was at peace. As someone who loved God's law he was at peace. He had peace with God and peace within himself.
Ps 119:1 ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD. 2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. 176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.
- WE all have been as sheep gone astray in light of the Psalmist.
- seek thy servant Rom.3:23;
- Blessed…seek him with the whole heart.
167 My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly. 168 I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: for all my ways are before thee.
- Some are as sheep going astray.
- From seeking Him with the whole heart.
The whole psalm is designed to illustrate a sincere and conscientious attachment to the principles of the word of God in the various circumstances of life.
“Blessed” “undefiled in the way” “Who walk in the law of the Lord” --- Who habitually obey his law.
This constitutes sincerity, uprightness, perfection in a man's life, for the law of the Lord is the only just rule of human conduct.
God’s written revelation, His word. Instructions for living and teachings on the importance of the "law of the LORD" are priceless and hold the keys for living a blessed life.
- Many have gone astray for a long time.
Ps 119:126 It is time for thee, LORD, to work: for they have made void thy law. Ro 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
Da 2:20 Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: 21 And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
Da 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
2Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
1Jo 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
Da 11:36 And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. 37 Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.
Times and laws; which have respect to religion. He shall usurp God's authority in respect to religion.
126 It is time for thee, LORD, to work: for they have made void thy law.
113 SAMECH. I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love.
19 I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me.
37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.
53 Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law. 150 They draw nigh that follow after mischief: they are far from thy law
89 ¶ LAMED. For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.
Ps 119:160 ¶ Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.
Ps 119:133 ¶ Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.
Ps 119:143 ¶ Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: yet thy commandments are my delights.
Ps 119:1 ¶ ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.
Ps 119:2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.
Ps 119:12 ¶ Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.
Blessing and suffering Promise and experience
This Psalm is far more than just a celebration of the law of the Lord.
The setting is a situation of deep personal distress at the hands of enemies who are never far away. Celebration is mingled with cries of anguish and longing for deliverance.
Ps 119:11 ¶ Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Present external Christianity gives place to a universal apostasy.
Ps 119:2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. 35 ¶ Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.
There is a doctrinal keeping of the word when we are ready to die for its defence, and a practical keeping of it when we actually live under its power. Revealed truth is precious as diamonds, and should be doctrinal kept or treasured up in the memory and in the heart as the law was kept in the ark; this however is not enough, for it is meant for practical use, and therefore it must be kept or followed, as men keep to a path, or to a line of business.
- If we keep God's testimonies
- God's testimonies will keep us;
- They will keep us right in opinion,
- comfortable in spirit,
- holy in conversation,
- hopeful in expectation.
- God's testimonies will keep us;
Ps 119:43 ¶ And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments.
Ps 119:74 ¶ They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word.
Ps 119:81 ¶ CAPH. My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word.
Ps 119:114 ¶ Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.
Ps 119:116 ¶ Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope.
Ps 119:147 ¶ I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word.
They are worth having, and they are worth keeping; their designed effect does not come through a temporary seizure of them, but by a persevering keeping of them: "in keeping of them there is great reward."
To will is present with me; but how to perform that which good I find not." Thou hast made me to love the way, now make me to move in it. It is a plain path, which others are treading through thy grace; I see it and admire it; cause me to travel in it. This is the cry of a child that longs to walk, but is too feeble; of a pilgrim who is exhausted, yet pants to be on the march; of a lame man who pines to be able to run. It is a blessed thing to delight in holiness, and surely he who gave us this delight will work in us the yet higher joy of possessing and practising it. Here is our only hope; for we shall not go in the narrow path till we are made to do so by the Maker's own power. O thou who didst once make me, I pray thee make me again: thou hast made me to know; now make me to go.
We are bound to keep with all care the word of God, because it is his testimonies. He gave them to us, but they are still his own. We are to keep them as a watchman guards his master's house, as a steward husbands his lord's goods, as a shepherd keeps his employer's flock. We shall have to give an account, for we are put in trust with the gospel, and woe to us if we be found unfaithful. We cannot fight a good fight, nor finish our course, unless we keep the faith. To this end the Lord must keep us: only those who are kept by the power of God unto salvation will ever be able to keep his testimonies. What a blessedness is therefore evidenced and testified by a careful belief in God's word, and a continual obedience thereunto. God has blessed them, is blessing them, and will bless them for ever. That blessedness which David saw in others he realized for himself, for in Ps 119:168 he says, "I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies," and in Ps 119:54-56 he traces his joyful songs and happy memories to this same keeping of the law, and he confesses, "This I had because I kept thy precepts." Doctrines which we teach to others we should experience for ourselves.
In total, US millionaire households have at least $45.9 trillion in wealth, the majority of this wealth is held within the upper one-tenth of one percent of the population.
Most people cannot even comprehend how much $1 trillion is, let alone $46 trillion. One trillion is equal to 1000 billion, or $1,000,000,000,000. To put it in perspective, last year the entire cost of feeding all 40 million Americans on food stamps was $65 billion.
Now consider, according to the latest IRS data, only 0.076% of the population, less than one-tenth of one percent, earned over $1 million in 2009.
The highest bracket for annual income is $50 million or more. Only 74 Americans are in this elite group. The average income within this category was $91.2 million in 2008. As astonishing as that is, in 2009 they averaged $518.8 million each, or about $10 million per week. This means, in the depths of the recession, the richest 74 Americans increased their income by more than 5 times within this one year. These 74 people made more money than 19 million workers combined.
In context, overall, the richest 400 people in the US have as much wealth as 154 million Americans combined, that’s 50% of the entire country. The top economic 1% of the US population now has a record 40% of all wealth, and have more wealth than 90% of the population combined.
To get into the top economic 0.01% (one-hundredth of one percent) of the population, you have to have a household income of over $27 million per year.
All-time record-breaking bonuses. 2009 was an all-time record-breaking year for Wall Street executives bringing in a total of $145 billion. And then, in 2010, they raised the bar even higher, breaking the all-time record set the year before by pulling in another $149 billion. The audacity of it all is stunning.
Finding people more grotesquely greedy than Wall Street executives would seem to be impossible. However, health insurance CEOs are giving them a run for their money.
Record Breaking Poverty in America: 52.8 Million and Growing; 46 Million on Food Stamps; 34 Million in Need of Work; Over 1 Million Deaths Annually; World’s Largest Prison Population 2.5 MILLION
To demonstrate attacks against the poor, there was $17 billion cut from public housing programs, while there was an increase of $19 billion in programs for building prisons, “effectively making the construction of prisons the nation’s main housing program for the poor.” Before laws began to be rewritten in 1980, with direct input from ALEC, we had a prison population of 500,000 citizens. After laws were rewritten to target poor inner city citizens with much more severe penalties, the US prison population skyrocketed to 2.4 million people.
The US, by far, has more of its citizens in prison than any other nation on earth. China, with a billion citizens, doesn’t imprison as many people as the US, with only 308 million American citizens.
We now have the largest prison population in the world. With only 4% of the world’s population, we have 25% of the world’s prison population.
For another revealing statistic, which has been quickly increasing, we can look at the number of Americans currently surviving off of food stamps. In 2005, 25.7 million Americans needed food stamps, currently 45.8 million people rely on them. As the chart to the right shows, the number of people in need of food stamps has been rapidly increasing year-over-year.
Meanwhile, Congress is cutting the funding for the food stamp program at a time when the Department of Agriculture estimates that an additional 22.5 million people will need them, bringing the total number of Americans in need of food assistance to a stunning 68.3 million people.
9 KEY WORDS: "Torah" (Law) (v 1..), "eduth" (statutes) (v 2..), "piqqudim" (precepts) (v 4..), "huqqim" (decrees) (v 5..), "mishvoth" (commands) (v 6..), "mishpatim" (judgments, or ordinances) (v 7..), "dabar" (word) (v 9..), and "imrah" (word) (v 11..) “natsar” (testimonies)
Ps 119:129 PE. Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them. 140 Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it. 160 Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever. 161 SCHIN. Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word. 162 I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.
172 ¶ My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.
Formal relationships in the Psalm
Psalm 119 is in the form of an acrostic, with a different letter of the Hebrew
alphabet being assigned to each of the twenty-two stanzas consecutively, and with each of the eight verses in each stanza beginning with the appropriate letter for that stanza.
Almost every verse (the exceptions being vv. 3, 37, 90, 122)
contains one of eight key words which are synonyms for the teaching of the
Lord.
The term YHWH occurs twenty-five times and the second person masculine singular pronomial suffix some 225 times.
apart from verses 1-3, the whole Psalm is directly addressed to the Lord.
Ps 119:1 ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD. 2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.
- WE all have been as sheep gone astray.
- seek thy servant
- Blessed…seek him with the whole heart.
167 My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly. 168 I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: for all my ways are before thee.
- Some are as sheep going astray.
- From seeking Him with the whole heart.
The whole psalm is designed to illustrate a sincere and conscientious attachment to the principles of the word of God in the various circumstances of life.
“Blessed”
“undefiled in the way”
“Who walk in the law of the Lord” --- Who habitually obey his law.
This constitutes sincerity, uprightness, perfection in a man's life, for the law of the Lord is the only just rule of human conduct.
God’s written revelation, His word.
Instructions for living and teachings on the importance of the "law of the LORD" are priceless and hold the keys for living the blessed life.
Ps 119:126 It is time for thee, LORD, to work: for they have made void thy law.
Ro 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
- The Change in the Heart
Ps 81:10 I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.
Pr 16:23 The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.
Ps 71:15 My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof.
Ps 71:24 My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long: for they are confounded, for they are brought unto shame, that seek my hurt.
Ps 37:30 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.
Mat. 12:34”out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh”
- The heart of the world. (The old nature)—flesh
Jer 17:9—The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Romans 3:13—Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
14—Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
Mat. 12:34—O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
35—A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
15:18—But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
19—For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
Mark 7:21—For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
Luke 6:45—A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
James 3:11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? 12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
Mt 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
- The heart of the Church Rev. 3:14-18
2Cor. 2:4—For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.
1Tim. 1:5—Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
2Tim. 2:22—Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart
- The heart of the Bride
Song 4:11—Thy lips, O my spouse, drop as the honeycomb: honey and milk are under thy tongue
- Not just change but something is added to the heart
- God adds to a diligent faith
He 8:10 I will put my laws into their mind, and write…in their hearts:
He 10:16 I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
Heb 11:6 He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
He 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; II Pt. 1:5-9
- Word is in her heart (De.30:14; Rm10:8; Eph3:17)
Song 4:11 Thy lips, O my spouse, drop as the honeycomb: honey and milk are under thy tongue; and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon.
a. The Word of God changes the heart
b. The Word of God changes the soul.
c. The Word of God changes the spirit
d. The Word of God changes the body
e. The Word of God changes the speech
f.. The Word of God changes the nature
He 4:12—For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
2Cor. 7:1—Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Pr16:24—Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
IIIJohn1:2; Pr 3:5-8, 4:20-27;12:18; 15:23; 23:16; 25:11; 27:9; De32:2; Ps107:2,20; 42:5,11; 43:5; 44:3; Zech. 4:6: Eph.1:9-23
The Word is—Knowledge, understanding wisdom, Revelation of God.
Pr 22:11—He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.
Heb 13:9 “Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines”
Col 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom”
- The Change in Speech: SOS.4:11
Php 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
Col 4:6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
Gen. 49:21 Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words.
1Ki 17:24 And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth.
Jg 1:12 And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjathsepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife.
13 And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.
14 And it came to pass, when she came to him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted from off her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wilt thou?
15 And she said unto him, Give me a blessing: for thou hast given me a south land; give me also springs of water. And Caleb gave her the upper springs and the nether springs.
Rev.12:11; Jn.17:17;
- The Change in Nature
“garments is like the smell of Lebanon” (Ps.119:11)
Romans 13:12—The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light James.3:2-6; Eph.4:13-32; 6:10-24; Col.3:5-17
Hosea 8:3 Israel hath cast off the thing that is good: the enemy shall pursue him.
1Tim.5:12 Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.
Rev. 2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
Mark 12:30 first commandment.
Hebrews 5:12 first principles
6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
The Bride comes to the changes graciously and Happily. Pp.4:4
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