Skip to content Delighting in God's Statutes: Psalm 119:1-48 Aug 13 · 15 min ...more
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Introduction to Psalm 119: The Word as Light and Compass 0:10 Good morning, and welcome to the Oasis of praise as our journey takes us really to the heart of our study of the word of God as we come to Psalm 119 verse 16, I will delight myself in your0:21 statutes, I will not forget your word. Psalm 119 really is the heart of our journey because it's all about the Word of God, this entire this entire chapter which is not only the longest Psalm but it is0:33 the longest chapter in the entire Bible. It's 176 6 verses. It's longer than many books in the Bible and it really does encapsulate the purpose and the need for stand on the word, for our journey through0:45 the word of God. Because as the psalmist writes in verse 105, your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Now we may not0:57 we may not capture that in this age of street lights and and lights all around us. Rarely are we in a dark place, but if you've ever walked through a dark unknown room or a dark building or you've been out in the1:08 woods at night when it's dark, you know what? A light really helps. I would add that if you're out in the woods, a compass would help too, but both are helpful and both reflect1:20 the Word of God. The Word of God is a light to our path but it's also a compass. It provides direction to us. Now the author and the date of the writing of Psalm 119 are unknown. Some respected1:32 scholars believe David is the author as it reflects whoever wrote it really loved the word of God and that reflects other psalms that David wrote like Psalm 19. A few scholars see the date of the writing as1:44 being after the Babylonian captivity when they had returned back to Jerusalem during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah where there was a return to the Word of God and a high value placed on it. We'll look at that later1:56 in our journey. Now regardless of who the human author was, like the rest of the canon of Scripture, it was clearly inspired by God. And and I would add this, that2:08 it is 1 of the most challenging and encouraging passages in the Bible. There are 22 stanzas consisting of 8 verses2:20 corresponding to the 22 letters of the alphabet. So each stanza begins in successive order with the letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Now the entire chapter,2:32 as I mentioned, is about the word of God but its centrality to life. It it's it has application. Every verse except 3, verse 90, verse 1 22, and verse2:44 1 32, all the others include a word that makes reference to the to the Word of God, 1 of the 10 words. And here are the 10 words that we're gonna see throughout the chapter. God's law, his2:56 way, his testimonies, his commandments, his precepts, his word, his judgments, his righteousness, his statutes, his truth, all referring to the word of God. Now I divided this3:08 chapter into 4 days of reading. Alright? Less than 50 verses a day, but I we could we could have read more. We could have done this in 2 days. But it's so rich in in wisdom and3:20 encouragement that I don't want you to miss a single verse. So be sure and take your time. Read through it. Take notes. Pray over it, meditate upon it. In the 1st 48 verses today, we3:32 have the 1st 6 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Aleph, Beth, Gimel, Daylet, Hey, and Vavah. And3:44 the beginning in verse 1, we have Aleph, which is the 1st letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Blessed are the undefiled in the way3:56 who walk in the law of the Lord. Now let me just stop there and give a refresher of the meaning of the word blessed. The Hebrew word asher is translated as both blessedness4:08 and happiness. Right? Happy is the man. But the meaning is not the modern meaning of happiness. When we talk about happy, it's kind of a fleeting emotion. We're happy in the4:19 morning, not so happy in the afternoon. Rather, this is a an abiding joy, peace, and well-being that transcends our circumstances. It's it's4:31 calm in the storm. It's it's peace in the valley. Verse 2. Blessed are those happy are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with the whole heart. Now, when I say4:43 blessed are those who walk in the law of the Lord, I mean it it means they the way that they live. Our life is according to the law of God.4:56 Keep or do his testimonies, the word of God which testifies to the truth, and seek him with their whole heart, meaning we conform to his will. Verse 5, 0 that5:08 my ways were directed to keep your statutes. Then I would not be ashamed when I look into all your commandments. I I think the psalmist is saying here, I wish because I prayed this. You know, I5:20 I wish the Lord would make me keep his statutes. It would be easy. Because the author knew the benefits of following the word of God. He he just listed what led to the5:32 blessed life. He also knew that following God's word and and it would would keep 1 from being disgraced by sin. But he also knew5:43 human nature, that as as as fallen human beings, even though we're saved and we're being sanctified by the word of God, Satan is seeking to destroy us. But if we live by5:55 his word, we will not be ashamed by our sin. Let me just repeat that. If we live by his word, we will not be shamed by our sin.6:07 Verse 7. I will praise you with uprightness of heart when I learn your righteous judgments. I will keep your statutes. Oh, do not forsake me utterly. How can a man clean how can a young man6:19 cleanse his way? By taking heed according to your word. This is a good verse to write above the the doorframe of your children's rooms. With my whole heart, I have sought you. Oh, let me not6:31 wander from your commandments. Your word, I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin against you. That every parent and grandparent would comprehend the6:42 wisdom of this passage. We should be teaching our children the word of God from the womb. They're never too young. And and6:54 and I've heard this, well, I don't wanna force religion on them. You're not forcing religion on them. Just as you don't force them to eat. I mean, they they're hungry. They need it. They need it to live. They need the7:04 word of God spiritually. They need to be when they they they they need to understand it and come to come to that understanding. The holy spirit will lead them, but we7:16 need we need to be speaking the word of God. We need to be teaching the word of God. The holy spirit uses the word of God in our lives to cleanse us in in Ephesians 5 26, and it7:27 directs us as Paul writes there in Ephesians. And, you know, as we Proverbs talk about training up a child in the way it should go. When they're old, they will not depart from it. If we don't7:39 give them that foundation when they're children, how can we expect them to return to it when they're older? But we must know it has to be in our hearts 1st.7:51 Alright? Well, this need for the word of God, has always been true. It has never been more urgent than now given the evil of the day, and and we wanna8:03 reach our children, our grandchildren. I know many that are on this journey have talked about that, but we cannot impart what we do not have. We can't teach what we don't have. And8:15 so it doesn't mean we have to be experts, but we have to be in the word to share the word. Blessed are you, oh Lord. Teach me your statutes. With my lips I have declared all8:27 the judgments of your mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of your testimonies as much as in all riches. I will meditate on your precepts and contemplate your ways. I will delight myself in8:39 your statutes. I will not forget your word. Being in the word of God is to be the way of life. It's not just something we add to it. It is at8:51 the core, at the center of our lives, and that's what Psalm 119 is all about. Deal bountifully bountifully with your servant that I may live and keep your word. Open my eyes that I9:02 may see your wondrous things from your law. Lord, open my eyes. We pray this very often that the Holy Spirit would show us these things. We can ask the Lord to reveal these things. This is what Jesus said to the Holy9:14 Spirit. I am sending the Holy Spirit to teach you all things and to lead you into the truth. And so we need to pray that. And and every time we open the word of God, we should be praying, show me the9:26 truths of your word and how I should apply them to my life. Verse 23. Princes also sit and speak against me, but your servant meditates on your statutes. Let the powerful say what9:38 they want to. Alright? Their power is passing, but we are anchored on the everlasting word of God. Your testimonies also are my delight and my9:50 counselor. See, the word of God gives counsel. We don't need to get on Facebook. We don't need to be on social media asking people for advice. Go to the word of God. My soul clings to the dust. Revive me10:02 according to your word. I have declared my ways, and you answered me. Teach me your statutes. Make me understand the ways of your precepts. So shall I meditate on yourBlessed Living: Hiding God's Word in Our Hearts 10:13 wonderful works. My heart melts from heaviness. Strengthen me according to your word. See, the word of God revives us and strengthens10:25 us when the challenges and the difficulties of this world, frankly, have us ready to throw in the towel. And this we need to be in the word of God if we want to be encouraged by the word of10:37 God. I cling to your testimonies, oh lord. Do not put me to shame. I cling to your Word. The Word of God will not give way to the times or to the10:49 culture. It does not change. Therefore, it is secure. It will sustain you. You can anchor your life to the Word of God. Teach me, O11:01 Lord, the way of Your statutes, and I shall keep it to the end. Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart. Make me walk in the path of your commandments, for I11:12 delight in it. I want to do this. Incline my heart to your testimonies and not to covetousness. Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, and revive me in your11:24 way. This is a prayer. These are prayers as well, declarations that God will honor. Establish your word to your servant who is devoted to fearing you. Now look, again, just look at the request in this11:36 1 stanza. Teach me, give me, make me, incline my heart, turn my eyes, revive me, establish Your word. Verse 45, and I will walk at liberty, for I11:48 seek Your precepts. I will speak of Your testimonies also before kings and will not be ashamed. And I will delight myself in your commandments, which I love. My11:59 hands also I will lift up to your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes. Final thought on this, 1st passage of, Psalm 1 19. In these12:11 last 4 verses, look at this. Look at what flows from living in the truth of God, his word. Freedom. Freedom. Far from restricting12:23 us from enjoying life, the Word of God gives us freedom to make the most of life as we prepare for eternity. John 8 3212:35 says, and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Freedom from reproach, freedom to speak with boldness and authority the truth of God, freedom to12:47 worship, and freedom to follow the Lord. It's a tremendous and uplifting and encouraging passage from the word of God. Before I close this in prayer, I I wanna12:59 share 1 of the many videos, just 1 of the many videos, the testimonies that we received from those that are on this journey. Here is Tamara testifying to how13:11 the word of God has impacted her life.13:15 The word of God has changed my life by helping me to get rid of my fears, get rid of my anxieties. I've seen just how powerful God is13:27 from scriptures, and so I've applied that to my own life. I don't worry about things. Big decisions, I just take, to the Lord in prayer. I get down on my knees and pray, and I feel like a13:38 powerhouse. I feel like I have authority. I feel like I can be quiet. Sometimes I don't need to speak, but sometimes I do need to speak. So that's how the word of God has changed me.13:50 You can share your testimony too. Just text Psalms to 67742. That's Psalms to 67742. You can upload. We'll send you a link. You can upload your 32nd testimony to the14:02 power of God's word, how God's word has changed your life. Father, we thank you for your word. We thank you for this passage that is focused all on your word and how the psalmist14:14 just prayed and asked you to direct his steps, turn his heart towards your precepts. Lord, we pray the same thing. Open our eyes to the truth of your word, that we might know how to apply it to our lives in14:26 this world in which we live. May you encourage us and strengthen us, and may we be anchored to the truth that we might bring glory and honor to you. For we pray this in Jesus' name.14:38 Amen. Alright. Thanks for joining me this morning, and until next time, keep standing on the word.14:45 Today's study comes from the Stand on the Word Bible Reading Plan available for free at frc dot org slash bible. By following along in just a few minutes a day,14:57 you can read through the entire Bible in just 2 years. Learn more and request the free reading guide at frc dot org slash bible.In this video 0:00 Introduction to Psalm 119: The Word as Light and Compass10:10 Blessed Living: Hiding God's Word in Our Hearts15:00 Prayers for Revival and Strength from the Word
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