Go! And Choose The Path Of Faithfulness - Psalm 119:30 Series

Go! And Choose the Path of Faithfulness - Psalm 119:30

Opening Prayer:

Heavenly Father,

We gather in Your presence with thankful hearts. Thank You for Your Word that is alive, active, and transformative. Lord, speak to us through Your truth. Stir within us a greater hunger for righteousness and a deeper love for Jesus. Strengthen our faith and guide our feet on the path of truth. In the precious name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.

Psalm 119:30 (NLT): “I have chosen to be faithful; I have determined to live by your regulations.”

Let’s allow that to sink in.

“I have chosen to be faithful.” This is not accidental.

This is a deliberate act.

This is a commitment.

This is a declaration of allegiance to the God of truth.

And it’s followed by this powerful decision:

“I have determined to live by your regulations.”

The psalmist, under divine inspiration, doesn’t just talk about faith—he walks in faithfulness. He chooses the path that aligns with God’s commands.

Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible. Every verse (all 176!) focuses on the beauty, value, and authority of God's Word. It’s an acrostic poem, structured around the Hebrew alphabet, and verse 30 falls within the stanza marked by the Hebrew letter Dalet (?)—a symbol often associated with a door or pathway.

“Chosen” is from the Hebrew ?????? (bachar), meaning “to select, to prefer.” It conveys a deliberate act of the will.

“Faithful” is ???????? (emunah), meaning “firmness, steadiness, fidelity.” It’s the same root from which we derive “amen.”

“Regulations” comes from ????????? (mishpat), meaning “judgments, ordinances”—God’s righteous decrees.

So the psalmist is saying, “I have deliberately chosen to walk in faithful obedience, living according to God’s righteous standards.”

And this is where we begin today’s journey—choosing faithfulness.

Point 1: Choosing Faithfulness Requires Surrendered Will

The Christian life doesn’t begin by default—it begins by decision. To choose faithfulness is to surrender our will to God’s will.

Joshua 24:15 (NLT): “But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve… But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”

Joshua challenges Israel after they have conquered much of the Promised Land. Despite their victories, he knew their hearts were prone to wander. So he calls them to decide.

Faithfulness is never accidental. It’s always intentional. You must choose whom you will serve, and then keep choosing, day by day, moment by moment.

John Piper wrote: "Faithfulness is not merely the absence of betrayal. It is the presence of steadfast love, anchored in the promises of God."

That resonates deeply. Faithfulness is more than just avoiding sin—it’s pursuing Christ. It’s not passive—it’s passionate.

Point 2: Faithfulness Is Rooted in the Truth of God’s Word

The psalmist says, “I have determined to live by your regulations.” His determination is Word-centred, not self-centred.

John 17:17 (NLT): “Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.”

“Truth” here is ????e?a (aletheia), meaning “reality as it is—unconcealed, absolute.”

God’s Word is the lens through which we see reality clearly.

The Compass and the Map

Imagine you’re trekking through a dense forest. You have two tools—a compass and a map. Without either, you’re lost. The Word of God is both our compass (showing true direction) and our map (showing the path). But we must determine to follow it.

Max Lucado said: "God never said the journey would be easy, but He did say the arrival would be worthwhile."

When we walk by God’s Word, we may face difficulty, but we are never without direction. The Word lights our path (Psalm 119:105) and anchors our steps.

Point 3: The Faithful Path Is the Path of Christ

Ultimately, all faithfulness finds its fulfilment in Jesus Christ—the only perfectly faithful One.

Hebrews 3:6 (NLT): “But Christ, as the Son, is in charge of God’s entire house. And we are God’s house, if we keep our courage and remain confident in our hope in Christ.”

Jesus is the model of perfect obedience. He chose the path of faithfulness to the Father—even to the cross.

Gospel Presentation:

Jesus, the Son of God, lived a sinless life.

He was betrayed, arrested, beaten, and crucified—not because of His guilt, but because of ours.

He bore our sins on the cross.

He died and was buried. But on the third day, He rose in victory over sin and death!

Romans 5:8 (NLT) tells us: “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”

The faithful One died for the unfaithful ones—us. And through repentance and faith, we can be made new.

R.T. Kendall puts it beautifully: "The Gospel is not about making bad people good; it’s about making dead people alive."