Go! And Praise With A Pure Heart - Psalm 119:7 Series

Go! And Praise with a Pure Heart - Psalm 119:7

Duration: 30 minutes

Opening Prayer

Lord, as we open Your Word today, open our hearts. Let Your truth be planted deep within us. Shape our thoughts, stir our affections, and strengthen our obedience. May Jesus Christ be glorified in all we say and do. In His holy name, Amen.

Introduction: The Song of the Soul

The longest chapter in the Bible is not about laws and rituals—it is about delight in God's Word. Psalm 119 is a heart-felt celebration of God's truth, written by someone who deeply loved and honoured the Scriptures.

Our focus today is Psalm 119:7 (NLT): “As I learn your righteous regulations, I will thank you by living as I should!”

Other translations say, “I will praise you with uprightness of heart.” This is not just poetic language—it is a roadmap for how we should respond to God.

Let’s unpack this verse together and learn what it means to go and praise with a pure heart.

Point 1: Learning God's Righteous Regulations Leads to Praise

“As I learn your righteous regulations…”

The first step is learning—growing in knowledge of God's Word and His righteous ways.

The Hebrew for “learn” is ????? (lamad)—not just head knowledge, but practical instruction that leads to transformation.

“Righteous regulations” is from ????? ????????????? (mishpatey tzidkekha), referring to God’s just and holy decrees.

The psalmist is committing to study God’s ways so that he can walk rightly and respond with sincere praise.

2 Timothy 2:15 (NLT): “Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.”

Paul echoes the importance of learning Scripture accurately and living it out with integrity.

Charles Stanley said: "Obeying God in small matters is an essential step in receiving God’s greatest blessings."

Church, when we learn His Word—not just academically, but humbly—God forms in us a heart that is upright and ready to praise.

Point 2: Right Living Flows from Right Understanding

“I will thank you by living as I should!”

Here, praise is not just about words or music—it’s about living rightly. True thanksgiving is expressed through obedience.

James 1:22 (NLT): “But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.”

We are not merely called to admire the truth, but to apply it.

The Manual and the Mechanic

Imagine a mechanic who reads the car manual daily but never uses it to fix an engine. Would you trust him with your vehicle?

Likewise, if we read God’s Word but never obey it, how can we claim to trust Him with our lives?

R.T. Kendall said: "The degree to which the Word of God is in you is the degree to which the Spirit of God can use you."

Obedience is not burdensome—it is beautiful. It is our response of worship to the One who has saved us.

Point 3: True Praise Requires an Upright Heart

Another translation of Psalm 119:7 reads: “I will praise you with an upright heart, when I learn your righteous judgments.” (ESV)

God does not delight in outward worship from hearts that are cold or divided. He desires authentic, heartfelt praise.

Psalm 51:17 (NLT): “The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.”

God is looking not for perfect performance, but for repentant hearts. Uprightness begins with brokenness before Him.

The Cracked Jar

In ancient Israel, clay jars were sometimes cracked and patched with wax. But when held up to the sunlight, the flaws were exposed. The honest merchant marked a jar "sincera"—without wax.

God wants sincere hearts—no cover-ups, no performance—just open, honest, and yielded to Him.

Max Lucado wrote: "God sees our sin more clearly than we do—and loves us more than we can imagine."

This truth humbles us and fuels our praise. We don’t worship to earn favour; we worship because we’ve received grace.

Point 4: The Word Leads Us to the Living Word—Jesus

Psalm 119 continually magnifies the Scriptures, but ultimately all Scripture points to Jesus Christ.

John 1:14 (NLT): “So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness.”

Jesus is the living embodiment of everything Psalm 119 celebrates. He perfectly obeyed the Father. He fully delighted in the Word. He is our example and our Saviour.

Gospel Presentation:

Jesus didn’t come to merely teach us how to live—He came to save us from the death our sin deserved.

He lived the life we should have lived.

He died the death we deserved to die.

On the third day, He rose in victory.

Now, He offers forgiveness and new life to all who repent and believe in Him.