Reading: Psalm chapter 119 verses 1-176.
Some say that this Psalm was written in a similar time as we live today.
• It was a time of religious scepticism.
• Many people doubted whether there was a God.
• Other people were jumping from one religious fad to another.
• It was a time when profanity ran rampant. It was a wicked and sinful period.
The psalmist was possibly a young man who lived in this hostile environment:
• We do not know the name of the man who wrote this psalm,
• Although the writer refers to himself many times throughout the Psalm.
• As you read the psalm, it becomes clear that he lived in an environment hostile to faith;
• And the things of God and that he faced daily rejection, slander and great opposition.
• But when he is confronted with this opposition;
• He tightens his grip on the Word of God. He never turns loose of it
Ill:
A Father and his small son were out walking one day;
• When the lad asked how electricity;
• Could go through the wires stretched between the telephone poles.
• “I don’t know,” said his father.
• “I never knew much about electricity.”
• A few blocks farther on, the boy asked what caused lightning and thunder.
• “That too has puzzled me,” came the reply.
• The youngster continued to inquire about many things,
• None of which the father could explain.
• Finally, as they were nearing home, the boy said,
• “Dad, I hope you didn’t mind me asking all those questions.”
• “Not at all,” replied his father.
• “How else are you going to learn!”
• I hope we are going to learn this morning as we look at this Psalm:
• A special psalm:
A unique psalm:
(a).
• It is special Psalm in many ways; many of you probably know that;
• It is the longest Psalm (176 verses), & not surprising that it is the longest chapter in the Bible.
(b).
• It is also an acrostic Psalm;
• That means it follows the letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
Ill:
• If it were written in English it would start ‘A, B, C, D…..etc until Z.’
• Because it is Hebrew it reads ‘Aleph, Beth, Gimel…..untilTaw’.
• In most editions of the English Bible,
• The twenty-two sections (which each has eight verses) of this psalm
• Are headed by the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet;
• e.g. ‘Aleph, Beth, Gimel, etc’.
• In the Hebrew Bible, not the English;
• Each verse in each section also begins with the same Hebrew letter.
• e.g. All the verses in the "aleph" section (verses 1-8);
• Also begin with the Hebrew letter "aleph."
• This was probably done to help the readers memorize and meditate on God's Word.
• e.g. Preachers today often use illiteration (ill: person, place & problem).
(c). All but five verses mention the Word of God in one way or another.
• So if you get bored you can scan the passage and try to figure them out.
• Although if you really want know see me afterwards (84, 90, 121, 122, and 132)
• In fact ten different words are used to describe the word of God;
• ‘Word, law, saying, statutes, way, commandments, path, testimonies, precepts, judgements’
• Each of those ten names indicates what the word is;
• And how we should respond to it.
(d). God is referred to in every verse.
• If you scan the psalm just note how many times the words ‘you’ or ‘your’ are used.
• And also note how many personnel references are recorded; such as ‘I’ and ‘me’.
• The main point of the this Psalm is not just about the ‘word’;
• But the relationship between people and God through the word!
Ill:
• The very last verse of the Psalm is a good illustration of this.
• Quote: verse 176:
“I have wondered away like a lost sheep;
come and find me,
for I have not forgotten your commands”.
The aim of the Bible (and therefore this Psalm):
• Is not just that you may know about God.
• It is that you may know him personally.
Obviously we are not going to look at the Psalm verse by verse:
• Time will not allow;
• Ill: Preacher & watch ‘Hit me again, I can still hear him!’
• I want this morning to divide it under three headings;
• And pull out some, to select a few verses to illustrate a particular point.
• But of course at home you can read it through in its entirety!
• Ill: Gospel gems calendar ‘For greater blessing read the chapter’.
(A). What the Bible Is.
(1). Water for cleansing (verse 9).
”How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word”.
• This whole section (verses. 9-16) deals with victory over sin.
• As you read the Word of God and meditate on it,
• It cleanses your inner being,
• Just as water cleanses the body.
Ill:
• Christian boy who said to his dad;
• “Dad, I cannot remember the Bible, why try to learn it? What’s the point?”
• His dad sent him into the garden to fill up his paddling pool;
• Only he gave him an old dirty plastic bucket;
• As the boy tried filling up the paddling pool;
• He soon became aware that the old plastic bucket was split and so very, very leaky.
• It took the boy ages just to fill the pool a little;
• Eventually he went to his dad and said; “What’s the point, when all it does is leak?”
• The dad picked up the dirty old bucket and showed him the inside and said;
• “It might not retain any water, but just look at how clean the inside is!”
Quote John Bunyan:
“This book will keep you from sin or sin will keep you from this book”.
(B). Wealth and treasure (vs 14, 72, 127, 162).
“I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches”
“The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold”.
Quote:
“We know the cost of everything and the value of nothing”
ill:
It was reported that eleven millionaires went down on the Titanic.
• Major A. H. Peuchen left;
• $300,000.00 in money, jewelry and securities in a box in his cabin.
• “The money seemed a mockery at that time,”
• He later said. “I picked up three oranges instead.”
• Until we truly value this book; realise it is our greatest treasure;
• Then we will not have the desire to read it, learn it, study it or meditate upon it.
(c). A companion and friend (verse 24).
“Your statutes are my delight; they are my counsellors”
Quote: The troublesome teenager:
“Once I told my old man, ‘Nobody likes me.’
He said, ‘Don’t say that—everybody hasn’t met you yet”.
The writer of the psalm describes himself:
• Verse 19: as ‘a stranger’ or ‘a foreigner’.
• Verse 21: as someone ‘rejected by the proud’
• Verse 23: as someone ‘rejected by princes’
• But he always had one companion and friend;
• The word of God was to be his counselor.
Ill:
• Charlie Brown cartoon strip:
• Peppermint Patty said to Marcie:
• “I’d like to read this book, Marcie, but I’m kind of afraid.
• I had a grandfather who didn’t think much of reading.”
• She continued by saying,
• “He always said that if you read too many books, your head would fall off.”
• Marcie responds,
• “You start the first chapter, and I’ll hold onto your head!”
• Friend, hold on to friends;
• They stand by us and support us and encourage us!
• Though rejected by his people for following the true and living God.
• The psalmist had a friend who would ‘stand by him, support him and encourage him’.
(D). A song to sing (verse 54).
“Your decrees are the theme of my song wherever I lodge”.
“Your principles have been the music of my life
throughout the years of my pilgrimage.”
Ill:
• George Best on Talk Sport on Wednesday afternoon this week.
• Music that means most to him and played two songs.
• ‘Positivly 4th street’ by Bob Dylan.
• Is a song about betrayal, lack of true friends, basically saying can’t trust anyone.
• ‘Vincent’ by Don McLean.
• Vincent van Gogh, the genius who committed suicide.
• His good friend an co-presenter of the show ex-footballer Rodney Marsh.
• The next day, just said how tragic it was that those songs were the theme tune to his life!
In total contrast the psalmist says there is a song, music that are the theme of his life:
• That song is God’s decrees,
• Imagine making a song out of statutes - laws!
• Most people dislike laws;
• They resent them.
• Question: What makes the Psalmist feel this way?
• Answer: A right attitude towards them.
• Quote:
• “Two men look out the same bars, one sees the dirt the other the stars”.
• The psalmist realised that the law of God is not restrictive negative regulations.
• It is sensible practical advice, for the way we live our lives.
(E). Honey (verse 103).
“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”
ill:
Kathy and sweets.
• Getting to grips with God’s word is meant to be a pleasant experience;
• Not a grind.
Ill:
• A sign of a healthy person is they have a good appetite!
• There is a spiritual parallel.
3 TYPES OF BIBLE READERS:
• (a). Cod liver oil types.
• The readers know it’s good for them;
• But it is not a pleasant experience!
• (b). Shreaded wheat types.
• To them the Bible is nourishing, but dry.
• It’s like eating a pile of hay.
• (c). Strawberries and cream types.
• These folks just can’t get enough of the stuff!
• It is a treat, a pleasure, an enjoyable experience.
(F). A lamp (verses 105, 130).
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path”.
“By your words I can see where I'm going; they throw a beam of light on my dark path”.
“The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple”.
ILL;
• Making decisions in the dark can lead to some regrettable consequences.
• Back in the days before electricity,
• A tight-fisted old farmer was taking his hired man to task;
• For carrying a lighted lantern when he went to call on his best girl.
• “Why,” he exclaimed, “when I went a-courtin’
• I never carried one of them things. I always went in the dark.”
• “Yes,” the hired man said wryly,
• “And look what you got!”
We live in a dark world;
• And the only dependable light is the Word of God.
• It alone gives us that clear guidance that we need.
(G). Great spoil (verse 162).
“I rejoice in your promise like one who finds great spoil”.
• In past times, a soldier who was poor;
• Could be made very rich from the spoils he found after the battle.
• These ‘spoils’ or ‘booty’ or ‘loot’ was his;
• Because the enemy had been defeated!
Ill:
• 7,474 promises in the Bible;
• They are not all for you!
• Some where to individuals, families and nations;
• Some are conditional, but there are loads and loads that you can find and enjoy!
(H). A heritage (verse 111).
“Your statutes are my heritage for ever; they are the joy of my heart.”
“They will always be my most prized possession and my source of joy.”
Ill:
• At age 16 Andor Foldes was already a skilled pianist,
• But he was experiencing a troubled year.
• In the midst of the young Hungarian’s personal struggles,
• One of the most renowned pianists of the day came to Budapest.
• Emil von Sauer was famous not only for his abilities;
• He was also the last surviving pupil of the great Franz Liszt.
Von Sauer requested that Foldes play for him.
• Foldes obliged with some of the most difficult works of Bach, Beethoven, & Schumann.
• When he finished, von Sauer walked over to him and kissed him on the forehead.
• “My son,” he said, “when I was your age I became a student of Liszt.
• He kissed me on the forehead after my first lesson, saying,
• ‘Take good care of this kiss—it comes from Beethoven,
• Who gave it to me after hearing me play.
• ‘ I have waited for years to pass on this sacred heritage,
• But now I feel you deserve it.”
In a far greater way than Emil von Sauer:
• What a precious inheritance is the Bible!
• And think of those who had to suffer and die that we might have this inheritance.
(B). What the Bible Does.
(1). It blesses (verses 1-2).
“Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD.
2 Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart.”
Psalm 119 is a book with a blessing (see that in at least four different ways):
• We are blessed (happy many times over) in reading the Word,
• We are blessed (happy many times over) understanding the Word,
• We are blessed (happy many times over) when we obey the Word.
• We are blessed (happy many times over) when we share the Word with others.
Quote:
“Show me an unhappy Christian and I will show you an unread Bible”.
(2). It gives life (verses 25, 37, 40, 50, 88, 93).
25”I am laid low in the dust; preserve my life according to your word.”
37”Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.”
40”How I long for your precepts! Preserve my life in your righteousness.”
God’s word preserves:
• To preserve something meant you ‘kept it from going rotten’.
• Ill: Too many raspberries to eat, you can preserve them by freezing them.
• The word of God safeguards us from going rotten in life.
• It keeps us fresh and healthy, it continues to give us life!
(3). It gives strength (verse 28).
“My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.”
Ill:
Running on batteries or the mains?
• Trusting the Word encourages us (Matt. 4:4).
• God's Word has power (Heb. 4:12) and can empower us when we believe and obey.
(4). It gives freedom (verse 45).
“I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.”
• I mentioned earlier that most of us naturally don’t like laws;
• We would all soon change many of them.
• e.g. the speed limit on certain roads.
• e.g. Football: getting booked for celebrating a goal! Shirt is untucked!
• Notice: here is a law that gives freedom;
• The opposite of what we usually assume or think.
Ill:
• Think of a kite;
• The freedom to fly is related to the string.
• The very thing that holds the kite to earth is what keeps it in the sky.
• Cut the string, and what will happen to the kite? It will fall.
• But the string, which seems to bind it,
• Actually allows it to fly.
• So too the word of God, the book, that many seems to think it will only bind them,
• Actually allows people to fly and to be free!
(5). It imparts wisdom (verses 66, 97-104).
“Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I believe in your command”s.
I see the limits to everything human,
but the horizons can't contain your commands! 97Oh, how I love all you've revealed;
I reverently ponder it all the day long.
98Your commands give me an edge on my enemies;
they never become obsolete.
99I've even become smarter than my teachers
since I've pondered and absorbed your counsel.
100I've become wiser than the wise old sages
simply by doing what you tell me.
101I watch my step, avoiding the ditches and ruts of evil
so I can spend all my time keeping your Word.
102I never make detours from the route you laid out;
you gave me such good directions.
103Your words are so choice, so tasty;
I prefer them to the best home cooking.
104With your instruction, I understand life”.
• We may get information, knowledge and facts in other books,
• But true spiritual wisdom is found in the Bible.
Verses 97-104 remind us that there are various ways to discover truth;
• From your enemies,
• From your teachers,
• From your older friends,
• The psalmist is not saying that these are wrong sources of education.
• He is saying that on their own they are not enough!
• Ill: Solomon – wisest man who ever lived, just read Ecclesiastes if you want proof!
• The Psalmist reminds us, that way above all earthly books is the Bible.
• After all, if this is God’s word, then it must contain God’s wisdom!
• And you cannot get greater wisdom than that;
• So read it!
(6). It creates friends (verse 63).
“I am a friend to all who fear you, to all who follow your precepts.”
“I'm a friend and companion of all who fear you, of those committed to living by your rules”.
Quote:
It is reported that Howard Hughes, when worth approximately 4 billion dollars, said,
“I’d give it all for one good friend.”
• Knowing and obeying the Bible will bring into your life the very finest friends.
• Those who also love God's word.
• There are friends who may dazzle you with their worldly wisdom and wealth,
• But their friendship may well lead you astray.
• Where as those who love the Bible;
• Will lead you closer to the one it speaks of - God himself!
• Quote:
• “Stick with those who ‘stick’ with the Bible”.
(7). It gives comfort (verses 50, 76, 82, 92).
“My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.”
“May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant.”
“My eyes fail, looking for your promise; I say, When will you comfort me?”
• More than sixty verses in this psalm mention trial and persecution;
• (Verses 22, 50-53, 95, 98, 115, etc.).
• The believer who obeys the Word will have trials in this world,
• After all we are swimming against the tide.
• Ill: 2 Timothy chapter 3 verse 12:
• ‘Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecution’.
But, to help us through those difficult times, we have the Bible!
• The Comforter, the Holy Spirit of God,
• Takes the Word of God and applies it to our hearts of God’s people to comfort us.
Ill:
• The notice board of a large industrial factory carried this notice:
• IN CASE OF ACCIDENT OR INJURY, NOTIFY YOUR SUPERVISOR IMMEDIATELY.
• At the bottom of the notice someone scribbled some graffiti,
• “He’ll kiss it and make it better.”
• The Comforter, the Spirit of God,
• Takes the Word of God and applies it to our hearts to comfort us.
(H). It gives direction (verse 133).
“Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me”.
Ill:
• An old sailor repeatedly got lost at sea,
• So his friends gave him a compass and urged him to use it.
• The next time he went out in his boat,
• He followed their advice and took the compass with him.
• But as usual he became hopelessly confused and was unable to find land.
• Finally he was rescued by his friends.
• Disgusted and impatient with him, they asked,
• “Why didn’t you use that compass we gave you? You could have saved us a lot of trouble!”
• The sailor responded, “I didn’t dare to! I wanted to go north, but as hard as I tried to make the needle aim in that direction, it just kept on pointing southeast.”
Question: Do we really want God to guide us?
Answer: Yes, then get stuck into his word!
Two simple suggestions:
(a). Hear it:
• Attend Church on a regular basis.
• This is the simplest and easiest ways to learn.
• Don’t put your brain in neutral, use it!
• Have a pen and paper handy to take notes.
(2). Read it:
• Read systematically through a book;
• Paragraph after paragraph, chapter after chapter.
• Get some regular Q.T. notes or helps.
• So that each day God has the opportunity to speak to you.
(3) What We Must Do with the Bible
(1). Love it (verses 97, 159).
“Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long”.
“Remember how I love your laws, and show your love for me by keeping me safe”.
Ill:
• A preacher was impressing upon his congregation;
• The difference between being ordered to love God’s word and actually doing it.
• He said suppose in England there is a law stating a woman must take care of her child.
• So, an inspector suddenly arrives one day at the home of a new mother.
• And he says “Are you taking care of your baby?
• The Law says you have to.”
• The woman, tenderly holding her baby, said,
• “I don’t need a law to make me take care of my baby.”
• Why? Because she loves her baby!
• She feeds him, holds him, changes him, all because she loves him.
In the same way:
• It should be a natural thing for the Christian to love God’s word;
• I would suggest the way we treat our Bible is a reflection of our love for him!
• To love Him is to love His Word.
• For the word reveals God to us.
(2). Prize it (verses 72, 128).
“The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.”
“I would rather obey you than to have a thousand pieces of silver and gold”.
Ill:
It is said that when the famous missionary, Dr. David Livingstone,
• Started his trek across Africa he had 73 books in 3 packs, weighing 180 pounds.
• After the party had gone 300 miles,
• Livingstone was obliged to throw away some of the books;’
• Because of the fatigue of those carrying his baggage.
• As he continued on his journey his library grew less and less,
• Until he had but one book left—his Bible.
• To hold the Bible in high esteem is the mark of a true saint.
• It should be more precious to us than any earthly treasure.
(3). Study it (verse 7, 12, 26-27).
“I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws.”
“Praise be to you, O LORD; teach me your decrees”.
“When I told my story, you responded;
train me well in your deep wisdom.
27Help me understand these things inside and out
so I can ponder your miracle-wonders”.
• At least twelve times the psalmist prays, "Teach me."
• The Christian who daily studies his Bible will be blessed of God.
• Bible study is not always easy, it will take effort and determination.
• But the rewards cannot be got any other way.
• Ill:What daily training is to an athelete or soldier;
• So times of study are needed for the Christian.
Quote: D.L. Moody:
“I never saw a useful Christian who was not a student of the Bible”.
• Study it - visit your local bookshop and get a study guide to help you;
• Set some time apart to go deeper than casual reading.
(4). Memorize it (verse 11).
“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you”.
“I've banked your promises in the vault of my heart
so I won't sin myself bankrupt.”
Quote:
• Campbell Morgan explained this verse.
• "The best Book, in the best place, for the best purpose!"
• What a great outline of this verse:
• ‘The best book’ – The Bible.
• ‘The best place’ – In the heart of a believer.
• ‘The best result’ – A life of victory over sin.
Question: Do you memorise the word of God?
• All ages need to memorize the Word, not children and young people alone.
• Joshua was not a youth when God commanded him to memorize the Law (Josh. 1:8).
• Again and again Jesus was able to quote Scripture.
• That was not by accident – he too had to learn it!
• Remember learning Bible verses will:
• Help you when you are tempted.
• They will help you when you are feeling low.
• They will help you when you are witnessing!
(5). Meditate on it (vs 15, 23, 48, 78, 97, 99, 148).
• Quote:
• Meditation is to the soul what digestion is to the body.
• To meditate means to
• "turn over" God's Word in the mind and heart, to examine it, to compare Scripture with Scripture,.
• Biblical meditation is not mystical nonsense, it is conscience thought.
• ill: Dog with a bone.
Ill:
Ask your readings questions:
• What have I read about:
• God the Father, Lord Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit?
• Is there a command to obey?
• Is there a promise to believe?
• Is there a good example to follow?
• Is there a wrong thing to avoid?
• What have I learnt from my reading?
• What can I put into practice?
(6). Trust it (verse 42).
“Then I will answer the one who taunts me, for I trust in your word.”
“Then I'll be able to stand up to mockery because I trusted your Word.”
• We trust the Bible about everything,
• Because it is right about everything.
• Remember we are not walking on eggshells;
• We are on the rock of ages – it will not fail!
• It is true and can be trusted wholly.
• We test every other book and whatever by what God says in His Word.
(7). Obey it (verses 1-8).
“Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD”
• To keep the Word is to obey it, to walk in its commandments.
• If we know God's truth and fail to obey it, we are only fooling ourselves.
Ill:
• D.L. Moody and a critic, who said to him:
• “I have been through the Bible 10 times, it hasn’t done much for me!”
• Moody replied:
• “If you allow it to go through you once, you will be a changed man!”
(8). Declare it (verses 13, 26).
“With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth”
26”When I told my story, you responded; train me well in your deep wisdom.”
• If we really believed this book was as good as we have thought about;
• Then we should all be keen to tell others about it!
Ill:
Fritz Kreisler (1875-1962), the world-famous violinist,
• Earned a fortune with his concerts and compositions,
• But he generously gave most of it away.
• So, when he discovered an exquisite violin on one of his trips,
• He wasn’t able to buy it.
• Later, having raised enough money to meet the asking price,
• He returned to the seller, hoping to purchase that beautiful instrument.
• But to his great dismay it had been sold to a collector.
• Kreisler made his way to the new owner’s home and offered to buy the violin.
• The collector said it had become his prized possession and he would not sell it.
• Keenly disappointed, Kreisler was about to leave when he had an idea.
• “Could I play the instrument once more before it is consigned to silence?” he asked.
• Permission was granted,
• And the great virtuoso filled the room with such heart-moving music;
• That the collector’s emotions were deeply stirred.
• “I have no right to keep that to myself,” he exclaimed.
• “It’s yours, Mr. Kreisler. Take it into the world, and let people hear it.”
“This Book is the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding; its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable.
Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveler’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s sword, and the Christian’s character. Here paradise is restored, heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed. Christ is its grand subject, our good its design, and the glory of God its end. It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. Follow its precepts and it will lead you to Calvary, to the empty tomb, to a resurrected life in Christ; yes, to glory itself, for eternity.
