BIG IDEA:
THE PERFECTION OF GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS IS THE PATHWAY
TO THE PERMANENCE OF GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS
(:13) THESIS: GOD IS RIGHTEOUS IN ESSENCE AND IN EXECUTION
(WHO HE IS AND WHAT HE DOES)
A. Righteous in Essence = Who He Is
"Righteous art Thou, O Lord"
B. Righteous in Execution = What He Does
"And upright are Thy judgments."
I. (:138, 140) THE PERFECTION OF GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS
DEMONSTRATED IN THE REVELATION OF HIS WORD
A. Created in Righteousness
"Thou hast commanded Thy testimonies in righteousness"
B. Carried out in Faithfulness
"And exceeding faithfulness"
C. Characterized by Absolute Purity
"Thy word is very pure"
D. Causes the Response of Love
"Therefore Thy servant loves it"
II. (:139, 141, 143) THE STRUGGLES OF FINITENESS / VICTORY THROUGH THE WORD
(references to our finiteness interspersed every other verse in contrast to God’s everlasting righteousness and perfections)
A. (:139) Struggle with Culture (Zeal for Righteousness vs. Prevailing Dullness)
/ Victory Thru the Word
"My zeal has consumed me, Because my adversaries have forgotten Thy words"
the world will always have a different value system
B. (:141) Struggle with Insignificance / Victory Through the Word
"I am small and despised, Yet I do not forget Thy precepts"
C. (:143) Struggle with Trouble / Victory Thru the Word."Trouble and anguish have come upon me; Yet Thy commandments are my delight."
III. (:142, 144) THE PERMANENCE OF GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS REFLECTED IN THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH OF GOD’S RIGHTEOUS WORD
A. Permanence of God’s Righteousness
"Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness"
B. Absolute Truth of God’s Word
"And Thy law is truth"
C. Permanence of God’s Righteous Word
"Thy testimonies are righteous forever"
D. Prayer for Understanding
"Give me understanding that I may live"
* * * * * * * * * *
DEVOTIONAL QUESTIONS:
1) Why does the issue of “Is God being fair to me in my circumstances?” even come up if we have settled in our heart that God is essentially righteous and only can do righteousness?
2) Are we careful to keep God’s Word “pure” by not adding to it our own traditions, our own preferences, our own speculations, our own self-imposed legalistic ideas, etc.? Is our passion for God’s Word stirred up by appreciating its purity?
3) How can we deal with the potential for frustration –given the great contrast between our zeal and love for God’s word and our culture’s indifference and even hostility to God’s word?
4) Do we struggle with issues of significance? Do we seem “small and despised”? How can we see ourselves from God’s perspective?
Download the entire Psalms commentary in pdf format
(including notes on each psalm from other commentators)
from:
http://www.bibleoutlines.com
