Your Word Guides Me | Psalm 119

For the past six weeks we have been looking at the Psalms we have grown to love. Google lists the Psalms that we are looking at as the most popular psalms that people look for.

We’ve looked at what the Book of Psalms are about, and we also looked at perhaps the most popular Psalm – Psalm 23 – The Lord Is My Shepherd. We looked at Psalm 34 and verse 8 “Taste and see that the LORD is good” (Psalms 34:8 NIV). Four weeks ago, we studied Psalm 42, “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God”. We’ve looked at Psalms 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God” and Psalm 51, “Create in me a pure heart, O God”. Last week Robbie preached a great sermon from Psalm 118, “his love endures forever”.

Today we are looking at 119. Now today I will be doing what is called expository preaching, which is the type where preachers expound or commentated on each verse, sometime for many minutes for each verse. Now, you may be aware that Psalm 119 is only 176 verses making it the longest chapter in the bible. So, if I say only preach for 3 minutes for each verse that would me I will be preaching for 528 minutes which is just under 9 hours! Mmmmm… somehow, I think that not many will be left here.

Being such a long chapter, why has it become one that we have cherished? Because it is all about God’s Word and how precious it is. In fact, in almost every verse, about 170 in total, mentions God's Word. Such repetition was common in the Hebrew culture. People did not have personal copies of the Scriptures to read as we do, so people memorized his Word and passed it along orally. The structure of this psalm allowed for easy memorization.

Life Application Study Bible

Perhaps one of the verses that we have memorized over the years is verse 105, “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path” (Psalms 119:105 NIV). Some of remember gospel singing Amy Grants song based on this verse.

The context around this verse, in fact the whole chapter, is that the writer (who probably lived during the exile days) was experiencing hardships and persecution. Look at verse 107, “I have suffered much; preserve my life, LORD, according to your word” (Psalms 119:107 NIV). Throughout this Psalm, we read of the writer’s hardships and yet through the darkness of his fear, he sees God’s word is like a lamp that lights up the direction that he needs to go. And that is exactly what God’s Word is for us – it is a lamp that guides us through the darkness of this world.

I want to tell you about a boy who experienced hope in God’s Word in complete darkness. Adun is 14 years old. When he was 7 his parents took him to a church in Thailand where Pastor Go Shin and his wife began caring for him. They also registered Adun into a Child Sponsorship Program through Compassion. The reason why the parent did this is that they are part of the “Lua” ethnic group. They wanted to give their son the best opportunities to get an education and serve God, so they took him to a church. Nearby countries are prone to conflict between ethnic groups, civil unrest, and politically motivated violence. Giving Adun the opportunity to grow up in Thailand would give him the life his parents always wanted him to have.

Through the church, Adun learnt much about God and who He is through what the Bible teaches.

Then just last month, in complete darkness, Adun turned to the God who He knew. You see Adun was one of the 12 boys and their coach who were trapped for 18 days in those completely darkened Thailand caves. And this is what Adun said what happened: “By the 10th night, we were losing patience, hope, physical energy and courage. We could not do anything to help [the situation]. The only thing that I could do was to pray. I prayed ‘Lord, I’m only a boy, you are almighty God, you are holy, and you are powerful. Right now, I can’t do anything, may you protect us, come to help us all 13,’”.

And within hours, when that English Rescue Diver popped his head out from the water and said hello, is anyone there, it was Adun who could speak English, communicated with the divers, translating for his team mates and delivering the news that the world was waiting and praying for - when asked how many were in the cave, Adun answered “thirteen”.

And then commenced the most amazing rescue of all 13 boys. Just a couple of weeks ago, all 11 boys went to a ceremony to become novice Buddhist monks, however Adun did not attend. Instead, he was involved in a thanksgiving service at his local church and Compassion centre. At this service, they also spent time honouring the life of the Thai Navy Seal who lost his life on the rescue mission.

During this service Adun shared his amazing story and the prayer he prayed, and then said, “And then I finished my prayer, thanking God for everything that happened to myself and my friends—all 13 of us. Thank you to everybody who prayed for me and the whole team, thank you to everybody that helped us and the last thank you to the Lord, thank you God. God bless you all. Thank you.”

What an amazing 14-year-old who experience the light of God’s Word in pitch darkness and God came through and rescued them.

As the writer wrote in Psalm 119, “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path” (Psalms 119:105 NIV).

Psalm 119 is arranged in an acrostic pattern. As there are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet, this Psalm contains 22 units of 8 verses each. Most translations except for the NIV, show this at the beginning of each section. Each of the 22 sections is given to a letter of the Hebrew alphabet, and each line in that section begins with that letter. No wonder it’s the longest chapter in the Bible!

Since this is a Psalm glorifying God and His Word, it refers to Scripture over and over again. The psalm is remarkable for how often it refers to God’s written word. It is mentioned in at least 171 of 176 verses.

Listen to these verses: “Praise be to you, LORD; teach me your decrees. With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth. I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word. Be good to your servant while I live, that I may obey your word. Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. I am a stranger on earth; do not hide your commands from me” (Psalms 119:12-19 NIV).

These verses are an example that in this Psalm there are 8 basic words used to describe the Scriptures:

• Law (torah, used 25 times in Psalms 119);

• Word (dabar, used 24 times);

• Judgments (mispatim, used 23 times);

• Testimonies (edut/edot, used 23 times);

• Commandments (miswah/miswot, used 22 times);

• Statutes (huqqim, used 21 times);

• Precepts (piqqudim, used 21 times);

• Word (imrah, used 19 times).

While these eight all refer to God’s Word, there are subtle differences. Look at Deuteronomy 6:1-3, Moses said to the Hebrews: “These are the commands, decrees and laws the LORD your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. Hear, Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your ancestors, promised you” (Deuteronomy 6:1-3 NIV). Here, we see Moses referring to God’s Word to the Hebrews in three ways, yet there are differences. These differences include the commandments that are God’s eternal Word like the Ten Commandments, and there are the laws that God applied only to Ancient Israel dealing with sacrifices, and the list continues.

While there are subtle differences, the overall principle that writer of Psalm 119 wants the readers to know is one of obedience to all that the Lord commands, whether it’s a general command, a prescribed law, a legal verdict, or a religious festival or ritual.

I love some of the quotes the writer uses about God’s Word:

“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalms 119:11 NIV).

“Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law” (Psalms 119:18 NIV).

“I weep with sorrow; encourage me by Your word” (Psalms 119:28 NLT)

“Your word, LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens” (Psalms 119:89 NIV).

“You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word” (Psalms 119:114 NIV).

“All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal” (Psalms 119:160 NIV).

The Holy Bible does contain the very words of God. That’s why the Hebrew writer wrote about it: “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12 NIV). That’s why Paul wrote to Timothy about it saying: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV). So, no wonder Paul told the church at Ephesus that one of the effective ways to withstand the darts of the devil is to “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17 NIV).

William Felt, a great minister of the gospel has written that “the Bible ought to have written on its cover: “High Explosives! Handle With Care". It is explosive. It will transform you to be more like Christ.

While there is danger in reading the Bible, there is more danger by not reading it. Judges 2:10 says: “That whole generation also died, and the next generation forgot the LORD and what he had done for Israel” (Judges 2:10 GNB). They had become bankrupted in their values. They were left with no basis on which to make moral decisions. They were in a position of a dangerous drift.

Those who believe in God but neglect reading His Word are in a position of a dangerous drift. It’s the same with us as a congregation. If we follow what we think will reach a crowd and not teach from God’s Word, we will also drift.

Those who “immerse” themselves in it will be transformed to be like His Son, Jesus Christ. This pleases God like nothing else. Jesus says, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it” (Luke 11:28 NIV).

Why did Jesus say, “blessed are those…”? I’ll tell you why. Jesus knew that the Word of God transforms people.

Then why is it that studies are revealing that we are reading our bibles less? I think I might be right to say that most of us go through seasons where we have struggled to read his Word for us on a regular basis. It could be other priorities, it may be where you are at spiritually, or it could be health related – you are too ill with very little energy to read.

I’ve been through those patches.

And in all his positive statements about God’s Word and law and precepts, the writer to may have gone through such patches to. If you blink you would miss it. But reading his thoughts and his desire ought to encourage us. Look at verses 35-37: “Make me walk along the path of Your commands, for that is where my happiness is found. Give me an eagerness for Your laws rather than a love for money! Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through Your word” (Psalms 119:35-37 NLT).

Here, the writer is turning to God in prayer. It’s like he was struggling and so he is praying to God to make him walk along the paths of His Word, to give him eagerness for His Word, and to help him turn from other priorities and temptations and find life through His word.

What a beautiful prayer. He is pleading with God to give him desire for the word. He knows that ultimately God is sovereign over the desires of the heart. So, he calls on God to cause what he cannot make happen on his own. This is the answer to lack of desire.

John Piper has written: “I cannot stress enough how our real spiritual helplessness should be accompanied by the daily cry to God that he would sustain and awaken our desire to read his word. Too many of us are passive when it comes to our spiritual affections. We are practical fatalists. We think there is nothing we can do. Oh, well, today I have no desire to read. Maybe it will be there tomorrow. We’ll see. And off to work we go.

This is not the way the psalmists thought or acted. Life is war. And the main battles are fought at the level of desires, not deeds. When Paul said, “Put to death what is earthly in you,” he included in the list “passion, evil desire, and covetousness” (Colossians 3:5). These are the great destroyers of desire for the word of God. What did Jesus say takes away our desire for the word? “The cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word” (Mark 4:19). Paul tells us to kill those “desires for other things” before they kill us! He does not encourage us to be passive or fatalistic. He encourages us to fight for our lives. That is, fight for your desire for God’s word.

(https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/do-you-read-the-bible-like-a-nonbeliever)

When life becomes dark, when you can’t see what’s ahead, His Word will light your path. When you feel so dry, His Word is like a fresh stream of living water. When you are lost, His Word is like a compass and will guide you.

Fight for the desire to be there. Pray for the eagerness to return. And see how the Word of God speaks hope, faith, and life into your very situation.

You see the Bible was…

• written over a 1,500-year span;

• written over 40 generations;

• written by more than 40 authors, from every walk of life - including kings, peasants, philosophers, fishermen, poets, scholars, etc.

• written in different places: Moses in the wilderness; Jeremiah in a dungeon; Daniel on a hillside and in a palace; Paul inside prison walls, Luke while travelling; John on the isle of Patmos and others in the rigors of military campaigns;

• written at different times: David in times of war and Solomon in times of peace

• written on three continents: Asia, Africa and Europe.

• written in three languages: Hebrew; Aramaic and Greek.

And yet the Biblical authors spoke with harmony and continuity from Genesis to Revelation. There was one Holy Spirit breathing His Words through the many authors telling the one unfolding story: “God’s redemption of people through Jesus Christ”. This Bible is unique for it is the very Word of God for us today.

Psalm 118

Create In Me A Clean Heart | Psalm 51

For the past four weeks we have been looking at the Psalms we have grown to love. Google lists the Psalms that we are looking at up till and including Father’s Day, as the most popular psalms that people look for.

We looked at what the Book of Psalms are about and we also looked at perhaps the most popular Psalm – Psalm 23 – The Lord Is My Shepherd.

We looked at Psalm 34 and verse 8 “Taste and see that the LORD is good” (Psalms 34:8 NIV). Two weeks ago, we studied Psalm 42, “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God”. Last week we looked at Psalms 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God”.

Today we head to another loved song, popularized by the song “Create In Me A Clean Heart”.

A few weeks ago, we spoke about David before he was king. One of his more notable feats is his killing of Goliath. Goliath was over 9 feet tall and his physical appearance frightened the Israelite army. However, David had faith in God, and he went and challenged Goliath, eventually killing him with a stone from his shepherd's sling. After the battle the women came out to meet Saul dancing and singing: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands” (1 Samuel 18:7 NIV). From then on Saul became very jealous of David and several times tried to kill him. Jonathan, Saul's son and David's close friend, warned him to escape and he became an outlaw. Saul hunted him without mercy, although David twice spared his life.

One day, when Saul and Jonathan were killed in battle against the Philistines, David was crowned king in Judah. Two years later all Israel accepted him as their king. David was a brave soldier and won many victories. He was very popular with the people and ruled them well. When he had captured Jerusalem from the Jebusites David made it his capital. He brought the Covenant Box (the ark) there and planned to build a temple. This is why the city of Jerusalem is so special to the Jews today.

David was a great king, a brave soldier and a creative poet, who wrote many beautiful psalms of praise to God. The Bible describes him as ‘a man after God's own heart’ (Acts 13:22).

As most here would know, David was far from perfect. In fact, one particular act of his and his alone is just despicable. Verse one, in the title of Psalm 51, gives us the context of this Psalm and this terrible act. It says, “For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba” (Psalms 51:1 NIV). The whole sad account is found in 2 Samuel 11. When I read this story of what David had done, I get so mad at him! He was such a deceiver. One night when David’s army was of fighting a battle, David went for a casual stroll around the roof of his palace (v2). As he was strolling around he saw a beautiful naked woman having a bath - and he liked what he saw! The following actions by David were terrible. He got someone to find out any information there was about this woman (v3). The person said that her name is Bathsheba, that she was married, and her husband’s name is Uriah.

Knowing full well that she was married, David ordered for her to come to him. She went, and they had sex together. Oh, David, what a thing to do! Sleeping with a married woman. While her husband was of fighting for David, David was sleeping with her.

Bathsheba fell pregnant. So, she sent word to David about the news. Now David was obviously concerned about his reputation as king. Yet David, who has devised plans that built cities and taken enemies, had a plan to cover this situation. This is what he did. He ordered her husband, Uriah, to come back from the fighting (v6). David invited him to the palace, made a lot of small talk, gave him a gift, then told him to go home and sleep with his wife. His plan was to make him look as if was the father. David went to bed and woke up to find out that his plan didn’t work. Uriah didn’t go home but slept at the door of the palace. When David asked him why, Uriah said that he couldn’t go home and sleep with his wife while his mates were fighting. He felt too guilty.

David couldn’t believe it! So, he invited Uriah back for dinner that night. This time David got him drunk. But Uriah still didn’t go home.

David was desperate. Desperate times calls for desperate measures. David sent a letter to the commander of the army. This is what the letter said: “Put Uriah out in front where the fighting is fiercest. Then withdraw from him so he will be struck down and die” (2 Samuel 11:15 NIV). David sent this letter with Uriah himself.

Well, it happened. The Israelites were fighting another city and the commander did what he was ordered to do. He placed Uriah on the front line and Uriah was killed. David murdered Uriah!

News came back to David of Uriah’s death and then Bathsheba heard it. She went into mourning over the death of her husband. After a little while had passed, David brought Bathsheba into his house and she became David’s wife. The scriptures end this tragic part-one of the story by saying: “the thing David had done displeased the Lord” (2 Samuel 11:27 NIV).

When I was a teenager, I went and had a chat one night with mum and dad. I was looking for some assurance and encouragement. After I shared my heart mum said to me, “David, beware you sins will find you out”. Now I have no idea why mum would say that to me for. I mean, out of all the words of encouragement and comfort mum said to me, “beware your sins will find you out”. Well, for David, his sin did find him out.

This is the second part of the story which actually begins about a year later. Maybe for a whole year David thought he got away with his deviate action. But eventually his sin found him out. It happened like this. Nathan, who was a prophet was sent to David by God. Nathan shared a parable (a story) about a certain unjust man. When Nathan finished the parable, David was burning with anger towards this man in the story. He said that this man should die, that he had no pity. Then Nathan said to David: “You are this man!” (1 Samuel 12:7). Nathan continued, pointing out David’s sin. He had violated four of the Ten Commandments in one insidious sin: “You shall not commit murder, you shall not steal, you shall not commit adultery, and you shall not covet your neigbour’s wife”. David’s sin had found him out and he knew it!

Part Three shows that David was very remorseful of his sin and had repented. And this is where our psalm comes in. Psalm 51 is a song of David’s repented heart. Verse one David pleads for mercy. Verse 2 he asks for cleansing from his sin. Verses 3 to 5 he confesses that he is a sinner. Verse 9 David asks God to hide his face from his sins. Then in verse 10 he asks God to create in him a pure heart and renew his spirit. In verse 11 David asks God not to cast him from His presence nor take the Holy Spirit from him. Instead, as verse 12 says: “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me” (Psalms 51:12 NIV).

David knew that he needed forgiveness. Forgiveness is one topic that we all have to face. Forgiveness because someone has hurt you, forgiveness because you have hurt others, and forgiveness from God because you have hurt Him.

When we fail, and we will, how we handle it will determine if it is final for us or commence a road of recovery that one day God may use.

The issue is, we have to face our sins. The Bible says in Romans 3:23, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23 NIV). The New Living Translation puts verse 23 this way: “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard” (Romans 3:23 NLT). God has set a standard and we have all fall short of it. Doesn’t matter how good we are, we fall short of God’s standard because we are inherently sin. King David fell short perhaps by a long way, from God’s standard. I have fallen short of God’s standard. You have fallen short of God’s standard.

David acknowledged this standard in verse 6 saying, “Yet you desired faithfulness…” (Psalms 51:6 NIV). Other translations have “Sincerity and truth are what you require” (GNB); Surely You desire integrity (HCSB). Amongst us all, I’m sure we have been guilty for lack of integrity at time, or lack of sincerity or not telling the whole truth, or not be as faithful as we should have. We have fallen short of God’s standard and we need to recognise this and confess it.

David recognised his terrible sins and confesses. Look again at verses 1 to 5, “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge. Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me” (Psalms 51:1-5 NIV).

Don’t beat around the bush in regard to acknowledging and confessing your sins – even your sins that no one knows about – you know, those secret sins.

One theological term we apply to God is, omniscience - He is all-knowing. God's knows our secret sins.

• Psalm 44:21 - "God... knows the secrets of the heart?

• Psalm 90:8 - "our secret sins [are] in the light of your presence”

• Ezekiel 28:3 - "Is no secret hidden from you?"

We can hide our personal and secret sins from each other, but not from God. Paul wrote in Romans, “This will take place on the day when God judges people's secrets through Jesus Christ” (Romans 2:16 NIV).

So, first, acknowledge your sinfulness.

Second, actively repent. We need to repent. In David's psalm of confession, we read how he repented of his sin: “Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity” (Psalms 51:9 NIV). Repentance is a change of heart that leads to a change of action. David's prayer is for that - listen to what else he wrote: “Then I will teach Your ways to rebels, and they will return to You” (Psalms 51:13 NLT).

For us, we need to be repentant of our sins. In Acts, Peter plainly taught this: "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out” (Acts 3:19 NIV). Remember, God knows your heart. He knows if you are sincerely repentant or not. I think David describes this well in verse: “The sacrifice You desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God” (Psalms 51:17 NLT).

So, first, acknowledge your sinfulness.

Second, actively repent.

Third, accept God’s gift of forgiveness and restoration. Failure doesn’t have to be final. Sure, there will be consequences for our sins. Because of David’s sin, he missed out on experiencing the amazing Temple that was THE most important structure for the Jews. But remember, failure doesn’t have to be final. Acknowledging your sinfulness and actively repenting results in forgiveness and restoration.

Look at what David is saying in these well-known verses – 10 to 12: “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me” (Psalms 51:10-12 NIV). David is praying for a new heart, a revived spirit, to be in God’s Holy presence, and that joy of knowing that He is saved. What a beautiful prayer! What an amazing reality! That is the New Testament concept of grace. We don’t deserve a new heart, a revived sprit, to be in His Holy presence, and to experience His gift of salvation, but God’s grace says, you don’t deserve any of this but guess what, I’m giving it to you.

God is in the business of forgiving and restoration. The message of forgiveness is a message of hope because Jesus died for our sins. Speaking about His own death, Jesus said these words of hope: “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:28 NIV).

Man, we are sinner. We all are falling short of God’s standard. But where our sin is great, God’s grace is greater. Jesus went through more pain and suffering for you than we can ever imagine. Think of the Cross! Think of Jesus! You are forgiven. You are healed. “by his wounds you have been healed” (Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24 NIV).

When David wrote in verse 13, “grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me” (Psalm 51:12 NIV), it’s like David felt like the emotional wind has been knock out from him. You know what its like. You wronged someone. You know it and they know it. You feel yuck. Yet through acknowledging our wrong and actively being sorry you can be forgiven and restore. The Message Bible puts verse 12 this way – I like it: “put a fresh wind in my sails!” (Psalms 51:12 MSG).

Accepting God’s gift of forgiveness and restoration feels like fresh winds are blowing in your sails again.

And this ought to be our prayer, “God put fresh winds in my sails”. “God put fresh winds in our church’s sails”. God breathed your Spirit of new life in my life, into your life, into my kid’s life, into my marriage, into our church”.

Yesterday at the Reedy Biker’s breakfast, we heard from Wayne Bryan, a former associate of the Hells Angels in New Zealand. He shared how he grew up in a very legalistic strict church which contributed to him walking away from the church. Because of his love for bikes, one thing led to another and he got caught up with doing things that he isn’t proud of. In fact, he didn’t talk a lot about those things. I found over the years that some people who did some bad things and have since become Christians don’t like talking about their past because they don’t like glorifying in it and they feel ashamed. Its real repentant stuff. But what he did say was that Jesus saved him from what could have been imprisonment and even death. Jesus restored Wayne’s life and now He is proclaiming that Jesus is our Saviour. God is breathing fresh wind into His sail and God can breathe fresh wind into your sail to.

First, acknowledge your sinfulness.

Second, actively repent.

Third, accept God’s gift of forgiveness and restoration.

The Apostle Paul has written what He had experienced himself: “anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT).