THE WORD OF GOD - PSALM 119
THE WORD OF GOD – PSALM 119
Sunday, 2/2/20, the Year of Our Lord
Pastor Carolyn Sissom
Today is “Super Sunday.” People of God football is a national pass time, but let us not give away one of God’s Sundays making an idol of Super Bowl Sunday. No! Every Sunday belongs to the LORD. Since I now have two grandsons who play football, and I am interested in what they are interest in, I have softened somewhat accepting the enjoyment of the game separate from making the game a spiritual experience.
Col 2:16Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a holyday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days:
Last Tuesday Ginny Bell gave me a scripture to apply to the impeachment trial:
Psa. 119:126: LORD it is time for you to work; for they have made void your law. (Paraphrased)
I began to ponder Psalm 119 before the Lord and specifically this passage as it applies to pressure from the Godless. Christians are and will continually be under pressure from the Godless. All the shiny objects of the world’s bright lights will always be presented to us as a choice. The Psalmist wrote. I love your commandments above gold…therefore I esteem all your precepts to be right; and I hate every false way. (KJV)
These eight stanzas can rightly be applied to the justice and judgments around our national government and for our President.
P. T.: Psa. 119:121-128: Don’t leave me to the mercies of those who hate me, for I live to do what is just and fair. Let me hear your promise of blessing over my life, breaking me free from the proud oppressors. As a lovesick lover, I yearn for more of your salvation and for your virtuous promises! Let me feel your tender love for I am yours. Give me more understanding of your wonderful ways. I need more revelation from your Word to know more about you, for I’m in love with you! Lord the time has come for you to break through for evil men keep breaking your laws! Truly your message of truth means more to me than a vault filled with the purest gold. Every word you speak every truth revealed is always right and beautiful to me; for I hate what is phony or false.
I am always greatly blessed to study, teach and preach God’s Word; but for some reason, I was especially blessed with this approach to Psalm 119. I give all Glory to God for leading me this way. I felt myself laughing and giggling as I prepared this message. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have enjoyed the preparation.
Psalm 119 has no title. The grand and glorious theme of this Psalm is THE WORD OF GOD. It has 22 stanzas. There are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet. Each stanza has eight verses or lines, and each of the eight verses or lines begins with the same Hebrew letter.
Throughout this mathematical marvel is the number eight (8) = a new day, a new beginning; resurrection. The Psalm glories in the law. It is now a time when the spirit of antichrist has become so bold with lawlessness that God’s law is almost forgotten among the people and even in some churches.
We are at the beginning of a New Year and a New Decade. It is probable this will be my last decade of life on earth as well as others of you who are part of this fellowship.
Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live, and keep your word. (Psa. 119:17)
My life on earth is so brief, so tutor me in the ways of your wisdom. (Psa. 119:19)
For me this new beginning is weightier than I remember the other decades I have passed through. Let us lay aside every weight and anything that distracts us that we may run this race that is set before us.
Jesus spoke to the scribes and Pharisees: Mat 23:23Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought you to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Psalm 119 glories in the law as God’s communication of truth with regard to ethics, and His path of life for us. The law embraces all that God has made known of His character and purpose, and what He would have man to be and do.
We who have been set free into the liberty and grace of the New Covenant will also embrace God’s law which purpose is to bless mankind and was fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
Rom 3:21But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;
Every verse mentions one of the following ten words which describe the Word of God:
1. The law (torah) is divinely revealed teaching.
2. Statutes (edot) are God’s covenant terms for His people to observe.
3. Precepts (piqqudim) are detailed rules for life.
4. Commands (miswot) express the insistent will of a personal God who is LORD.
5. Decrees (huqqim) are rulings written down and prescribed for permanent observance.
6. Laws (mispatim) are verdicts of the divine Judge.
7. Word (debar) the communication of God’s will to his people.
8. Words (imrah) the promise of God.
9. Way – a pattern of life based on God’s will.
10. Testimonies – (edah) –witness of divine testimonies – to repeat
God’s righteousness has been revealed and fulfilled by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all that that believe.
Rom 10:3:For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
The law is no do-it-yourself manual which God has handed over to man to use as best he can. It is the written part of a lifelong teach-in. Part of this Psalm is a hymn of praise of God’s revelation. From another it is a prayer expressing man’s continual need of Jesus Christ, our Good Shepherd.
I am using the scripture from the Passion translation comparing it to K.J.V.:
Psa. 119: 1-8: ALEPH. The undivided heart; blessed are the undefiled = whole, perfect, upright; Diligent and rightly established:
THE WAY TO HAPPINESS:
Psa. 119: 1: You’re only truly happy when you walk in total integrity walking in the light of God’s Word.
Psa. 119:1: Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.
Way: A pattern of life based on God’s will.
The law: Divinely revealed teaching.
119:2-3: What joy overwhelms everyone who keeps the ways of God, those who seek him as their heart’s passion! They’ll never do what’s wrong but will always choose the paths of the LORD.
Psa. 119:2lessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.
Testimonies: Witness of divine intervention in our life.
119: 4-6: God has prescribed the right way to live; obeying his laws with all our hearts. How I long for my life to bring you glory as I follow each and every one of your holy precepts! Then I’ll never be ashamed, for I take strength from all your commandments.
Psa. 119:4You have commanded us to keep your precepts diligently.
O that my ways were directed to keep your statutes! Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all your commandments.
Precepts: Detailed rules for life.
Statutes: God’s covenant terms for man to observe and obey.
Commandments: express the insistent will of a personal God who is LORD.
Psa. 119: 7-8: I will give my thanks to you from a heart of love and truth, and every time I learn more of your righteous judgments, I will be faithful to all that your Word reveals---so don’t ever give up on me.
Psa. 119:7I will praise you with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned your righteous judgments. I will keep your statutes: O forsake me not utterly.
Righteous judgments: act of deciding a case (1) place, court, seat of judgment.
(mispatim) are verdicts of the divine Judge.
Psa. 119- 9-16: BETH. Stored Treasure,
TRUE JOY:
Psa. 119:9-10: How can a young man stay pure? Only by living in the Word of God and walking in its truth. I have longed for you with the passing of my heart; don’t let me stray from your directions!
Psa. 119:9How shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to your word. With my whole heart have I sought you: O let me not wander from your commandments.
Way – a pattern of life based on God’s will.
Word: the communication of God’s will to his people.
Commandments: express the insistent will of a personal God who is LORD.
Psa. 119: 11: I consider your prophecies to be my greatest treasure, and I memorize them and write them on my heart to keep me from committing sin’s treason against you.
Psa. 119:11:Your word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
Word: the communication of God’s will to his people.
Psa. 119:12: My wonderful God, you are to be praised above all; teach me the power of your decrees!
Psa. 119:12Blessed are you, O LORD: teach me your statutes.
Statutes: God’s covenant terms for His people to observe.
Psa. 119:13-14: I speak continually of your laws as I recite out loud your counsel to me. I find more joy in following what you tell me to do than in chasing after all the wealth of the world!
Psa. 119:13With my lips have I declared all the judgments of your mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of your testimonies, as much as in all riches.
Judgments: Laws (mispatim) are verdicts of the divine Judge.
Testimonies: Witness of divine intervention in our life.
Psa. 119: 15-16: I set my heart on your precepts and pay close attention to all your ways. My delight is found in all your laws, and I won’t forget to walk in your words.
Psa. 119:15I will meditate in your precepts, and have respect unto your ways. I will delight myself in your statutes: I will not forget your word.
Precepts are detailed rules for life.
Way – a pattern of life based on God’s will.
Statutes are God’s covenant terms for His people to observe.
Word (debar) the communication of God’s will to his people.
A thread which runs through the rich tapestry of this poem is the appreciation of the value of God’s revelation. It is sweeter than honey (103) and better than money. It is the writer’s delight and desire to praise God for who He is, His awesome Word which He has revealed to mankind which provides divine blessing, power, and provision.
PSA. 119-17-24: Gimel. We can also pray this for President Donald J. Trump and all civil and spiritual leaders.
THE ABUNDANT LIFE.
Psa. 119: 17-24: Let me, your servant, walk in abundance of life that I may always live to obey your truth. Open my eyes to see the miracle-wonders hidden in your Word! My life on earth is so brief, so tutor me in the ways of your wisdom. I am continually consumed by these irresistible longings, these cravings to obey your every commandment! Your displeasure rests with those who are arrogant, who think they know everything; you rebuke the rebellious who refuse your laws. Don’t let them mock and scorn me for obeying you. For even if the princes and my leaders choose to criticize me, I’ll continue to serve you and walk in your plans for my life. Your commandments are my counselors; your word is my light and delight.
Psa. 119:17 Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live, and keep your word. Open my eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.
I am a stranger in the earth: hide not your commandments from me.
My soul breaks for the longing that it has unto your judgments at all times.
rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err you’re your commandments.
Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept your testimonies.
Princes also did sit and speak against me: but your servant did meditate in your statutes. Your testimonies also are my delight and my counselors.
Carolyn Sissom, Pastor
Eastgate Ministries Church
Scripture from K.J.V. and Passion Translation.
I entered into the labors of Leslie C. Allen, F.F. Bruce Bible Commentary --- comments and conclusions are my own and not meant to reflect the views of those who I entered into their labors.