Psalms 119:103-112
Before we start, a few interesting facts about Psalm 119. It’s the longest chapter in the Bible with 176 verses. It’s almost exactly in the middle of the Bible, and you know what the subject is? God’s Word.
119:103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
119:104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate
every false way.
119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
119:106 I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy
righteous judgments.
119:107 I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O LORD, according unto
thy word.
119:108 Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O
LORD, and teach me thy judgments.
119:109 My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy
law.
119:110 The wicked have laid a snare for me: yet I erred not from thy
precepts.
119:111 Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they
are the rejoicing of my heart.
119:112 I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even
unto the end.
103
We all hear news about our health or work or money or whatever and we naturally want to know more about it. God has given us His Word to help us live here and (more importantly) to prepare us for eternity.
James
1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh
down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither
shadow of turning. 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of
truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear,
slow to speak, slow to wrath: 1:20 For the wrath of man worketh not
the righteousness of God. 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and
superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted
word, which is able to save your souls. 1:22 But be ye doers of the
word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 1:23 For if
any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man
beholding his natural face in a glass: 1:24 For he beholdeth himself,
and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he
was. 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and
continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of
the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
When you’re reading God’s Word, don’t just read a passage here and there. If you let Him, God will use the Holy Spirit to guide you in the Word so it will become a part of you.
104
When the Word tells us “you shall” or “thou shalt not”, it’s not some arbitrary rule. God made us. He knows what is best for us. Just as any parent, He wants not have to stub our toes and learn things the hard way.
Proverbs
16:22 Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but
the instruction of fools is folly. 16:23 The heart of the wise teacheth
his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips. 16:24 Pleasant words are
as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. 16:25 There
is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways
of death.
We sometimes think we have a good plan, but God sees the big picture. We have to trust that He knows what’s right.
Proverbs
3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine
own understanding. 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall
direct thy paths. 3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD,
and depart from evil. 3:8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow
to thy bones.
105
Settle yourself and seek God. He will show you the true path.
When I was preparing this message, I thought the message was going to go one way. I found out that wasn’t it. I tried another way, and that didn’t work either. When I sat back, got out of the way, and let God direct me, He gave me this verse (Psalm 119:105) to get me started.
2 Peter
1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well
that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until
the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 1:20 Knowing this
first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private
interpretation. 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will
of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
This is God’s Word. Trust in it. Lean on it, but don’t be like Mark Twain described the drunk…
He said “Most people use statistics like a drunk man uses a lamp post; more for support than for illumination.”
That is, don’t use the Word to support what you want to do, use it to find out what you should be doing.
106
When you’re saved, you admit that God is Lord and worthy of obedience. You have to also trust that He is wise and will not lead you wrong.
Philippians
1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good
work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
Whatever God gives you, seek His will in it. Even if it seems like a bad thing to you at the time.
107
When you’re in the midst of trials, ask God. He will either help you make it through, or show you that you’re there because of your own will and them lead you to the path of escape.
John
6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing:
the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
What happens to this flesh is temporary. You are to learn here the lessons that will shape your eternal home.
108
Our faith in God’s Word is the only true sacrifice we can offer.
Romans
10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and
in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 10:9 That
if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe
in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be
saved. 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and
with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 10:11 For the
scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Faith means to believe in God’s Word. His Word will not return void.
109
The psalmist is saying his life is always in danger, but he doesn’t give up on God. He trusts Him to bring him through.
Hebrews
12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a
cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which
doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is
set before us, 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our
faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne
of God. 12:3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of
sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
12:4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
12:5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as
unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord,
nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth
he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
You are hidden in Jesus. He is the rock. Just as He was able to withstand the trials He was put through, He will help you bear the load if you let Him.
110
The enemy will set his traps and snares. Keep your eyes open. Use the Word to find your path and let the Spirit guide your feet.
1 Corinthians
10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he
fall. 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common
to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted
above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way
to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Sometimes we are to stand. Sometimes, God gives us a way to get out of the way of the train that’s barrelling down on you.
111
God’s Word is not hard. When we open our hearts, the Holy Spirit will show us how simple it really is. He will show us what we need for each season of our life. We have to be patient and trust God to tell us what we need, when we need it.
Deuteronomy
30:11 For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not
hidden from thee, neither is it far off. 30:12 It is not in heaven,
that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring
it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? 30:13 Neither is it
beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea
for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?
30:14 But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy
heart, that thou mayest do it.
Read, study and pray so the light God gives you is buried in your heart.
112
Commit yourself to give God everything and let Him tell you how you’re supposed to use it. Study God’s Word so you’ll have it at hand when you need it. Don’t do it as a duty or a chore. You want to know more about your earthly loved ones because that deepens your love for them. How much more should we want to learn about and understand Christ?
Philippians
4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. 4:5 Let your
moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 4:6 Be careful
for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 4:7 And the peace
of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and
minds through Christ Jesus. 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things
are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just,
whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever
things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any
praise, think on these things. 4:9 Those things, which ye have both
learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of
peace shall be with you.
God wants to live with you in this life to prepare you to live with Him when we leave here. He wants to perform His work through you so you can enter into His joy when you’re done.