Psalm 119 - Tzaddi

Psalm 119:137-144

We are in eighteenth section of this great Psalm 119.

Each verse of this section begins with the letter tzaddi.

The Psalmist’s attitude has changed, however he is still overwhelmed with his trouble.

But he realizes that God is able to get him through!

So today we want to look at what to do when you are overwhelmed.

I. Accept That God is Right

137 TZADDI. Righteous art thou, O Lord, and upright are thy judgments.

138 Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous And very faithful.

139 My zeal hath consumed me, Because mine enemies have forgotten thy words.

140 Thy word is very pure: Therefore thy servant loveth it.

One of the best realizations we can come to in this life is that God is always Right.

We have our own plans, our own desires, our own ways of doing life…but when we find that our ways disagree with God, we must be the one to change.

A. He Always Does Right

The Bible tells us, “Righteous art thou...”

This is an adjective Saddiq which speaks to the fact that God is the Standard of what is right.

Because He is holy, and righteous, He will always do right, even if from our slanted point of view it doesn’t seem right.

He needs to be the standard by which we judge everything else.

There are definitely times that situations arise and we begin to question what God is doing, but we should always remind ourselves of the truth, God always does right, and this will help us trust what He is doing.

B. His Decisions Are Always Right

Verse 137 continues, “and upright are thy judgments.”

upright means straight (as in a path), just, right

judgments, means decisions as in a judgment from a judge.

so we see from this that his decisions are always right.

I have questioned why God took people from my life.

I have questioned why he has allowed certain events in my life.

I have questioned why people I love are hurting.

But at the end of the day, even though I do not understand…God’s Decisions are always right.

The World will scoff at this, I know!

But for us who know God, who have a relationship with Him and His Word, we know in our spirit this is true, because we have the Holy Spirit in us.

Trust that He always does right

Trust that His Decisions are always right

C. His Words Are Always Right

Over and over the psalmist declares truths about God’s Words.

138 “Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful.”

righteous here is a different word than before.

whereas before it was an adjective saddiq, it is now a noun sedeq.

This word means right, in line with an ethical standard, closely related to justice.

Then this verse says his testimonies - his witness, his words are faithful muna.

Also a noun, muna means truth or faithfulness.

God’s Words are righteous - right - always

God’s Words are faithful - True - always the same.

We will skip verse 139 for now, and come back to it in just a moment, but the Psalmist in verse 140 says...

140 Thy word is very pure: Therefore thy servant loveth it.

The Psalmist calls God’s Word pure - sarap - A verb meaning to refine, to test. This word describes the purifying process of a refiner, who heats metal, takes away the dross, and is left with a pure substance

God’s Word is right in the purist form, and when the Psalmist remembers this his love for God’s Word grows.

He is Righteousness.

And yet he has imputed that righteousness to our account.

It’s as though a billionaire makes you a secondary credit card owner on his account. You're drawing credit from his account.

2 Corinthians 5:21 (KJV)

21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

This verse reminds us of a very important truth which I'll illustrate. Imagine: The mailman arrives, and there's a fancy-schmancy envelope with a coat-of-arms. I open it up, and it's from the Queen. I've been invited to meet with her. I'm in the middle of celebrating when I open another envelope. Same fancy-schmancy deal. It's a list of requirements for seeing the Queen. And one is that even though I have an invitation, I have to wear a $10,000 suit from the best tailor in London. "What!" I exclaim. "I can't afford a $10,000 suit. Where am I going to get $10,000? My suit's worth $100 maybe $150."

And just when I'm thinking I'm never going to get to see the Queen, I get a call: "You don't know me, but I know you, and that you've been invited to see the Queen. I also know that you can't afford a $10,000 suit, but I have one that's never been worn that would fit you. You can have it." So I turn up at Buckingham Palace wearing my $10,000 suit. And just as I'm about to go in, I see another guy saying, "But I have an invitation." "I'm sorry sir. Even with an invitation, you can't see the Queen in that suit." I can have either of two responses: You pathetic slob! Imagine trying to see the Queen dressed in that suit! But if I respond like that, haven't I forgotten something? That I'm actually wearing somebody else's suit? Sure it's mine now, but I didn't pay for it. Shouldn't I rather respond with compassion: Oh, that poor guy. What a pity he didn't have a generous benefactor like I've got.

Let's go back to our verse: For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin ... This verse is telling me: God made Jesus who knew no sin to be treated as if He were sin,

that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

You want to see the righteousness of God? You're looking at it. It's me. Not because of anything I've done, but because God gave me His righteousness. Just like the guy with the suit, I can stand tall, and hold my head up high in the presence of God, because I am clothed in a suit that Jesus paid for. Is 61:10

Isaiah 61:10 (KJV)

10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, And as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

... I am now clothed in God's righteousness.

So, accept that God Is Right!

Don’t fight it!

He always does right

His decisions are always right

His Words are always right.

When overwhelmed by the situations, the attacks, the trials in this life…accept that God is Right!

Then...

II. Zealously Follow God’s Word

If God’s Word is always right, then we need to zealously follow God’s Word!

Verse 139 is a great verse

139 My zeal hath consumed me, Because mine enemies have forgotten thy words.

The Psalmist says that his zeal - jealousy - has consumed him because his enemies have forgotten God’s Word.

This shows the true love that this man has for God and His word.

He becomes jealous for them.

So the enemy has forgotten God’s Words, so we need to remember them!

Fight the lies with the truth!

I can’t do this -

Philippians 4:13 KJV

13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Does God really love me?

Ephesians 3:18–19 KJV

18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

You aren’t good enough.

Ephesians 2:10 KJV

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Psalm 139:13–16 KJV

13 For thou hast possessed my reins: Thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. 14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: Marvellous are thy works; And that my soul knoweth right well. 15 My substance was not hid from thee, When I was made in secret, And curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; And in thy book all my members were written, Which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

Zealously follow God’s Word

There was pastor Scarborough, William Sangster had an eccentric member who tried to be a zealous Christian. Unfortunately, the man didn’t always think things through and usually did the wrong thing. While working as a barber the man lathered up a customer for a shave, came at him with the poised razor, and asked, "Are you prepared to meet your God?" The frightened man fled with the lather on his face!

Zealously follow God’s Word

and don’t let Satan or this World tell you any different!

His zeal not only caused him to remember God’s Word, that his enemies had forgot, but it also caused him to love God’s Word even more.

as we saw in verse 140 - “Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.”

So, Accept that God is Right

He always Does right

His decisions are always right

and His Words are always right

Then, Zealously follow God’s Word

Remember it

Love it

III. Keep Trusting God

141 I am small and despised: Yet do not I forget thy precepts.

142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And thy law is the truth.

143 Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: Yet thy commandments are my delights.

144 The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: Give me understanding, and I shall live.

No matter what keep trusting God!

A. We May Be Small

but keep trusting God

141 I am small and despised: Yet do not I forget thy precepts.

The terrors around us can make us come to the same conclusion that the Psalmist did: I am small and despised

But he said - even though I am small and hated - I’m not going to forget your Word!

You may be small and hated, but keep trusting God

In his book Holy Sweat, Tim Hansel said, One day, while my son Zac and I were out in the country, climbing around in some cliffs, I heard a voice from above me yell, "Hey Dad! Catch me!" I turned around to see Zac joyfully jumping off a rock straight at me. He had jumped and them yelled "Hey Dad!" I became an instant circus act, catching him. We both fell to the ground. For a moment after I caught him I could hardly talk.

When I found my voice again I gasped in exasperation: "Zac! Can you give me one good reason why you did that???"

He responded with remarkable calmness: "Sure...because you're my Dad." His whole assurance was based in the fact that his father was trustworthy. He could live life to the hilt because I could be trusted. Isn't this even more true for a Christian?

B. God Never Changes

so keep trusting God

142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And thy law is the truth.

144 The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: Give me understanding, and I shall live.

Thy righteousness - still yet another word translated righteousness - sedaqa - noun meaning righteousness, blameless conduct, and integrity.

The Psalmist says that God’s righteousness is an everlasting righteousness - it never changes!

Malachi 3:6 KJV

6 For I am the Lord, I change not; Therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

Hebrews 13:8 KJV

8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

It is much easier to trust God when we know He doesn’t change!

He is the same and responds the same as he did yesterday, as he did 1,000 years ago!

We need to trust him with everything we have!

Years ago, Monroe Parker was traveling through South Alabama on one of those hot, sultry Alabama days. He stopped at a watermelon stand, picked out a watermelon, and asked the proprietor how much it cost. "It's $1.10," he replied. Parker dug into his pocket, found only a bill and said, "All I have is a dollar."

"That's ok," the proprietor said, "I'll trust you for it."

"Well, that's mighty nice of you," Parker responded, and picking up the watermelon, started to leave.

"Hey, where are you going?" the man behind the counter demanded.

"I'm going outside to eat my watermelon." "But you forgot to give me the dollar!"

"You said you would trust me for it," Parker called back.

"Yeah, but I meant I would trust you for the dime!"

"Mack," Parker replied, "You were't going to trust me at all. You were just going to take a ten-cent gamble on my integrity!"

That is like we often are - We trust the Lord, so long as we have a job, or just so long as we have our health, etc.

We need to trust him for the whole thing!

You May be Small - Just Keep Trusting God!

God Never Changes - Just Kee Trusting God!

C. Delight in God’s Word

and keep trusting God!

143 Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: Yet thy commandments are my delights.

In the midst of it all the Psalmist says Thy commandments are my delight.

Of all things - delight in his ways? No

Delight in his character? NO

Delight in His judgments? No

Delight in His Statements? No

The Psalmist says he delights in God’s Commandments

I think this is the natural result of falling deeper in love with God.

You delight to do what He wants you to do!

So we need to not just obey, but trust Him enough that you actually delight in doing what He commands of you.

D. Pray for Understanding

While you keep trusting God

We looked at verse 144 earlier, but let’s see it again...

144 The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: Give me understanding, and I shall live.

Understanding - : A verb meaning to discern, to perceive, to observe, to pay attention to, to be intelligent, to be discreet, to understand; to cause or to give understanding.

Do we need some of that?

Boy do I ever!!

What is the result if we have this understanding?

“I shall live” - more than just physical living, the word speaks to flourishing.

It’s not just breathing, and heart beating, and surviving this ordeal…but if I understand what you want me to understand I will flourish!

By the way this doesn’t meant understand why this is happening…but just the ability to discern or perceive what is right, and which way I ought to go.

We can trust the Lord that He says that He loves us…and that nothing can separate us from that love.

We can trust Him that He says that He will work all things together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.

we can trust that even though sometimes it hurts, God still loves us and only allows what is best for us.

David, a 2-year old with leukemia, was taken by him mother, Deborah, to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, to see Dr. John Truman who specializes in treating children with cancer and various blood diseases. Dr. Truman's prognosis was devastating: "He has a 50-50 chance." The countless clinic visits, the blood tests, the intravenous drugs, the fear and pain--the mother's ordeal can be almost as bad as the child's because she must stand by, unable to bear the pain herself.  David never cried in the waiting room, and although his friends in the clinic had to hurt him and stick needles in him, he hustled in ahead of him mother with a smile, sure of the welcome he always got.

When he was three, David had to have a spinal tap--a painful procedure at any age. It was explained to him that, because he was sick, Dr. Truman had to do something to make him better. "If it hurts, remember it's because he loves you," Deborah said. The procedure was horrendous. It took three nurses to hold David still, while he yelled and sobbed and struggled. When it was almost over, the tiny boy, soaked in sweat and tears, looked up at the doctor and gasped, "Thank you, Dr. Tooman, for my hurting."

It may seem overwhelming, but just accept that God is Right

Zealously follow God’s Word

and Keep Trusting God!