A Way Out
Notes
Transcript
Psalm 119:17–24 (HCSB)
Deal generously with Your servant so that I might live; then I will keep Your word. Open my eyes so that I may contemplate wonderful things from Your instruction. I am a stranger on earth; do not hide Your commands from me. I am continually overcome with longing for Your judgments. You rebuke the proud, the ones under a curse, who wander from Your commands. Take insult and contempt away from me, for I have kept Your decrees. Though princes sit together speaking against me, Your servant will think about Your statutes; Your decrees are my delight and my counselors.
Introduction: David continues his celebration of God’s word and the power of it’s direction for the believer’s daily life. It is a futile practice to move through life while ignoring God’s word and guidance. However, there are promised blessings, joy, and favor for anyone who would apply God’s word to life.
Memory Verse: Psalm 37:23 “A man’s steps are established by the Lord, and He takes pleasure in his way.”
The Writer:
David a Warrior
David the Worshipper
David a Writer
The Text:
Compilation of Writings
Categorized Writings
Comprehensive Writing
It is divided into twenty-two parts, according to the number of the letters of the Hebrew alphabet, and each part consists of eight verses, all the verses of the first part beginning with Aleph, all the verses of the second with Beth, and so on, without any flaw throughout the whole psalm.
Flippant Reading Trends
In a speech Charles H. Peters, president of the Canadian Press, claimed that “the average newspaper reader spent only four minutes a day on international news.… Other surveys showed that 80 percent of readers follow the comic strip and letters to the editor, but only 20 percent read editorials and serious news.”
The Purpose to Highlight The Blessing of God's Word
God’s law, because they are enacted by him as our Sovereign.
His way, because they are the rule both of his providence and of our obedience.
His testimonies, because they are solemnly declared to the world and attested beyond contradiction.
His commandments, because given with authority, and (as the word signifies) lodged with us as a trust.
His precepts, because prescribed to us and not left indifferent.
His word, or saying, because it is the declaration of his mind, and Christ, the essential eternal Word, is all in all in it.
His judgments, because framed in infinite wisdom, and because by them we must both judge and be judged.
His righteousness, because it is all holy, just, and good, and the rule and standard of righteousness.
His statutes, because they are fixed and determined, and of perpetual obligation. His truth, or faithfulness, because the principles upon which the divine law is built are eternal truths.
I. Opportunity to Serve (119:17-19)
I. Opportunity to Serve (119:17-19)
A. Live Out Your Word (119:17) - “:17 Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and keep your word.
Note 119:17 - The desire of good men to live in this world is not to indulge themselves in carnal lusts and pleasures; not to live to themselves, nor to the lusts of the flesh.
The desire of good men is also to live according to God’s word and not based on the leading of men.
Requests require relationship. - “with your servant...”
Titus 2:11-12 “For the grace of God has appeared with salvation for all people, instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age,”
1 John 2:29 “If you know that He is righteous, you know this as well: Everyone who does what is right has been born of Him.”
For this is what love for God is: to keep His commands. Now His commands are not a burden, because whatever has been born of God conquers the world. This is the victory that has conquered the world: our faith.
B. Look to Your Word(119:18-19) - “:18 Open my eyes, that I amy behold wondrous things out of your law. :19 I am a sojourner on the earth; hide not your commandments from me!”
A man’s steps are established by the Lord, and He takes pleasure in his way.
Isaiah 29:18 “On that day the deaf will hear the words of a document, and out of a deep darkness the eyes of the blind will see.”
John 9:39 “Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment, in order that those who do not see will see and those who do see will become blind.”
2 Corinthians 3:14–18 “but their minds were closed. For to this day, at the reading of the old covenant, the same veil remains; it is not lifted, because it is set aside only in Christ. Even to this day, whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their hearts, but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.”
In their case, the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we are not proclaiming ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves because of Jesus. For God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ.
Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.
Ephesians 1:17-18 “I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the perception of your mind may be enlightened so you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the glorious riches of His inheritance among the saints,”
Hebrews 11:13-16 “These all died in faith without having received the promises, but they saw them from a distance, greeted them, and confessed that they were foreigners and temporary residents on the earth. Now those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they were thinking about where they came from, they would have had an opportunity to return. But they now desire a better place—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.”
1 Peter 2:11 “Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and temporary residents to abstain from fleshly desires that war against you.”
Schackelton’s Advertisement - The following ad occurred in a London newspaper: “Men wanted for hazardous journey, small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful. Honor and recognition in case of success.” The ad was signed by Sir Ernest Shackleton, Antarctic explorer. Thousands responded instantly to the call. They were ready to sacrifice all for the elation of adventure and uncertain honor. Should God’s children do less.
II. Obedience in Spirit (119:20-21)
II. Obedience in Spirit (119:20-21)
A. Craving to Walk in Obedience (119:20) - “:20 My soul is consumed with longing for your rules at all times. "
Job 23:11-12 “My feet have followed in His tracks; I have kept to His way and not turned aside. I have not departed from the commands of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily food.”
Proverbs 13:1 “A wise son responds to his father’s discipline, but a mocker doesn’t listen to rebuke.”
B. Chastise the Obstinate (119:21) - “:21 You rebuke the insolent, accused ones, who wander from your commandments.”
Isaiah 2:11-12 “Human pride will be humbled, and the loftiness of men will be brought low; the Lord alone will be exalted on that day. For a day belonging to the Lord of Hosts is coming against all that is proud and lofty, against all that is lifted up—it will be humbled—”
Daniel 4:37 “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt, and glorify the King of heaven, because all His works are true and His ways are just. He is able to humble those who walk in pride.”
Deuteronomy 27:26 “‘Anyone who does not put the words of this law into practice is cursed.’ And all the people will say, ‘Amen!’”
Deuteronomy 28:15 ““But if you do not obey the Lord your God by carefully following all His commands and statutes I am giving you today, all these curses will come and overtake you:”
Nehemiah 9:29 “You warned them to turn back to Your law, but they acted arrogantly and would not obey Your commands. They sinned against Your ordinances, which a person will live by if he does them. They stubbornly resisted, stiffened their necks, and would not obey.”
1 Peter 5:5 “In the same way, you younger men, be subject to the elders. And all of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
A missionary translator was endeavoring to find a word for “obedience” in the native language. This was a virtue seldom practiced among the people into whose language he wanted to translate the New Testament. As he returned home from the village one day, he whistled for his dog and it came running at full speed. An old native, seeing this, said admiringly in the native tongue. “Your dog is all ear.” Immediately the missionary knew he had his word for obedience. - Minister’s Research Service
III. Oust from Shame (119:22-24)
III. Oust from Shame (119:22-24)
A. Shielded from Shame (119:22-23) - “:22 Take away from me scorn and contempt, for I have kept your testimonies. :23 Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statues.”
Psalm 39:8 “Deliver me from all my transgressions; do not make me the taunt of fools.”
Psalm 123:3-4 “Show us favor, Lord, show us favor, for we’ve had more than enough contempt. We’ve had more than enough scorn from the arrogant and contempt from the proud.”
1 Peter 3:16-17 “However, do this with gentleness and respect, keeping your conscience clear, so that when you are accused, those who denounce your Christian life will be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.”
B. Satisfied in the face of Shame (119:24) - “:24 Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors.”
Psalm 1:6 “For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to ruin.”
Psalm 2:1-2 “Why do the nations rebel and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand, and the rulers conspire together against the Lord and His Anointed One:”
Psalm 118:15 “There are shouts of joy and victory in the tents of the righteous: “The Lord’s right hand performs valiantly!”
Stanley Left One Book In Pack
When Stanley started across the continent of Africa he had seventy-three books in three packs, weighing 180 pounds. After he had gone three hundred miles, he was obliged to throw away some of his books, through the fatigue of those carrying his baggage. As he continued on his journey, his library grew less and less, until he had but one book left. You can imagine its name—the Bible. It is said that he read that book through three times during the journey.
