Psalm 119 - Schin

As we have gone through we have seen that the psalmist, even though we do not know his identity, he has been faithful to God’s Word even in the face of great persecution.

Even his leaders are persecuting him,

verse one starts with the statement, “Princes have persecuted me without a cause.”

and yet throughout this Psalm, the writer has stuck to God’s Word.

He has loved God’s Word and headed it’s truths.

Because of this, God …although not changing his outward circumstances yet…has begun to work on the inside of the Psalmist.

That is where real work begins!

God allows bad things in our lives to “knock off” the rough edges on our life that do not belong, and that weigh us down from serving Him as we should.

So The first move, is not to change the circumstances, but to change the man, then once we have learned what God wants us to learn we can see victory.

In more ways than one.

As the Psalmist has gone through this turmoil, we have seen his heart change.

Now, in this section, the Psalmist expresses the joy and peace he has, even in the midst of the storm he is going through.

This Joy and Peace comes from his growth and time with the Word.

Before we begin let’s not become separated too much from the connection that is between the Word represented here and the Word revealed in John 1:1-3

John 1:1–3 KJV

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

In this section I want us to look at the Three Characteristics of God’s Word that inspire joy and peace in our hearts even through trials.

As we grow closer to the Word, let us keep it fresh in our minds that we are growing Closer to Jesus Christ.

Now let’s see these Three Characteristics of His Word that will inspire this joy and peace in our hearts:

I. The Wonder of His Word

161 Princes have persecuted me without a cause: But my heart standeth in awe of thy word.

162 I rejoice at thy word, As one that findeth great spoil.

163 I hate and abhor lying: But thy law do I love.

I think far too often, we become blasé about the Word of God.

We know we should read it, so we quickly read three chapters, check off our list, and go on with our day.

or we sit in church because we know we ought to be there and listen half heartedly to the sermon.

It’s great having a inspiring, exciting and dynamic preacher to listen to, I’m sorry you are just stuck with me.

But the truth is we can get fed from anyone if they are preaching God’s Word!

I have found myself under some very dry teaching and preaching, but I determined to be fed…so I opened my heart and prayed that God would feed me and really listened, not just to the Preacher, but to the Holy Spirit.

Why because of the Wonder of His Word, you see the Wonder of His Word...

A. Causes Awe of God

The Psalmist mentions that he has stands in awe of God’s Word.

To be in awe of God’s Word is to be in awe of God.

God’s Words are an extension of Himself.

This words translated standeth in awe - is the Hebrew word, [paw-kkad’]

This verb literally to dread, and often is used in a negative way, but in this case as well as a few others, the context is obviously positive.

It is awe inspiring, it is to stand in wonder and respect.

Even though he was being persecuted, he did not let it move him from God’s Word.

In Richard Wurmbrand’s book, Tortured for Christ, he details the horrific, communist prison tortures inflicted on Christians in the 1950s. He writes, “We made a deal. They tortured. We preached.” The only way they could withstand the relentless scientific brainwashing was by what Wurmbrand called a “heart washing.” They combated the lengthy persecution by love for Christ, love for God, and love for their persecutors. At one point, the atheists in Romania printed millions of copies of a Bible in which they tried to mock the Word with side comments. However, the believers were overjoyed to have access to printed Bible verses. They ignored the “stupid criticism” of the verses, while rejoicing over the “unspeakably beautiful” words of Holy Scripture contained in the book! Here are real life illustrations of what the Psalmist describes in verse 161. Powerful people viciously persecuted these Christian men and women for no reason other than the fact that they had tried to worship God in their homes and churches. Their survival had everything to do with the fact that they were utterly taken by the Word of God in those prison cells.

The Wonder of God’s Word causes Awe of God, but it also...

B. Causes Rejoicing in Heart

162 I rejoice at thy word, As one that findeth great spoil.

You can see that these persecuted believers truly rejoiced in the Word, who is Christ.

The 783,137 words of Scripture speak of Christ (Luke 24:27).

Luke 24:27 KJV

27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

If we miss the Word in the words, then we fail to receive the Word, and we will never rejoice in the Word!

The words of Scripture must all lead us to Christ; to accept Him, to love Him, to worship Him, and to serve Him.

The Psalmist in his persecution rejoiced in God’s Word as one that finds great spoil.

What a treasure we hold in our hands!

So the Wonder of His Word causes Awe of God, it causes Rejoicing in Heart and thirdly it

C. Causes Love for Truth

163 I hate and abhor lying: But thy law do I love.

The Psalmist was surrounded by lies, but he knew he could count on God’s Word as the Truth

John 17:17 KJV

17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

As we stay in the Word, God does the work of sanctification in us.

This causes us to see the lies for what they are; and the natural result is to cling to and love the truth.

To love the Lord, is to love His Word, to Love His Word is to Love Truth.

These are inseparable.

Jesus is the Word, and Jesus is the Truth.

So the Wonder of His Word is that it causes, Awe of God, Rejoicing in the Heart and Love for Truth.

The Second characteristic of God’s Word is

II. The Blessings of His Word

164 Seven times a day do I praise thee Because of thy righteous judgments.

165 Great peace have they which love thy law: And nothing shall offend them.

166 Lord, I have hoped for thy salvation, And done thy commandments.

What are the blessings of His Word according to these verses?

A. It Brings Praise

164 Seven times a day do I praise thee Because of thy righteous judgments.

When we stay in God’s Word one of the blessings is that praise becomes more natural.

We learn more about God, we learn more about his righteous judgments and we begin to see just how magnificent He is.

The natural reaction is praise.

The Psalmist says Seven times he praises Him.

No matter how bad the persecution, or attack, God’s judgments are always right.

His justice is always vindicated.

His decrees always stand.

Things are never out of control!

When the story is finished we will look back and see God’s hand all the way through.

Working all things together for good and His glory.

Another Blessing of His Word, not only does it bring praise, but...

B. It Brings Peace

165 Great peace have they which love thy law: And nothing shall offend them.

When we love God’s law, we will have peace.

What a promise - nothing shall offend them.

There are some people in our churches today that you can tell are not walking with the Lord like they should because they become easily offended by every little thing that comes along.

To be honest, I can be the same way, if my walk with God is not strong.

Especially where my family is concerned.

But we can have peace if we will just keep our love for the Word of God strong.

This word offend means stumblingblock.

Don’t let anything trip you up in your Christian Walk.

I have known some that leave the church because of some little thing.

My heart breaks for those, because no matter of apology, no matter of talking can help..they have stumbled, they have to decide to love God’s Word more than their own way.

God’s Word says,

Ephesians 4:32 KJV

32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

Colossians 3:13 KJV

13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

Matthew 6:15 KJV

15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Oh, how important it is to forgive!

Don’t let yourself be offended…Love the Word, stay in His Word and He will help you have peace.

C. It Brings Promise

You could say it as, It brings hope.

The hope we have in the promises of God.

166 Lord, I have hoped for thy salvation, And done thy commandments.

One of the great blessings of God’s Word is the hope we have in his promises.

Here the hope the Psalmist has is in his promise of salvation.

Our souls in their natural state is restless.

we want to do things our way.

but this will never lead to peace and contentment.

We were created to follow and obey our Shepherd.

We will only be safe in the pasture of God’s law.

How many Christians have failed, how many pastors have had some devastating scandal…it all begins when we ignore God’s commands, law, and precepts.

We have seen the Wonder of His Word, an the Blessings of His Word, the third characteristic of God’s Word I want to look at tonight is

III. The Drawing of His Word

No, I’m not speaking of an artist drawing, but drawing as in pulling toward.

167 My soul hath kept thy testimonies; And I love them exceedingly.

168 I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: For all my ways are before thee.

The Word of God, when we stay in it, draws us closer to Him.

We are drawn to Him

A. Through Following

The Psalmist says he kept his testimonies and His precepts.

we have looked at this word kept many times as we have studies this chapter.

It means to guard or watch over, in other words we have to be purposeful in our keeping God’s Word.

Doing what He has told us to do in His Word.

Others may wander from God’s Word, but may it be our testimony to follow every word that God says.

We are drawn by His Word when we follow,

B. Through Loving

Verse 167 says “I love them exceedingly”

Love is an action verb, not something that just happens to us.

But as we stay in God’s Word, we fall deeper in love with His Word.

C. Through Accountability

Verse 168 ends with the statement, “For all my ways are before thee.”

I believe Christians would fail a lot less if they would actively realize and meditate on the fact that God sees us.

When we want to sin, we will look to the left, we will look to the right, we look in front of us and behind us…but we too often forget to look up!

When we hold ourselves accountable to God…he knows…We just need to realize He knows.

When we Follow His Word, Love His Word, and Hold ourselves Accountable to God and His Word…we will be drawn into a much closer and joyful relationship with God.

I wonder tonight, what are the things that capture our attention, and take up our time and energy?

The believer is drawn to Christ and everything about Christ.

So the Word of God plays a huge role in the Christian life.

You can hear Christ speak to you through the words of Scripture.

It will be true for us as well when we say, “I rejoice at thy word, As one that findeth great spoil.”

Matthew 13:44–46 KJV

44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. 45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: 46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

What treasure we hold in our hands!

If the Psalmist praises God seven times a day, certainly we ought to praise Him all the more.

Much more has been revealed of the Character, the plan and the Love that God has for us.

Let’s commit to never love our love for God’s Word, we can do this best by staying in God’s Word.

And we too will see the Wonder of His Word, The Blessings of His Word, and the Drawing to His Word.

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