Because God is righteous, His Word is righteous

Psalm 119:137–144 (KJV)

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.

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.

Review

The previous letter, Pe, signifies mouth.

Today we look at the letter Tsadde

I mention this because it highlights the order and beauty of God’s Word. 22 stanzas. 8 verses a piece.

NBT taught me to not let me insecurity keep people from having the best and clearest teaching I have to give.

Look at this slide to see how the line of each verse starts with this Tsadde letter

Slides (letter, two examples)

Righteousness of God

“The initial letter with which every verse commences sounds like the Hebrew word for righteousness: our keynote is righteousness.”

A is for Apple. Tsadde is for righteousness.

Some form of the word occurs 6 times in theses 8 verses.

“God’s righteousness means that God always acts in accordance with what is right and is himself the final standard of what is right” (Systematic Theology, 203).

Transition: There is only one prayer request and it comes at the very end in verse 144. It is good that we would make the psalmist’s confession and prayer our own.

Let’s look at the synonym for God’s Word in the eight verses.

Word / God communicated with us through words. The better we know what they mean the better we hear what He has said

v. 137 - judgments

20, 30, 39, 52, 75, 137

Most easily of common understanding of the law of God

When we see road signs we see them as a restraint but rarely see them as helpful guidance. “Thank you yield sign for the warning”

The law as a sign to warn of breaking the law is one of its functions. Law as a teacher, as seen in Galatians.

v. 138 - testimonies

legal language dealing with a witness bearing testimony of what they have observed or heard - emphatically restating what they believe is true.

A witness is necessary for establishing guilt in a legal setting (Num 35:30; Deut 17:6; 19:15).

Anyone who chooses to reject God’s law has God as witness against them – His Word furnishing the proof needed for conviction

v. 139 - thy words

Specifically of God’s communication to man.

The root from which this word is formed gives primary attention to the activity of speaking

v. 140 - thy word

v. 141 - precepts

The basic meaning is to exercise oversight over a subordinate

Used only in plural, and used only in Psalms, all but three of its occurrences are found in Psalm 119, it is a general term for the responsibilities that God places on his people.

God’s Word is the means by which He exercises oversight over His people – for those who reject it, for the worse; for those who obey, for positive benefit.

v.142 - law

teaching / torah

law – any set of regulations

teaching – God instructing His people or the wise teacher his student

v.143 - commandments

In a deed of purchase for a plot of land, refers to the terms of the contract. Jer 32:11 “11 So I took the evidence of the purchase, both that which was sealed according to the law and custom, and that which was open:”

It is also the word used in school for the instruction of a teacher to his pupil Proverbs 2:1 “1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;”

The reason Israel was to obey the commandments rests in God himself Lev 22:31 “31 Therefore shall ye keep my commandments, and do them: I am the LORD.”

By God’s very nature He knows what is best for his people and by His very position they are bound to serve Him. - The one who loves God keeps his commandments Deut 11:1 “1 Therefore thou shalt love the LORD thy God, and keep his charge, and his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments, alway.”

Thereby we show our reverence for (or fear of God and develops a walk with God Deut 8:6 “6 Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him.”

God extends his mercy to those who obey Him Deut 5:10 “10 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.”

The violation of any commandment results in guilt and the need for atonement Lev 4

v.144 - testimonies

The persecution and affliction of the children of God is also a theme of Psalm 119.

Psalm 119:137–144 (KJV)

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.

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.

Summary

The psalmist claims zeal for God's word in this section; its characteristics, his consuming adherence to it, his triumphant hope in it.

If this is not descriptive of you, than you are at the right place and among others who will be honest in this admission as well.

We want out lives to align with God’s Word and when we pray it at the end of our time together we want to express this with sincerity.

The Word of God is sufficient to make us wise, train us in righteousness, and equip us for every good work

2 Timothy 3:15-17 “15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

Character of God; Righteousness

Psalm 119:137-138 “137 TZADDI. Righteous art thou, O LORD, and upright are thy judgments. 138 Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful.”

The Lord Himself has found to be righteous.

God’s very character and nature is characterized by righteousness.

The “righteousness of God is revealed” in the gospel. Romans 1:16-17 “16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”

Jesus is called “the righteous” in 1 John 2:1

Our God is the definition of righteousness. Deut 32:4 “4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.”

No correct understanding of right can be understand outside of Him.

Even that which appears to be right outside of Him is simply as filthy rages.

Rightness does not exist apart from God.

The Lord's righteousness is exemplified.

Being righteous means His Words are right. Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded

Upright judgement (or absolute justice) upright are thy judgments.

b. By the righteous testimonies commanded (His requirements of men). Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous

c. In faithful insistence on His Word. very faithful.

Emphasis: Our lives will never be right until we makes the recognition of God's righteousness.

Transition: God’s word is dependably righteous because God is righteous

Consuming Nature of His Righteousness

Psalm 119:139-140 “139 My zeal hath consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten thy words. 140 Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.”

Contrast between two groups of people; me and enemies.

Setting yard on fire and being worried it would burn down my neighbors house. My neighbor showed me the line where the fire would stop. When there was nothing there that could burn or be consumed.

Once we recognize God’s righteousness, we can revel and rejoice in our new identity.

God doesn’t just save us and lets us be. He creates a zeal for truth and His word and a hatred for disobedience.

Our heart breaks for those who ignore His Word. Psalm 119:136 “136 Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.”

Jesus in the temple

Jesus has a great love for God’s law.

As His servants we should love as it as well.

We should be like the disciples. John 6:67-68 “67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.”

I love heat on some chicken wings. When ordering wings I want wings hot but edible. We should be “bring the heat” type of Christians. We love the purifying nature of God’s Word.

Contrast of our lives to His Righteousness

Psalm 119:141-142 “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.”

Small - even in the amount of time we have to live; the vapor. Contrast to everlasting.

“neither the glamor of worldly power nor the sting of worldly contempt can move him from his allegiance

Transition: God’s word has been proven true by those who are zealous for his truth in a world that has forgotten it

Concern for the righteousness of His testimonies

Psalm 119:143-144 “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.”

Reviving nature of coming to His Word.

We know trouble and anguish.

Do we also know the delight of His commandments.

Give me understanding?

Psalm 119:144 “144 The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live.”

There has been much discussion about a chapel service near Lexington College at Asbury College.

- I have no comments on the validity of the revival.

- That will be seen in the days, weeks, and years to come to see if what is happening that building glorifies God with those who leave the building.

- What I have taken not of is how many people desire for it to be true. People are even driving there to see it.

A true work of the Holy Spirit:

Produces love for God and others—which leads one to act on that love. 1 John 4:7 “7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.” This is true for the testimonies I have heard.

Produces a right view toward Jesus—which leads to overcoming Satan’s lies and, therefore, deals with sin 1 John 4:2 “2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:”

Produces a right view toward the Word of God—which is accompanied by conviction of truth by the Spirit of truth. 1 John 4:5-6 “5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. 6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us (apostles); he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.”

There is only one Book in all printed volumes which offers n everlasting hope; how foolish to neglect it!

Transition: God’s word brings delight in the midst of trouble and anguish

Conclusion

We have a righteous Lord we will be able to enjoy for all eternity because of the Righteous One who did in our place.

Today we hold His righteous Word in our hands that we can enjoy today.

The Psalmist speaks about his zeal for the Word is terms that seen extreme to use.

The Psalmist even turns to this law as a place of comfort.

Thatcher will start studying for his drivers test. That little book of laws to him does not look like limitation but it looks like freedom. God’s Word is so much more than that to us.

Because God is (dependably) righteous, His Word is everlastingly righteous and a comfort in times of anguish.