The Humble Path of God

Psalm 119:33-40

Trip to High Falls:

Hiking and not paying attention (unfamiliar and rlying on my own ability)

Lost and end up in a random road

Struggle to find the way back to the path

Covered in ticks, legs torn up, hike took longer than it should have

How often does our walk with the Lord look similar to this? We venture out, not seeking the Word of God for direction, we get lost and wonder how we got there, we struggle to find the way back, and we are left with the marks of wandering.

P.O.P.

The way to righteous living is a humble dependence on God and His Word.

Kids

We will live for God when we look to God for direction.

Outcome from God’s Word:

Vs. 33 - Keep it Teach me - Keep it

Vs. 34 - Keep and Observe w/ whole heart Give me - Keep, Observe

Vs. 35 - Delight Lead me - Delight

Vs. 36 - Not selfish gain Incline my heart - Not selfish

Vs. 37 - Give life Turn my eyes - Life

Vs. 38 - Feared Confirm - Feared

Vs. 39 - Good Turn - Good

Vs. 40 - Life Behold - Life

Do you feel the weight of your sinfulness (Psalm 119:25-32) let us look to God’s direction.

I. Spiritual petition leads to spiritual delight (Psalm 119:33-35)

“A sense of dependency and a consciousness of extreme need pervade this section, which is all made up of prayer and plea” Charles Spurgeon, Treasury of David

A. Let us be taught (Psalm 119:33)

There is a way laid out by God intended for His people.

This is why Christianity is not individualism.

We must not buy into the idea that we have our own “truth” or that our feelings are a good guide. We either walk in the way God has laid out for his people, or we walk in disobedience.

“Learning God’s Word and keeping God’s Word are their own rewards.” Danny Akin

Psalm 19:7-11 “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.”

Psalm 119:33 “Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes; and I will keep it to the end.”

“…as my reward”, “…as a consequence”, “from head to toe”

Intention of this is fullness and reality. If God is my teacher than I will be FILLED with the way of God. If God remains my teacher than the result will be REWARD.

Teach me — Give me (Teaching/Students)

Teach me (how to live) — Give me (understanding)

B. Let us understand (Psalm 119:34)

“[anti-intellectualism is] part of the fashion of the world and therefore a form of worldliness...Has God created us rational beings, and shall we deny our humanity which he has given us? Has God spoken to us, and shall we not listen to his words? Has God renewed our mind through Christ, and shall we not think with it?” John Stott

The one who follows in the way of the Lord will not do so temporarily (Psalm 119:33) nor will they do so hypocritically (Psalm 119:34 “Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart.” )

Let us not fall to our tendency to be half-hearted in showing devotion to God.

Acts 4:34-5:5 “There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to Go…”

Ananias keeps some of the money instead of being generous and giving it all.

Mark 10:17-22 “And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’ ” And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”

The rich young ruler cannot fathom parting from his earthly belongs to follow Jesus.

How often we would rather have the things of the world than God.

1 John 5:20 “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.”

Teach me — Give me — Lead me (Teaching/Students)

Teach me (how to live) — Give me (understanding) — Lead me (in the right path)

C. Let us be lead (Psalm 119:35)

“David, in the former verses, had begged for light, now for strength to walk according to this light. We need not only light to know our way, but a heart to walk in it.” Charles Spurgeon

The Christian life is not a theoretical idea that is unattainable. It is a life that is practiced and lived.

“God [does] first teach what is to be don, and then makes us to do what is taught.” Charles Spurgeon

Humility before the Lord will produce a teachable heart that will be kept by the Lord

Humility before the Lord will produce a softened heart that will hide God’s Word in their heart.

Humility before the Lord will produce a worshipping heart that will know the way to divine contentment.

Psalm 37:23 “The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way;”

II. Spiritual alignment leads away from unrighteousness (Psalm 119:36-37)

A. Selfishness (Psalm 119:36)

Driving in Atlanta during construction. cement walls which keep lanes separate and clear driving paths. Intention, to guide all traffic in a very specific and predetermined path. So is the heart set on God and His Word. God’s law, statutues, commandements, rules, etc. are the cement walls guiding our path through the choatic disruption that we would experience off the path.

Turn my heart — Turn my eyes

Passions, temptations,

B. Worthlessness (Psalm 119:37)

Matthew 5:27-30 ““You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.”

III. Spiritual assurance leads to spiritual living (Psalm 119:38-40)

A. Understanding leads to reverence (Psalm 119:38)

Psalm 111:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!”

Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.”

“Fear may be yoked into the service of God. True fear, not fearing, but believing, saves the soul; not doubt, but confidence, is the strength and the deliverance of the Christian.” Charles Spurgeon

NASB “As that which produces reverence for you.”

CSB “For it produces reverence for you.”

Fear of God is not simply cowering before God, but rightly beholding His true majesty.

Genesis / Adam and Eve

They cower because of their knowledge of God’s holiness (fearful).

They are met with a covering because of God’s extending of grace.

The idea of fearing the Lord is not a position of asserting dominance, but of rightly understanding our position before God.

B. Spiritual obedience leads to goodness (Psalm 119:39)

Psalm 119:37 “Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.” — Psalm 119:39 “Turn away the reproach that I dread, for your rules are good.”

When our eyes are turned from worthless there is no reproach against us.

When we turn from worthless ways, we will find life in the ways of the Lord, and those ways are good.

Isaiah 40:8 “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.”

C. Desire will lead to deliverence (Psalm 119:40)

Psalm 119:37 “Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.” — Psalm 119:40 “Behold, I long for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life!”

“He never abandons anyone on whom he has set his love; nore does Christ, the good shepherd, ever lose track of his sheep. It is as false as it is irreverent to accuse God of forgetting, or overlooking, or losing interest in, the state and needs of his own people.” JI Packer

When I’m happy hear me sing . . . Give me Jesus.

Give me Jesus. Give me Jesus. You may have all the world, Give me Jesus.

When in sorrow hear me pray . . . When I’m dying hear me cry . . . When I’m rising hear me shout . . . When in heaven we will sing . . . Blessed Jesus, Blessed Jesus, By thy grace we are saved, Blessed Jesus.

Let us not merely sin this to stir our affections, but also that this truth would guide our steps.