Zeal for Righteousness

Psalm 119:137-144

P.O.P.

Christians find the revealed righteousness of God to be their greatest delight and their eternal joy.

Kids

When we look to God's Word we will find how we can live rightly.

Letter of stanza - Tsade צֶ

The root of the word righteous is the letter of this stanza - tsedeq (צדק).

I. A righteous God

Psalm 119:137-138 “Righteous are you, O Lord, and right are your rules. You have appointed your testimonies in righteousness and in all faithfulness.”

Deuteronomy 32:3-4 “For I will proclaim the name of the Lord; ascribe greatness to our God! “The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.”

Romans 1:16-17 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

II. A righteous zeal

Psalm 119:139-143 “My zeal consumes me, because my foes forget your words. Your promise is well tried, and your servant loves it. I am small and despised, yet I do not forget your precepts. Your righteousness is righteous forever, and your law is true. Trouble and anguish have found me out, but your commandments are my delight.”

“Anyone who cares about righteousness and wants to act righteously should study the Bible”

James Montegomery Boice

Devotion (139)

Zeal - eagerness and ardent interest in pursuit of something

“It is not left to our choice whether we will accept them or not; they are issued by royal command, and are not to be questioned”

Charles Spurgeon

Love (140)

The Psalmist has experienced the truthfulness and reliability of God’s Word. He has experienced it and knows it to be true.

Remembrance(141-142)

Galatians 1:10 “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

Delight (143)

“Delighting in the Word of God no matter what may come his way, he is strengthened and empowered to press on and stay in the fight.”

Danny Akin

James 1:2-4 “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

James 1:12 “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”

III. A righteous plea

Psalm 119:144 “Your testimonies are righteous forever; give me understanding that I may live.”

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

“Life’s adversities should drive us all the more to our Bibles”

Alec Moyter

We may react a number of ways when the world around us is going against God’s Word:

Seek our own justice.

Fall to the culture’s pressures.

Forget we face spiritual warfare.

Take our eyes off of God and His Word.