7-16-23 Sermon "God's Word" 14 Minutes

Psalm 119:105-119

This morning I'll be reading Psalm 119 verses 105 through 112. And I'll be reading from the Holman Christian Standard Bible. Psalm 119:105-112 This psalm has been called the golden alphabet of the Bible,,, because it’s divided into twenty-two sections,,, one for each letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Each section has eight verses and every verse in a section begins with the corresponding Hebrew letter. The verses that we will look at this morning speak about the Word,,, a Lamp and Light,,, For All Occasions.

Psalm 119:105–112 (HCSB) 105 Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path. 106 I have solemnly sworn to keep Your righteous judgments. 107 I am severely afflicted; Lord, give me life through Your word. 108 Lord, please accept my willing offerings of praise, and teach me Your judgments. 109 My life is constantly in danger, yet I do not forget Your instruction. 110 The wicked have set a trap for me, but I have not wandered from Your precepts. 111 I have Your decrees as a heritage forever; indeed, they are the joy of my heart. 112 I am resolved to obey Your statutes to the very end. The word of God for the people of God,,, thanks be to God! God bless the reading and the hearing of your word this morning. Let us pray: Dear Lord,,, as we begin this morning,,, with everyone here today and all that are listening and watching by video,,, we ask that you open our ears to hear and our hearts and minds to receive the message that you have for us today,,, In Jesus' name I pray,,, Amen. ___________________________________ Last Sunday we looked at Matthew 11:16-19, and 25-30,,, and learned that Jesus has made it easy for any burden that we might be carrying.

Whether that is from sin,,, trouble of any kind,,, sickness,,, financial,,, whatever it is,,, He is available to take the load and help us,,, we don't need to tote it alone anymore!

We just have to accept His help,,, and trust Him!

And we do that by remembering the words of Jesus in Matthew 11:28-30 that said: 28 “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

If you are "Weary and Burdened",,, Jesus has offered His strength,,, be sure that you are "yoked" to Him,,, today!

This morning we will look at these verses in Psalm 119:105-112,,, and see how they will help us in our walk with God this week.

___________________________________ Verse 105 said: 105 Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.

The author of this psalm uses two powerful and familiar figures to show us the enlightening power of the Word of God.

In the day,,, it's a light showing us the direction,,, course,,, differences,,, and dangers of our path.

At night,,, when the sun has set and the gloom has settled,,, and we have to pick our way,,, it shall be a candle,,, not perhaps lighting up the entire course,,, but sufficient to guide our footsteps clear of the stumbling-blocks and difficulties of the way.

In the day its light is delightful,,, displaying all the beauties of the landscape and cheering our onward tread.

In the night it is useful,,, showing us where we might go wrong,,, where we should tread,,, and how it is possible to fall.

The word is a source of light to guide the believer through life.

It’s a lamp directing our feet in a dark world.

God's word should guide every step we take,,, and to take full advantage of that,,, we must spend time in His word so that it will help us along the way.

___________________________________ Verse 106 said: 106 I have solemnly sworn to keep Your righteous judgments.

The author gives a solemn oath,,, to show that he will obey the Holy Scriptures.

This is for the glory of God,,, for the blessing of others,,, and,,, for us today,,, for our own good as well.

One of the commentaries said: I have solemnly sworn] might mean that he had renewed his covenant with God; he had bound himself,,, to love and serve him only.

Again,,, this should be our goal as well!

___________________________________ Verse 107 said: 107 I am severely afflicted; Lord, give me life through Your word.

The author is struggling,,, having questions or doubts,,, but he seeks God's word,,, and knows that "life" will be given,,, through that word!

When we are struggling,,, having our own questions or doubts,,, we should seek God's word,,, so that we are given life,,, peaceful life in spite of our circumstances,,, and,,, eternal life in the future!

It doesn't matter what we are facing,,, God's word will always give us the answer,,, if we just look for it!

___________________________________ Verse 108 said: 108 Lord, please accept my willing offerings of praise, and teach me Your judgments.

As God renews his spirit,,, the writer promises,,, “the willing offerings of praise”.

These are his praises for relief.

They are what the Book of Hebrews calls the “sacrifice of praise”,,, which is “the fruit of our lips” as seen in Hebrews 13:15.

With an open heart to God he asks,,, “And teach me Your judgments.”

Worship makes us receptive to the Word of God.

After we have opened our hearts to Him in praise,,, then,,, we are ready to receive what He has for us.

Then,,, we are ready to learn from God!

___________________________________ Verses 109-110 said: 109 My life is constantly in danger, yet I do not forget Your instruction. 110 The wicked have set a trap for me, but I have not wandered from Your precepts.

In this verse he shows the difficulties he was in:

When he says,,, “My life is constantly in danger,” he means that he is in continuous danger,,, it never ends.

He had got the sword of the Spirit,,, and his life depended on the use he made of it:,,, we know that if the soldier,,, whose life depends on his drawn sword,,, does not use it well,,, doesn't use it correctly,,, his enemy kills him.

So he was aware of the danger!

He knew,,, that he must use it in the right way.

2. Therefore he says,,, “I do not forget Your instruction.” I am making a proper use of my sword.

3. And that I have need of it is evident,,, for “The wicked have set a trap for me”

4. This did not intimidate him: he did not leave the path of duty for fear of a trap being in that path: “I have not wandered from Your precepts.”

In other words,,, he did not go about to seek a safer way.

He intends to go the way that God sends him,,, and we need this guidance,,, as we struggle with our own dangers and fears today!

___________________________________ Verses 111-112 said: 111 I have Your decrees as a heritage forever; indeed, they are the joy of my heart. 112 I am resolved to obey Your statutes to the very end.

God’s Word is a heritage,,, it hasn't been made or purchased by man,,, but has been freely given to us by God.

It's a valuable heritage. “They are the joy of my heart.”

It's an undeserved heritage.

We can lay no natural claim or title to it.

When it was made for us,,, we weren't born yet,,, and,,, usually,,, before we became aware of it,,, we were still sinners.

It's a full heritage.

Nothing can be added to it.

It contains all things necessary and profitable,,, to life,,, godliness,,, and eternity.

Everything was given for us and to us,,, that is available for our use,,, today.

In these verses,,, the author keeps his resolution,,, and his vows,,, through everything that he goes through.

1. He preferred God’s testimonies,,, even to the land of Canaan,,, to riches and crowns: when he uses the words,,, “I have Your decrees as a heritage forever”

2. He delighted in them: "indeed, they are the joy of my heart.”

In this work he was determined to continue:

1.When he says,,, “I am resolved to obey”,,, my commentary says,,, the counsel of the soul is like a balance; and the mind,,, which hath the commanding power over the affections,,, inclines the balance to that which it judges best.

2. It was to perform it,,, that he resolved to obey.

3. And this,,, not for a time,,, or on some particular occasion,,, but always,,, unto the end.

Then the end of life,,, would be the beginning,,, of glory.

___________________________________ God's word is what we need to help guide us through the trials and tribulations that this world will throw at us today.

It's God's word that lights our path and shows us when we lose our way!

It's God's words that help us to see the beauty during the day!

We must keep our covenant with God so that when we are afflicted,,, we can ask God to give us life through His word!

And because of that,,, we offer our praise in thanksgiving for all that He does for us,,, and then we are truly ready to learn from Him!

Especially since we are always under attack,,, and we must never forget His word so that they can help us each day!

Our relationship ensures us the heritage that God has promised,,, as we obey His words,,, all the way,,, to the end!

Because we know,,, that the end of this life,,, is only the beginning,,, of our life,,, spent in eternity,,, with God!

___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ Hymn: 337 - Oakdale Hymn: 337 - Seminary Benediction -----------------------------------------------------------