A Lamp to My Feet
Notes
Transcript
--- Title Slide
Scripture Intro:
Scripture Intro:
Psalms series
Psalm 119...
An acrostic poem
Each section starts with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet
Aleph, Beth, Gimel, Daleth
marked (read Hebrew Right to Left)...
we would say “backwards”
Scripture Reading (“Please stand…”)
Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord!
Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart,
who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways!
You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently.
Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes!
Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.
I will praise you with an upright heart, when I learn your righteous rules.
I will keep your statutes; do not utterly forsake me!
Jump to v. 105
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to keep your righteous rules.
I am severely afflicted; give me life, O Lord, according to your word!
Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O Lord, and teach me your rules.
I hold my life in my hand continually, but I do not forget your law.
The wicked have laid a snare for me, but I do not stray from your precepts.
Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart.
I incline my heart to perform your statutes forever, to the end.
Pray...
Intro:
Intro:
Psalm 119...
The longest Psalm in the Bible.
176 verses.
22 stanzas...
Each begun with a subsequent letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
A ton of ink was spilled for this psalm to be written...
so what could be this important?
176 verses… all but 3 speaks about one topic.
The Word of God.
God writing down for us:
who he is
what he desires us to know
the way of life that leads to life
the way of life that leads to death
the nature of salvation for his people
that nobody is saved or delivered on their own strength or own morality.
God’s word...
reveals him to us
and us to ourselves.
And… how to be made right with God.
And… restoring what we were created for… his glory.
B/c of how the psalm is written,
we won’t do a verse by verse study of all 176 verses.
The psalm weaves themes throughout...
even though commentators have tried to summarize each section
by a predominant theme,
you can easily see that these themes pop in and out in all sections.
So we will take a thematic approach to studying Psalm 119.
I encourage you to read it...
in a couple of sitting if you need to.
Before we dive in...
there are 8 main synonyms used to refer to the Word of God.
They seem to used interchangeably,
so probably best not to make a huge deal out of the various words in each verse.
Law (most often term used)
the verb that is typically associated (“teach” or “direct”)...
“Teach me your law...”
Testimonies
(like a witness to us or against us)
Precepts
(officer or overseer…
called to look intently into a situation and take action)
Statutes (regulations or decrees)
Commandments (order, directive)
Both the command itself...
and the rightful authority to give a command.
Rules/ordinances
Actually, referring to judgments or determinations.
The decisions of our righteous Judge.
These first 6 terms are used in the opening stanza of Ps 119.
This next term is the opening of (v. 105…)
“Your WORD is a lamp to my feet”
Word (general term… anything stated or promised)
A message or a communication
Promise (also “word”)
Similar to the prior Hebrew term...
Very general about things stated or declared (often translated various words)
The Pursuit of God in His Word
The Pursuit of God in His Word
Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord!
Whole heart
Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart,
Look at the verse closely...
there is an absolute connection between “his testimonies” (his word)...
and “seeking him with your whole heart”.
To keep God’s word...
is to seek God.
Notice the pronouns that preceded most of the references to the word.
Some of them are “the” Law.
But most are possessive pronouns.
“his testimonies”
“your precepts”
“”your statutes”
“your commandments”
“your righteous rules”
The word of God is deeply personal.
It is one of the main ways that we pursue God.
The word of God is NOT a textbook or a road map.
It is God speaking to his people.
Yes, there are ways in which life works and how we are called to live...
but primarily....
it is God speaking.
God revealing himself
So how are we to approach the word?
Keep it
Not forget
I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.
Meditate
My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promise.
Know
I am your servant; give me understanding, that I may know your testimonies!
Seek (as we saw in v. 2)
But notice the timing of pursuing God...
I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in your words. My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promise.
Before Dawn/Night/All Day
7 total references to time of day or all day
Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.
Affliction
It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.
The Delight in God’s Word
The Delight in God’s Word
Delight
Love
Delight - 10 times
Love - 12 times
In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches.
for I find my delight in your commandments, which I love. I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes.
The psalmist LOVES God’s word.
The psalmist’s greatest DELIGHT is God’s word.
And then it goes beyond being favorably disposed to the Word...
My soul is consumed with longing for your rules at all times.
The psalmist is CONSUMED with desire for God’s word.
He is overwhelmed by the desire for the word.
“consumed” - crushed by
Often used to describe the breaking of teeth by biting too hard...
grinding teeth.
Now that is a visual...
the psalmist DESIRES God’s word to the extent
that he is in anguish without it.
App. What do you think of God’s word?
Is it your DELIGHT?
Do you LOVE it?
If it is not our DELIGHT and LOVE...
something is wrong with our view of God and his word.
The word is not the problem.
We are.
And our view of it.
Ex. So our problem with spending time in the word or enjoying the word...
is most likely a problem before we even start reading.
Ask that God would give you a desire for his word.
Ask that he would would do what the psalmist asked...
Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!
Incline - “spread out” (to make receptive)
Wide enough to catch stuff as it drops.
In fact this entire stanza (v. 33-40) is asking God to work through his word.
Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes; and I will keep it to the end. Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart.
Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it. Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!
Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways. Confirm to your servant your promise, that you may be feared.
Turn away the reproach that I dread, for your rules are good. Behold, I long for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life!
The Effect of God’s Word
The Effect of God’s Word
Lamp to my feet
It guides us in our way.
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Life
Consider how I love your precepts! Give me life according to your steadfast love.
God’s steadfast love...
Blessing (v. 1-2)
Teach, Learn, Instruct
13x
Understand - 10 times
God’s word teaches us.
App. We don’t know everything.
Close in Prayer
Close in Prayer
Closing Song:
Closing Song:
“Be Thou My Vision”
“Be thou my wisdom and thou my true word,
I ever with thee and Thou with me Lord”
We pursue God in his word.
It is not a textbook...
It is how we know God and how he often transforms us.
Benediction:
Benediction: