Psalm 119 † The Source of True Direction

INTRODUCTION

Psalm 119:4 “You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently.”

Thesis: God’s word gives us direction for life that God intends for us to obey. Will we obey our Creator and Savior, or obey some other “way?”

“Because here's something else that's weird but true: in the day-to day trenches of adult life, there is actually no such thing as atheism. There is no such thing as not worshipping. Everybody worships. The only choice we get is what to worship.”

David Foster Wallace

WHY WE OBEY

Christian Obedience Is a Response to God’s Rescuing Work

Psalm 119:67 “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.”

Psalm 119:88 “In your steadfast love give me life, that I may keep the testimonies of your mouth.”

The Psalmist does not understand God’s law as a path of salvation outside of its covenant context.

The God who commands obedience has rescued his people from the consequence and power of disobedience.

Gospel Connection: Any understanding of our pursuit of obedience that puts “keeping the word” before “receiving life” misses the heart of the good news.

Colossians 1:13–14 “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

Christian Obedience Flows from a Loving Relationship With God

Psalm 119:41 “Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord, your salvation according to your promise;”

Psalm 119:57 “The Lord is my portion; I promise to keep your words.”

True love leads to real parameters. There is no such thing as a “love-triangle.”

Gospel Connection:

John 14:15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”

Christian obedience is unlike every other kind of obedience. It is not the obedience of slaves or soldiers, but essentially the obedience of lovers who know, love and trust the person who issues the commands.

John Robert Walmsley Stott (English Preacher)

Christian Obedience is the Path to Real Life

“And the compelling reason for maybe choosing some sort of god or spiritual-type thing to worship…is that pretty much anything else you worship will eat you alive. If you worship money and things, if they are where you tap real meaning in life, then you will never have enough, never feel you have enough. It's the truth. Worship your body and beauty and sexual allure and you will always feel ugly. And when time and age start showing, you will die a million deaths before they finally grieve you.

David Foster Wallace

Psalm 119:165 “Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.”

Psalm 119:134 Redeem me from man’s oppression, that I may keep your precepts.”

We have been rescued by God’s grace. We have been adopted by God’s love. We are being made whole. Why are we so embarrassed to admit that Jesus’ way is the right way?

Don’t let the fear of legalism keep you from the freedom of obedience.

Gospel Connection:

Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”

HOW WE OBEY

Pray for a Larger Heart

Psalm 119:32 “I will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart!”

True obedience is a matter of the heart. If we are looking for all the loop holes and short cuts around obedience, we need to consider our heart’s motivation.

Consider Your Resources

You have unimaginable access to God.

Psalm 119:114 “You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.”

Meditate on: Your Perfect Father, your Perfect Mediator, and your Perfect Counselor. You belong to God—you’re not trying out for the team.

You have an uncomplicated mandate.

Psalm 119:151 “But you are near, O Lord, and all your commandments are true.”

Meditate on: The heart of the law—Love God & love my neighbor. Trust in Jesus’ work of redemption. Look away from yourself—upwards to Christ & outwards to others.

You have an understanding community.

Psalm 119:63 “I am a companion of all who fear you, of those who keep your precepts.”

Meditate on: The grace God gives through the community of rescued sinners who love God’s word. (Part of the cure of legalism is the right approach to Christian community.)

CONCLUSION

Evaluate your understanding of grace and obedience.

“What other beauty demands such praises?” Only a Holy God

Grow in the WHY and the HOW.

Faith never asks whether good works are to be done, but has done them before there is time to ask the question, and it is always doing them.

Martin Luther (Founder of the German Reformation)

PASTORAL PRAYER