Three Voices

Interesting things to note about Psalm 119.

Its the longest psalm

Be Exultant Psalm 119

The emphasis in this, the longest psalm, is on the vital ministry of the Word of God in the inner spiritual life of God’s children. It describes how the Word enables us to grow in holiness and handle the persecutions and pressures that always accompany an obedient walk of faith.

Be Exultant Psalm 119

The psalm is an acrostic with eight lines in each section, and the successive sections follow the letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Each of the eight lines of 1–8 begins with the Hebrew letter aleph, the lines in 9–16 begin with beth, in 17–24 with gimel, and so on.

Be Exultant Psalm 119

The unknown author used eight different words for the Scriptures: law (torah), testimony, precept, statute, commandment, judgment (in the sense of “a rule for living”), word (of God), and promise. All eight are found in 33–40, 41–48, 57–64, 73–80, 81–88, and 129–136.

Be Exultant Psalm 119

Students disagree on this, but it appears that every verse contains a direct mention of God’s Word except seven: verses 3, 37, 84, 90, 121, 122, and 132. If you count “ways” as a synonym for God’s Word, then you can eliminate verses 3 and 37. (The NIV has “your word” in v. 37, but most Hebrew texts read “your ways.”)

Psalm 119:41–48 KJV 1900

41 VAU. Let thy mercies come also unto me, O Lord, Even thy salvation, according to thy word. 42 So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: For I trust in thy word. 43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; For I have hoped in thy judgments. 44 So shall I keep thy law continually For ever and ever. 45 And I will walk at liberty: For I seek thy precepts. 46 I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, And will not be ashamed. 47 And I will delight myself in thy commandments, Which I have loved. 48 My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; And I will meditate in thy statutes.3

Introduction

Every day, we hear three voices:

God talking – through His Word, guiding and strengthening us.

Satan talking – through lies, accusations, and temptations.

Us talking – our response, either in faith or fear.

Psalm 119:41-48 highlights these three voices and how we should respond.

I. God Talking – The Voice of Truth and Mercy (v. 41, 43, 48)

"Let thy mercies come also unto me, O Lord, even thy salvation, according to thy word." (v. 41)

God speaks through His Word (v. 43, 48)

His Word is the source of mercy and salvation.

He reveals His promises, truth, and commands.

Application: We must listen to God’s voice by staying in His Word.

God’s Word must remain in our mouths (v. 43)

When God speaks to us, we must continue to speak His truth.

Application: Do we declare His promises in difficult times?

Loving and meditating on God’s Word (v. 48)

Lifting up hands = worship and surrender.

Meditating = actively thinking on His truth.

Application: Do we cherish and delight in what God says?

II. Satan Talking – The Voice of Accusation and Opposition (v. 42, 46)

"So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word." (v. 42)

Satan speaks through reproach (v. 42)

He brings accusations, trying to shake our confidence.

Examples: Garden of Eden (Genesis 3), Job’s trials (Job 1-2), Jesus’ temptation (Matthew 4).

Application: When Satan speaks, do we respond with God’s truth?

The Devil will see to it that our faith is challenged and tested - what are we going to rely on for an answer?

1 Peter 3:15 – "Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you."

The New Testament echoes the idea of being prepared to answer challenges to one's faith.

Boldly answering opposition (v. 46)

Speaking of God’s testimonies before kings (authority, opposition).

Jesus before Pilate, Paul before Agrippa—boldness in the face of persecution.

Application: Are we ready to stand for truth when Satan attacks?

III. Us Talking – The Voice of Faith and Commitment (v. 44-47)

"So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever." (v. 44)

We speak through obedience (v. 44)

Obedience is our response to God’s Word.

Obedience Opens Up Scripture More Than Anything Else

Eugene Peterson writes in “Eat This Book”:

At age 35 I bought running shoes and began enjoying the smooth rhythms of long-distance running. Soon I was competing in 10K races every month or so, and then a marathon once a year. By then I was subscribing to and reading three running magazines! Then I pulled a muscle and couldn't run for a couple of months. Those magazines were still all over the house, but I never opened one. The moment I resumed running, though, I started reading again.

That's when I realized that my reading was an extension of something I was a part of. I was reading for companionship and affirmation of the experience of running. I learned a few things along the way, but mostly it was to deepen my world of running. If I wasn't running, there was nothing to deepen.

The parallel with reading Scripture is striking. If I'm not living in active response to the living God, reading about his creation/salvation/holiness won't hold my interest for long. The most important question isn't "What does this mean," but "What can I obey?" Simple obedience will open up our lives to a text more quickly than any number of Bible studies, dictionaries, and concordances.

Source:

Eugene Peterson, Eat This Book (William B. Eerdmans, 2006), pp. 70-71; paraphrased in the September 18 entry of Men of Integrity (September/October 2009)

“Forever and ever” – consistency, not just in easy times.

Application: Do our actions align with God’s voice or Satan’s?

We speak through delight in God’s Word (v. 47)

"I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved."

Our words should reflect joy in God’s truth.

Application: What does our speech reveal about our heart?

We speak through our testimony (v. 46)

Sharing God’s truth even in difficult situations.

Example: Paul in prison still speaking of Christ.

We Find Our Own Stories in the Bible's Stories

In late 2012 seventy-five year old Marion Shurtleff purchased a Bible in a used book store near her home in San Clemente, California. After making her purchase and returning home, she discovered a couple of folded pages tucked in the middle of the Bible.

The contents of the yellowed notebook sheets contained a child's handwriting that looked familiar. To her amazement, Shurtleff discovered her name at the top of the first page. When she looked closer she realized that she was actually reading a four-page essay she had written as a ten-year-old to earn a merit badge for the Girls Scouts in Covington, Kentucky—more than 2,000 miles from where she had just purchased the Bible.

By her own account, Shurtleff was deeply moved. "I opened the Bible and there was my name," Shurtleff said in a phone interview from her home. "I recognized my handwriting. I was shaking, literally. I was crying."

Although it remains a mystery how the essay ended up in a Bible in a used bookstore half way across the country, one thing is certain. When we look deeply into God's Word we see evidences of our lives, too. In the pages of Scripture we see individuals just like us—people who pursue faith and hope in God, people who also battle depression, doubt, lust, and pride. As we read the biblical stories about Abraham, Ruth, David, Mary, and Peter we also recognize our own life story.

Source:

Greg Asimakoupoulos, Mercer Island, Washington; source: Brian Mains, "Marion Shurtleff makes amazing discovery in used Bible, finds childhood essay she wrote 65 years ago," WCPO Digital (5-28-13)

Application: Are we bold witnesses for Christ?

Conclusion

Every day, we hear three voices:

God talking – His truth gives mercy and salvation.

Satan talking – He brings accusations and opposition.

Us talking – Our words and actions reveal where we stand.

Call to Action:

Listen to God’s voice – Make Scripture the foundation of your life.

Resist Satan’s lies – Use God’s Word to answer opposition.

Speak faith and obedience – Let your words and actions reflect trust in God.