Psalm 119, Part 3: A Disciple’s Prayer
Notes
Transcript
Psalm 119:33-48 Preaching Outline – A Disciple’s Prayer
I. 3 Essentials for Understanding and Assimilating Scripture: (33-35)
This is an expansion of (18): “Open my eyes so that I may contemplate
wondrous things from your instruction.” - Spiritual eyes to see
These are things we do under the guidance of the Holy Spirit
ILLUSTRATE USING PROVERBS 3:5-6
33 Teach me, Lord, the meaning of your statutes, and I will always keep them. 34 Help me understand your instruction, and I will obey it and follow it with all my heart. 35 Help me stay on the path of your commands, for I take pleasure in it.
· (33) “Teach me meaning of your statutes and I will always keep them”
What does it meanobjectively? NOT what does it mean to me.
Comes through study. Dig. Research. Explore.
· (34) “Help me understand your instruction, and I will obey”
How does it apply? With understanding of what the teaching means, what does it mean for me? NOT“to” me.
Comes through prayer and meditation. Also, outside godly counsel.
· (35) “Help me stay on the path of your commands, for I take pleasure in it.”
Now that I know what to do, how do I do it?
Comes through submission to the Spirit, denial of self, determination to obey, and outside accountability (important role of DGroups).
II. Prayer for faithful living: expanded prayer of verse 35 (36-41):
36 Turn my heart to your decrees and not to dishonest profit. 37 Turn my eyes from looking at what is worthless; give me life in your ways. 38 Confirm what you said to your servant, for it produces reverence for you. 39 Turn away the disgrace I dread; indeed, your judgments are good. 40 How I long for your precepts! Give me life through your righteousness. 41 Let your faithful love come to me, Lord, your salvation, as you promised.
1. (36-37) Turn my heart…
(36) towards righteousness rather than dishonest gain.
We need to pray this regularly because our sin nature still wants to turn our heart toward unrighteousness.
(37) from what is worthless; impure.
Spirit-empowered determination protects us from the worthless.
· explicitly impure: pornography, wickedness in all forms
Job 31:1 - I have made a covenant with my eyes. How then could I look at a young woman?
· anything that adds no value; no encouragement to our growth. (not inherently bad but rob us of the better or best). e.g. mindless scrolling, endless television, etc.
Illus: my weakness is funny cat videos and bad dad jokes videos.
Suggestion: Media fast and/or Digital Purge (app deletion)
Redirect/Replace with what is beneficial:
Delete Instagram and download “Unreached People of the Day” app.
Scriptural Encouragement: Philippians 4:8
8 Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things.
Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things.
2. (38) Cause your promises to become operative in my life
“haqem” = establish or confirm [promises to be applied and fulfilled in my life]
Work in me according to your word that will lead me to grow in awe of You.
VBS emphasis: “God keeps His promises” – that leads to trust and greater confidence in following by faith.
This echoes a desire not just to be informed of promises but transformed by them.
Ex: Romans 8:37 - in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
3. (39) Overcome the dread I fear from those who taunt me(42)
Grant me boldness to speak according to your Word
ie “overcome in me the dread/fear I feel when I consider speaking out when necessary.”
Ex: Disciples ask and are given boldness: Acts 4:29-31
29 And now, Lord, consider their threats, and grant that your servants may speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand for healing, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God boldly.
And now, Lord, consider their [sanhedrin] threats, and grant that your servants may speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand for healing, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
4. (40-41) Give me life through your righteousness. Let your faithful love come to me – your salvation – as you promised.
We see this more clearly than the psalmist did since Jesus has been revealed.
The Messiah had been promised. Now He’s come!
Psalmist understands he cannot be saved according to his own righteousness and needs the righteousness of God
Further, it means he cannot live daily without the gospel.
III. Power for Fruitful Living (42-48)
42 Then I can answer the one who taunts me, for I trust in your word. 43 Never take the word of truth from my mouth, for I hope in your judgments. 44 I will always obey your instruction, forever and ever.
Keyword: “Then…” (result from God answering the previous prayer)
1. (42a) I can answer the one who taunts me. (39)
I can speak faithfully (with boldness)
(42b-43) according to Your Word He puts in our mouths
19 But when they hand you over, don’t worry about how or what you are to speak. For you will be given what to say at that hour, 20 because it isn’t you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father is speaking through you.
But when they hand you over, don’t worry about how or what you are to speak. For you will be given what to say at that hour, 20 because it isn’t you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father is speaking through
Disciples boldly speak against those who taunted them: Acts 5:27-33
27 After they brought them in, they had them stand before the Sanhedrin, and the high priest asked, 28 “Didn’t we strictly order you not to teach in this name? Look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”
29 Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than people. 30 The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had murdered by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted this man to his right hand as ruler and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”
33 When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them.
40 After they called in the apostles and had them flogged, they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus and released them. 41 Then they went out from the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to be treated shamefully on behalf of the Name. 42 Every day in the temple, and in various homes, they continued teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.
After they brought them in, they had them stand before the Sanhedrin, and the high priest asked, 28 “Didn’t we strictly order you not to teach in this name? Look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”
29 Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than people. 30 The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had murdered by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted this man to his right hand as ruler and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”33 When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them.
2. (44) I will always obey your instruction, forever and ever
I can live faithfully
All by the work of God:
Justified by Christ – Galatians 2:15-16
15 We are Jews by birth and not “Gentile sinners,” 16 and yet because we know that a person is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we ourselves have believed in Christ Jesus. This was so that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no human being will be justified.
We are Jews by birth and not “Gentile sinners,” 16 and yet because we know that a person is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ,[h] even we ourselves have believed in Christ Jesus. This was so that we might be justified by faith in Christ[i] and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no human being will[j] be justified.
Sanctified by the Holy Spirit– Romans 8:12-13
12 So then, brothers and sisters, we are not obligated to the flesh to live according to the flesh, 13 because if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
brothers and sisters, we are not obligated to the flesh to live according to the flesh, 13 because if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
Results/Fruit: (45-48)
45 I will walk freely in an open place because I study your precepts. 46 I will speak of your decrees before kings and not be ashamed. 47 I delight in your commands, which I love. 48 I will lift up my hands to your commands, which I love, and will meditate on your statutes.
(45) Freedom – from fear, condemnation and to enjoy life following the Holy Spirit
(46) Boldness (grace-filled, peace-promoting) – talked about in (39)
(47) Joy – In Christ is true life, and joy is the result of the freedom we are granted.
(48) Worshipful surrender – This is what it all leads to!
