God's Possessions & Our Commitment

Psalm 119:89–96 ESV

89 Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. 90 Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast. 91 By your appointment they stand this day, for all things are your servants. 92 If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. 93 I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life. 94 I am yours; save me, for I have sought your precepts. 95 The wicked lie in wait to destroy me, but I consider your testimonies. 96 I have seen a limit to all perfection, but your commandment is exceedingly broad.

Intro

I can remember the first time Adrian my wife set foot into our apartment 21 at Howard Payne University. It was in the evening, I think I was playing XBox with one of my roommates when she walked into with one of our other roommates to study for a test that week.

You see Adrian was one of the smartest in their biology field there at HPU, and Tam my roommate i’m pretty sure was just using her for her notes and help on the test.

But i remember her walking in (me saying in my mind--- SHE’S PRETTY). And for some reason that night I randomly asked her if she wanted to throw a football with me… because you know, that’s just what you do when you want to flirt with a girl.

After that, Tam (my roommate) asked Adrian one day if she thought anything of me, you know did you think he’s cute or interesting to which she replied… WHO?

I know I know I had a lot going for me.

Afterwards she come’s over a few more times for study groups where I talk to her a few times.

HPU has a concert one day on campus. Me her, and another one of our good friends still to this day are at the concert. I tell her, hey i’m going to go to the apartment to get something… i’ll text you and see where ya’ll are at. To which she says… wait you don’t have my number how are you going to text me? Oh well… lol Let me get your number then!

We started dating in May of 2010.

We were engaged the next year and then were married in May of 2012.

I decided to commit my life to her because of the many possessions that Adrian had within her self. Her attributes. Her qualities that I enjoyed and admired.

She was easy going.

She was caring.

She was honest.

She was encouraging.

She was supportive.

She wanted to help people in her profession.

SHE LOVED JESUS.

These are just some of the reasons I decided to commit myself to her in marriage. And many times when we go through tough times… times that every married couple goes through. Where you love each-other… but not necessarily like each-other. We can often fall back onto those possessions that somebody possesses and remembered why i’m committed to this person.

For us as believers… when hard times rock our lives… that is often something that forces us to remember the reasons why we decided to bend the knee to the everlasting God.

Because we know that the reasons I committed to Him, HIS POSSESSIONS AND QUALITIES are far greater that whatever it is that threatens my life now.

In this passage, it seems as though that’s what we are reading in Psalm 119:89-96. He is being threatened by the wicked. But from being threatened, it is forcing him to contemplate the possessions, qualities and attributes of the Lord.

This is something that we as believers must enter into a habit of doing in our own lives!

When trouble comes to our lives don’t blame God for the trouble, but thank Him for who He is, the qualities that He possesses and His faithfulness He has always shown you. And know that from the attributes of faithfulness & promise keeper, He is with you still.

Your Word is Forever (V. 89)

Psalm 119:89 ESV

89 Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens.

God’s Word, by what the writer is saying here is “firmly fixed in heaven.”

God’s Word is fixed.

God’s Word is objective.

God’s Word stands firm.

So what is this WORD we are speaking of? This can be a confusing thing for anybody reading because of the fact that the english language has several meanings of the word WORD… especially when it comes to God and the scriptures. When then begin to throw in Hebrew and Greek text!

There are a few meanings of WORD to throw out there that one could be talking about from a biblical perspective.

words of men: this can be words of enticement, or counsel given, words of wisdom, lies, rumors, blasphemous speech, commands, or even words of royal authority.

words of God:

This is the utterance of God that commanded BIG RESPECT.

This is the Word that God has spoke to the fathers and the WORD that was preserved in Scripture.

It was unique conviction for Israel, it determined Israel’s character and history.

This is word that is discernable in nature (Acts 14:17, Rom 1:19,20), and had come in visions or dreams (Gn 15:1; 31:11, Mt. 1:20).

His word came to and through prophets who spoke and acted by the Word of the Lord and in the Law which God “spoke” on Sinai (Ex. 20:1): ---> His statutes, commandments, precepts, instructions. Much of which is being found in Psalm 119. In the context of the writer… would be the Torah. The first five books of our Bible.

The Word of God: You also have THE WORD OF GOD. The LOGOS. Which someone you would know from John 1 as being Jesus Christ the Messiah.

Jesus perfectly revealed the invisible God, He uttered His mind, declared His purpose, mediated His power. JESUS WAS THE REVEALING WORD.

Now in Psalm 119:89, what we see being spoken of here specifically are the WORDS OF GOD.

This is a revealed thought, the purpose of God revealed to man. His spoken Word.

So you can only imagine as the writer is going through some hardships, someone threatening his life.

His thought is of praising God’s word that LAST FORVER… THAT IS FIXED IN HEAVEN!

So many other Scriptures come to mind when talking about this…

1 Peter 1:25 ESV

25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

Jesus says in Matthew...

Matthew 24:35 ESV

35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

The writer understands this reality of God’s word and takes comfort in it while he is going through something that is temporary.

The fact that God’s word is fixed in heaven, that it IS FOREVER...

EVERY SINGLE PROBLEM WE HAVE… TEMPORARY.

This is a big thing in today’s culture.

Especially in a culture that ebbs and flows with whatever feels good to them at the time.

We are told from all sides to LIVE OUR TRUTH.

This truth that can change at any second.

(I don’t know about you, but especially when i’m hangry… there’s no telling where my emotions are going to take me. My truth may change many times.

Your inner truth is the part of you that knows what you truly need. It is the part of you that holds the deepest expression of who you are and is unconcerned with your personal egoic needs. - Dr. Kate Siner

“Inner Truth” is this massive piece of our culture today. When you google inner truth, there are 281 million results that come up.

I love this quote from Matt Chandler in talking about truth and the importance of God’s word...

Truth is not inside of you, and it is not fluid. Truth is outside of you and it’s fixed. God help us if truth isn’t fixed and it’s fluid. How are you going to navigate if the touchdown always moves? How are you supposed to navigate life if truth is whatever you feel like it is? Do you trust your feelings when your 20, 19, 30, 45, 80?

My compulsions more frequently are not toward the Lord but against Him!

Church… we don’t have any truth inside of us… all we have naturally are lies.

Truth is fixed. Nothing found inside of you is going to lead to life. His word leads us to life and it protects us.

Glory to God for this reality!

Spurgeon says this in writing about the psalmist...

The delights which he experienced in the time of his trouble. In bereavements; when everything seemed shifting and inconstant; when his own faith failed him; when all helpers failed him; he fell back upon the eternal settlements: "O Lord, thy word is settled,"

Your Faithfulness is for all (V. 90)

Psalm 119:90 ESV

90 Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast.

Here the writer builds upon what he just said in verse 89...

Psalms (Vol. III) Psalm 119

If his “Word” generally is unchanging, so especially must be his promises

His promises stand firm...

This is something else that within our culture… people just don’t understand about God. And it’s hard to when coming from our context that we live in.

People are not faithful. Period. Ya’ll, i’m sure some in here who have kids will understand this… that even as somebody who worships Jesus and really intends to fulfill any and all promises… I DON’T KEEP ALL MY PROMISES. To my kids, to my wife, to friends and so on.

And I hate that!

Because of business, or just not being particularly organized one day… promises are dropped and not fulfilled.

People break promises all the time. At least 80% of people who make New Years resolutions do not keep them. 30-40% of married couples cheat on their spouses.

FAITHFULNESS in our world is something that is hard to come by.

YET, WE HAVE A GOD WHO DOES NOT CHANGE AND THAT IS FAITHFUL ALWAYS.

God is not affected by the lapse of ages; he is not only faithful to one man throughout his lifetime, but to his children's children after him, yes, and to all generations so long as they keep his covenant and remember his commandments to do them. The promises are ancient things, yet they are not worn out by centuries of use, for the divine faithfulness endureth for ever. He who succoured his servants thousands of years ago still shows himself strong on the behalf of all them that trust in him.

Set forth from the word of the Lord, we see His unchanging character in all things! Even down to nature itself standing firm under His control.

Your Judgments Stand Firm (V. 91)

Psalm 119:91 ESV

91 By your appointment they stand this day, for all things are your servants.

After reading about this verse a little bit you can kind of tell out of the gate that this verse is particularly difficult, depending on which way you want to translate the word appointment from the ESV. In other translations it may say Judgement, or regulations, or ordinances.

The general sense is that everything in the Lord’s domain is upheld by His authoritative WORD.

THE LORD SETS IT IN PLACE.

Because the Lord has bid the universe abide, therefore it stands, and all its laws continue to operate with precision and power...

God's [judgments/appointment] is the reason for the continued existence of creation.

Jeremiah 31:35 ESV

35 Thus says the Lord, who gives the sun for light by day and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar— the Lord of hosts is his name:

Just sit for few seconds and meditate on this reality. Everything in our universe is being held together by His Authoritative WORD.

GLORY TO GOD.

That brings to my mind of being thankful for each and every day we are blessed with. When I was growing up going to church here… one of the things that come to mind is at the end of the service, Brother Steve would always say…

“This is the day that the Lord has made, we shall rejoice and be glad in it!”

How much more meaning does this reality give to that saying?

We see here that ALL THINGS ARE HELD TOGETHER BY HIS WORD AND ALL THINGS ARE CONSIDERED HIS SERVANTS.

EVERYTHING ULTIMATELY SERVES HIS PURPOSE.

So, it only makes since that when we humble ourselves to be involved in His purposes,

He becomes our delight and we are protected!

Your Instruction & Precepts protect me & give me life (V. 92, 93)

Psalm 119:92–93 ESV

92 If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. 93 I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life.

The Psalmist now moves from stating the characteristics of God and His word to stating his DELIGHT in the INSTRUCTION of the Lord.

THIS IS LOVE FOR GOD AND HIS WORD.

Psalms (Vol. III) Psalm 119

Only a real love of God’s commandments can sustain men under severe affliction.

It is the love of His word that will set us apart from so much in this life.

Our love for God and His word will literally save us from ourselves and from many circumstances! But we must delight in it!

Which means we must read it!

In a study done by Barna about the state of the Bible in 2021. One of the five key findings from this study was the “Frequency of Bible use among U.S. Adults”. The findings were as follows

75% of Americans read the Bible anywhere from once a week to never.

You are considered by this study a “Bible User” when you are an individual who read, listen to, or pray with the Bible on their own at least three or four times a year outside of a church service or church event

CHURCH: I don’t think we can say that the bible is our delight if you are reading your Bible once a week. When something is our delight… we can’t go very long without!

you can tell what somebody delights in by the time you spend toward whatever it is.

(Mexican food, cowboys football, working out, being around my family)

IT IS A MUST for us as a church family, that we hold each-other accountable in the reading of God’s Word.

I know I brought up the uncomfortable word of accountability. Nobody likes accountability. BUT, it is necessary.

I could really get going on this… but i think we as a church have gotten soft on accountability. You know church… there is this healthy way of being in each other’s business.

You should have brothers and sister’s in Christ asking you hard questions. It’s not done enough, especially in local faith families. We’re too worried about offending one another. THAT’S FREE.

I have told my students a few times now something I heard from a preacher that stuck out to me…

“Often times, something must first become a discipline before it becomes a devotion.”

That is so true isn’t it!

It starts out by us making ourselves schedule a time to do something every day at a certain time. For the first week, two or even three we don’t want to do it. But we do it because we set a reminder on our phones, or a sticky note or an accountability partner getting in your business and telling you to get your butt back into God’s Word.

Eventually we enter into this area of devotion where we yearn for that time of day. And it bothers us if we miss that time.

This can go for anything.

It starts as a discipline, but it moves its way into becoming a devotion over the course of time.

WITHIN THIS SETTING DISCIPLINE IN OUR LIVES.

WE MUST SET GOALS.

The Center For Bible Engagement did a MASSIVE study called “The Power of 4 Effect”.

Within the study perimeters, They surveyed 400,000 people. 8-80 years old, 24 countries, 75+ denominations, churches, schools and general population.

Listen to this… they found that if you engage your Bible 4 or more times a week… your life is radically different from someone who does not.

In fact, the lives of Christians who do not engage the Bible most days of the week are statistically the same as the lives of non-believers.

The people who engage scripture 4 or more times a week is...

228% more likely to share their faith with others.

407% more likely to memorize scripture.

231% more likely to disciple others.

59% less likely to view pornography.

30% less likely to struggle with loneliness.

CHURCH…

READ GOD’S WORD. FALL IN LOVE WITH GOD’S WORD. And know that it may take some time for it to become something that we are devoted to.

It will often save your life in many situations.

ALSO...

REMEMBER GOD’S WORD.

Psalms 73–150 ל Lamed

For God’s people, forgetting what he has said is always a potential danger. The psalmist resolves never to forget God’s precepts. He realizes that God’s word does him little good if he fails to remember it. It is God’s word that has kept him alive in the past, and it will be essential for his life going forward.

IT’S ESSENTIAL.

It does us little good church if we’re reading God’s Word but failing to memorize it. Like said earlier, it’s essential in memorizing for us to be engaged with scripture at least 4 times a week.

4 or more!

“I AM YOURS!” (V. 94-96)

Psalm 119:94–96 ESV

94 I am yours; save me, for I have sought your precepts. 95 The wicked lie in wait to destroy me, but I consider your testimonies. 96 I have seen a limit to all perfection, but your commandment is exceedingly broad.

We read the Psalmist as he writes uttering this praise...

V. 94- I AM YOURS!

This is exactly what it sounds like. He’s indicating HE BELONGS TO THE LORD.

He calls on the name of the Lord in his distress to save him.

He has intentionally sought God and His Word, and

now He urgently seeks His protection in his time of need.

He is reminded of why he gave himself to his Lord. And he utters His commitment to God.

V. 95

This verse can make you think of Daniel as the high officials sought to find a ground of complaint against him. So they come up with this plan to convince the king to make this law where you can petition no god or man for 30 days except for the king. Daniel, after knowing the document had been signed went to his home.

And it says...

Daniel 6:11 ESV

11 Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and plea before his God.

Psalms 73–150 (ל Lamed)

As Daniel’s colleagues conspired against him in Dan 6:11, the wicked look for an opportunity to destroy the psalmist. By contrast,

His life is oriented by God’s word, and he does not allow their threat to divert his commitment from it.

v. 96

The psalmist wraps this up with realizing and confessing that even the best human efforts reach their limits.

But the Lord’s command has no limit so it transcends all that humans can accomplish or even attempt.

The implication is that to live for anything other than what the Lord commands is to invite disappointment and defeat.

WHY EVEN TRY IT.

Closing

It is in times of calamity, in times of struggle, in times of duress, that we then fall back on the reasons why we have commited to something in our lives.

In the reality of God, whenever we do that within our relationship with Him.… we are never going to be let down because of WHO GOD IS and WHAT HE BRINGS TO THE TABLE. It is ABOVE AND BEYOND anything anyones else possesses.

His commands have no limit.

When we orient our lives around His word, it will save us.

The reading and memorization of His Word literally effects all parts of our lives and it must be our delight.

Everything else in this world literally stands because of the Word of God. Even nature itself.

He is faithful and His Word is forever when everything else in this world is here today but gone tomorrow.

WHY FOLLOW YOUR HEART CHURCH?

WHY FOLLOW YOUR TRUTH?

Your truth is a lie. Your truth is deceptive. You have at your disposal a word from THE GOD who made the universe?

And which reveals to us the truth of Jesus Christ?

Why settle for anything else?