Delight in God because of the Works of God by Studying the Word of God

Introduction

Would you please open your Bibles to Psalm 111, which will be our main text for today.

As we hit the new year, our focus is often on what we would like our life to look like for the next twelve months… And this can good and helpful , right? In our culture, whether you follow Jesus or not, the new year often brings a time where we reflect on our lives over the last year and where we are at right now. While that’s good and helpful… I’d like to ask you a more important question, one that would be worth us reflecting on more than one time of year:

Have you ever thought about what you’d like your life to look like for the rest of eternity?

See the choices you make don’t just effect the next 365 days, but the next 365 trillion years and more and more. There is much more at stake then reading more books to get smarter or be more cultured this year, or exercising and losing weight, or saving more money, or traveling more… though those can all be good things. Eternity is at stake. Eternity is at stake… for you and for others as well.

You see, sometimes we struggle with being distracted by things that aren’t important for sure. But often times, maybe eve more of the time, our bigger struggle is prioritizing things in our lives. We often forget the ultimate things and focus on things that are important, but not ultimate. And what I mean by that is that in light of eternity there are things that are important, and then there are things that are ultimate.

You see, there are only two things in this world that are eternal:

the word of God

and the souls of men.

The word of God and human souls.

Isaiah 40:6–8 ESV

6 A voice says, “Cry!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. 7 The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the Lord blows on it; surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.

Jesus teaches us that when he comes again on the day that all souls who ever lived, from ever nation, will be judged, he says in Matthew 25, that those who are righteous in Christ will enter eternal life, and those who are found unrighteous, who don’t trust in Christ, will go away into eternal punishment.

The only two things that are eternal about this world are God’s word and the souls of men. May we live our lives, and over our lives in such a way that the ultimate things take priority. As we will see later, when we do that in faith, it affects a whole host of other things in our lives. It brings fruit in our lives.

Let me give you two examples of this, of how we sometimes struggle to put even things that are important before ultimate things: one from my own life, and one from the Bible.

Personal example: studying for school.

Bible example: Mary and Martha. You can even be distracted in serving, even in serving your Savior, and miss the point: God, Christ.

Wouldn’t you like to focus, to give your life, to the things that matter most, to ultimate, eternal things?

Our text today, along with some encouragement from its sister Psalm, Psalm 112, shows us that there is not much more worth giving your life to than studying the word of God. And the text today gives us three reasons that I see for that.

What happens when we give ourselves to studying the word of God?

We delight in God more deeply

We prepare ourselves for eternity

and help others to do the same.

It is worth giving your life to studying the God’s word if you’d like to:

Delight in God more deeply

Prepare yourselves for eternity

and help others to do the same.

to help others delight in God more deeply

and to prepare them for eternity

If your a Christian, what more could you want than that? To know the sweetness of being known by our Savior, the one who died for you, who loves you more and to invite others into that same sweetness.

Read Psa 111

Psalm 111 ESV

1 Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation. 2 Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them. 3 Full of splendor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever. 4 He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and merciful. 5 He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever. 6 He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the inheritance of the nations. 7 The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy; 8 they are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness. 9 He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name! 10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!

We Study God’s Word to Delight in God More Deeply

In Psa 111, the Psalmist models studying God’s word and deeply delighting in him through it. He starts off the Psalm overflowing with praise for God and then in verse 2 shows us the reason why he is overflowing in worship towards God, because he is delighting in what God has done through. And how does he know what God has done? He is studying and reflecting on what God as revealed to him in his word, he overflows in praise to God.

Psalm 111:2 ESV

2 Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them.

He’s saying, God’s works are good, and are studied by those who delight in them, like me.

And what words of the Lord is he talking about? Well, as we will see, he’s talking about creation, revelation, salvation, provision.

He’s studying all these things that God has done and worshipping him in front of other people for it.

Creation

You need Jesus to Read Your Bible

We Study God’s Word to Prepare for Eternity

We Study God’s Word to Help Others Do the Same

The Psalmist, starts off his this Psalm with an invitation to all who hear this or read this to praise the Lord with him. He’s saying, “Hallelujah, Praise the Lord, y’all.” He then moves to declaring the greatness of God’s works (verse 2 ) before he lays out what those great works are (verses 3-9). This man cannot help but overflow in praise and in delight of God for what he has done as he thinks back through Israel’s history and recounts what God has done. See what he’s doing here? He’s looking back at the Scriptures that he has and is reflecting on them which causes him to worship God.

Psalm 111:2 ESV

2 Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them.

God works are great and are ripe to be studied, sought out, pursued by all who love God. This word for study here means more than you think of when you think of studying for a test. It has the connotation of inquiring of something, of seeking something—not just studying so that you have the answers to the test, but studying in such a way that you see things that make you ask questions that plunge you deeper and deeper into what is there, thinking through all the possibilities and implications of what you’re learning.

This is important because when reading the Scriptures it can be helpful if we are aware of some of our tendencies: to speed date God, or to approach our Bible reading like we’re reading a tweet or a facebook post, but that isn’t what the author is getting at here. He’s saying, if you delight in what God has done for you, you’ll diligently study the Scriptures. As far as it is possible for you, you’ll leave no stone left unturned. Now you can’t do that if you treat Bible reading like speed dating or like you follow him on social media.

So what does this mean for us? It means that ought to study the Bible in a way where we carry it with us throughout the day. Study the bible in a way that we carry it with us throughout the day. This means taking time to think through, to ponder, to pray, maybe to journal, about what we are reading and what we are learning about God and why that matters. We are to be Bible eaters, as Christians, we live as those than can’t just live on bread alone, food isn’t enough to satisfy our deepest longings, but we live also on every word that comes from the mouth of God, the Scriptures. We live as those who have tasted and seen that the Lord is good.

Now, some of you may say, how can I study the Bible like this on my own? I don’t know how to do that. Well I’m glad you asked. Because you have the Holy Spirit and the same Holy Spirit in other Christians to help you! Look at that. You want to grow in your understand of God and his word? Trust God and study the Bible alone, and study the Bible not alone. You should study your Bible on your own, and you should study your Bible not alone, but with other believers. You know what else, you can buy a study Bible written by other people who have the same Holy Spirit guiding them to help you. You can read books by other Christians who have the same Holy Spirit to help you read the Bible. Buy a study Bible. Join a Bible study here at Vine. Join a Life Group and study the Bible there. Study the Bible with your friends, your spouse, your kids, your grandkids. Go to Sunday school (shameless plug). Come to worship services like this and study the Bible along with the preacher.

Now lets look at what is happening as this guy studies the Scriptures and reflects on them in Psa 111:3-9

He’s looking back at the Bible, most likely the Torah, the first 5 books of the Bible, reflecting on what God has done and showing us that God’s works reflect his character. In other words, when we see what God has done, that tells us who he is. When we see God’s works, we see God’s character

Because he has seen that God is creator and Lord of all, his work is full of splendor and majesty, fitting for the King of kings (v 3)

Because he has seen that God has caused his wondrous work of salvation (probably referring to the Exodus), to be remembered, he knows that God is gracious and merciful (v 4)

Because he has seen that God provides for those who fear him, who are in awe of him, he knows that God remembers his covenant to his people forever (v 5)

Because he has seen that God gave his people the inheritance of nations, the promised land, he knows that God is powerful to accomplish any of his works (v 6)

Because he has seen that God has been true to keep his covenant to his people, he can trust God’s commandments and instructions for how he should live (v 7-8)

And because he has seen that God sent redemption to his people, again, likely referring to the passover and the Exodus, and because God’s word has been found to be true, he can declare, “Holy and awesome is his name!”

Read your Bible as a Christian

Now, on this side of Christ, this Psalm takes on a whole new dimension, as does the entire Old Testament. Should we rejoice in the exodus, the parting of the red sea, and all the other things that God has done? You betcha. Absolutely. But this guy was missing out. He didn’t have what we have. This guy didn’t have the key to interpreting the whole Old Testament, but we do, so we read the Bible as Christians.

Hebrews 1:1–4 ESV

1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

What is the prime example that God’s work is full of splendor and majesty...

What is the prime example that God is gracious and merciful...

What is the prime example that God remembers his covenant to his people forever...

What is the prime example that God is powerful to accomplish all of his works...

What is the prime example that we can trust God’s commandments and instructions for how we are to live...

What is the prime example that God’s name is Holy and awesome...

JESUS CHRIST! AMEN? Hallelujah as the Psalmist would say. Come on now. Praise God! Praise God!

2 Corinthians 1:20 ESV

20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.

Praise God! When we delight in God because of the works of God by studying the Bible we see what God has done for sinners like all of us, the pinnacle of that being what he has done in Christ, and when that happens we experience God’s love for us more deeply. We can’t help it.

Thomas Brooks: "It is impossible for a soul not to love Christ, that knows he is the beloved of Christ." (REPEAT)

May we study our Bibles to so that we grow in our delight of God’s love or us in Christ.

Why Should We Delight in God in the Works of God by Studying the Word of God? So that We Prepare Ourselves for Eternity

Notice how this Psalm ends. “His praise endures forever!” This is both a declaration and an invitation to us. The Psalmist is declaring the truth that God’s praise, that the worship of God will stand, or endure forever. God will be praised, God will be glorified.

Look at how many times the word forever occurs in this one Psalm:

his righteousness endures forever (v 2)

he remembers his covenant forever (v 5)

his precepts, his commandments, are established forever and ever (v 8)

an he has commanded his covenant forever (v 9)

and his praise endures forever (v 10)

So how studying the Bible prepare us for eternity?

Ephesians 2:6–7 ESV

6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

In the coming ages… meaning FOREVER God will be showing, revealing to us the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. Do we really think we can fathom the depths of God’s love for us? What does the text say… IMMEASURABLE… meaning, it will take forever to fathom God’s love, and forever never runs out. We will never be able to completely plumb the depths of God’s love for us. We will marvel at it forever.

And if that’s what you are going to be doing forever, why not get it right now. The point is you don’t have to wait as if it’s going to run out. God’s love for you and your understanding of it will never dry up.

So what does this mean? Let us not pit knowledge of the Bible and growing in grace against one another. If done in faith, they are one and the same. I learn something about God and myself, it should lead to repentance and worship for his grace towards me in Christ Jesus. IMMEASURABLE.

And what does this mean for this life? Put as much of your delight in God because of what he has done as you can so that when the trials come your delight doesn’t waver one bit.

Psalm 112:4–8 ESV

4 Light dawns in the darkness for the upright; he is gracious, merciful, and righteous. 5 It is well with the man who deals generously and lends; who conducts his affairs with justice. 6 For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered forever. 7 He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord. 8 His heart is steady; he will not be afraid, until he looks in triumph on his adversaries.

2 Peter 3:18 ESV

18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

So it is good for us to delight in God because of the works of God by studying the word of God so that we prepare ourselves to delight in him for all eternity.

Why Delight in God because the Works of God by Studying the Word of God? so that We Are Empowered to Help Others Do the Same

In verse 1, the Psalmist declares his personal commitment to praise the Lord, as well as where he is going to do it. In his own heart, personally, and in the midst of others who are worshipping God. The worship of God overflows from his own heart to worship the Lord in front of others. And what effect does that have? It encourages others to do the same. The Psalmist spent time reflecting on God’s word, on his works, on what God had done, and it caused his heart to worship and to give thanks to the Lord in front of other people.

Look at how he ends this Psalm

Psalm 111:10 ESV

10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!

The one who is in awe of who the Lord is and what he has done will have wisdom to live this life. How do you fear the Lord, how do you put yourself in the place where you can be in awe of the Lord for who he is and what he has done for you? Again, it’s through diligently studying the bible with eyes of faith, being so enthralled with God that we can’t help but share it with others, both those who believe and those who don’t believe.

And when you share your delight in God and in God’s works with other believers what happens? You encourage their faith, God uses you to stoke the flame of their faith to keep it burning.

And when you share your delight in God because of God’s works with those who don’t believe what happens? Well, hopefully the Lord uses that to prepare unbelievers for eternity by saving them.

You know the greatest joys I’ve ever had as a believer? When God has used imperfect, sinful, selfish, hypocritical, weak me as an instrument in his hands to save other people.

At the previous church we were at, there was a man a few years younger than me, who had just moved into a sober house near us in the city… Instruments in the Redeemer’s hand.

Psalm 112:1–2 ESV

1 Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments! 2 His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.

So, brothers and sisters, delight in God in the works of God by studying the word of God today, and for the rest of your days, so that you will experience his love for you more deeply, you’ll prepare yourself to worship him for all eternity, and Lord willing you’ll be empowered to help others to do the same.

King

Revelation 17:14 ESV

14 They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”

Gracious and merciful

John 1:14–16 ESV

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’ ”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.

Keeps his covenant with his people

Romans 8:1–4 ESV

1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Will give us our promised inheritance

1 peter 1:3-5

1 Peter 1:3–5 ESV

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

God’s commandments are good and trustworthy

1 John 5:3–4 ESV

3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. 4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

God’s name is holy and awe-spiring?

Revelation 5:11–12 ESV

11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”

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