Sermon Tone Analysis

Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is always a privilege to share the Word of God with Durbin Memorial Baptist Church.

Last week we had a great time gathering together for a Sunday Evening Sing.

I mentioned that evening that in many ways it felt like a family reunion.

It was a great way to kick off the Summer.

As we talked about rest a few weeks ago, I said that it was an appropriate time to do so because we are entering into this Summer season.

This is the time where some go on vacation or maybe spend more time outdoors resting from the rigors of regular life.

It is no secret that all of us are in need of rest.

We’ve discussed this recently so I wont go into too much detail, but should be reminded that when God created this universe, on the seventh day of creation God modeled rest for us.

That means before sin even entered the picture, there was an expectation of rest for the human experience.

So it is good, proper, and biblical to rest.

This might go against our nature for those of us who are constantly on the go, but rest is a good thing.

As we understand that rest is a good thing, we also have to understand the KIND of rest that is actually beneficial to us.

It can be really good to disconnect and get away from everyday challenges.

But let me caution you on one thing as you are going about your summer.

Please, enjoy rest, get away, disconnect, but do not “take a break” from the Word of God.

Whoever reverentially fears the Lord truly has full life and whoever has that rests satisfied.

Rest without the Lord isn't really rest.

I bring this up to caution you when you are going about your vacations, do not leave the Word of God at home, and if your travels take you away from our little corner of clay’s ferry for the weekend, visit a church and be refreshed by the preaching of God’s Word.

My wife knows that when we go on vacation we are going to church, somewhere.

That’s because going to church, gathering together with a body of professing believers, centered around the Word of God and giving Him all the glory should not be a taxing experience, it should be apart of our weekly restl and when we go on vacation, why would we want to miss out on the bit of rest that we are regularly getting!

Understanding that reverence of the Lord brings rests, also points our attention to being in the Word during our times of rest.

Reading God’s Word should be a part of our daily existence, and it too should not stop for vacation.

That is why I was glad to start a new Bible reading plan with the church this past week.

It’s a simple plan, one chapter a day, five days a week, and in a year we will have made our way through the New Testament.

Many people like to start reading plans at the turn of the year as a part of a New Year’s resolution, and that is well and good.

But anytime is a good time to begin taking the consuming of God’s Word seriously.

When Jesus was in the wilderness being tempted by Satan to turn rocks into bread and provide Himself with sustenance, Jesus said this:

The Word of God is absolutely vital in our lives.

If you look at that verse there it is an amazing declaration.

The Son of God quotes the Word of God to declare the sufficiency of the Word of God.

And if the Son of God declares the sufficiency of the Word of God, then those that claim to follow Him better take notice!

Please rest.

Please rest not from the Word of God, but IN the Word of God.

It is with that understanding that we are returning this summer to look at Psalm 119.

Psalm 119 is the longest chapter of the entire Bible.

It is almost directly in the middle of your Bible, and while I do not assert that the placement has a significant spiritual meaning, it is an apt reminder for us that the Word of God should be central in our lives.

All 176 verses are proclaiming the glory of, love for, and sufficiency of the Word of God.

Last year, we worked through the first 8 stanzas, this summer we will be tackling the next four.

If you have your Bibles, open them to Psalm 119 and today we are going to pick up in verse 65.

As you are turning there, allow me to remind you of the structure of this psalm.

It is broken into 22 parts.

In each of the parts, there are 8 verses.

Each set of 8 verses begin with the same letter of the Hebrew alphabet and the entirety of the alphabet is included throughout the psalm.

It is believed that it may have been constructed this way to help teach children about the Word of God.

Throughout the centuries it has been a much beloved psalm.

Matthew Henry – the great 18th century Bible commentator – was introduced to Psalm 119 as a child.

His father, Philip Henry, told his children to take one verse of Psalm 119 every morning to meditate on, and thereby go through the entire psalm twice in the year.

Philip said to his children, “That will bring you to be in love with all the rest of the Scriptures.”

(Enduring Word Commentary).

Matthew Henry’s father was wise in counseling His child to have a love for God’s Word.

We would be wise to do the same.

The section of Psalm 119 we come across today is full of wisdom for us to apply.

It is a prayer of reflection by a seasoned saint.

I’ve recently been meeting with some other pastors and talking about prayer.

One of the things we talked about this past week was how Christians need to understand prayer beyond requesting health for the sick.

I hope that was we walk through this text today, you will be encouraged to have true communion with the Lord through prayer and also see how the Word of God is truly a source of rest.

With this understand let us begin walking through God’s Word in Psalm 119:65,

As we think about prayer, think about the last time you prayed.

Maybe it was last night, maybe it was this morning, maybe even during this service.

How did your prayer begin?

What were the first words you uttered to the Lord?

In pop culture, most of the time when we see a character pray its something like, “Dear God, I don’t know if you’re up there, but I could really use your help here.”

If we let sources of entertainment become our primary disciple makers, then we will begin to think of God as a cosmic genie we only approach in our deepest moment of need.

We’ll place Him behind glass with a sign that says “break open only in case of emergency.”

That couldn’t be any further from what we see in this stanza of Psalm 119.

The psalmist, most likely King David, says You have dealt well with your servant O Lord, according to your word.

This is not a declaration of need despite doubt, but a declaration of thanksgiving with full confidence in who the Lord is!

Lord you have dealt well with your servant!

Do you realize just how well the Lord has dealt with you?

Do you thank him for the providence you have seen in your life.

You might say, but Brad, my life is hard.

I’m right now in the middle of one of the biggest challenges of my life.

I’m barely hanging on.

Listen I get it, but look at that first line.

If you can say that you are the Lord’s servant, then you can say that He has dealt well with you.

He has saved you!

He has pardoned you!

He has chosen you!

If you are feeling down about the circumstances of your life despite knowing that Jesus is Lord, go spend some time in Romans 8. See what a glory it is to be saved by God! Here’s a portion that speaks for itself!

:

If you know Jesus, then give thanks to the God whom you serve because He has dealt VERY WELL with you.

He acts perfectly according to His Word and you are truly blessed.

Instead of treating Him like an on demand Santa Clause, cry out to Him and give Him the glory!

Those who have been reconciled unto the Lord are secure in Him.

Nothing will separate them from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

That love is all consuming.

Though we struggle in the flesh, that love produces the desire to be consumed by the goodness of God.

It produces the desire to be in His Word! Check out verse 66 of Psalm 119

The psalmist says Lord you have been so so good to me, now would you continue your goodness by showing me how to live out my love for you?

Asking the Lord to teach him good judgment and knowledge is asking for discernment in daily living.

Why does the psalmist want to do this?

Because he believes in the goodness of God’s commands!

The simple question for you right now is this: Do you believe that God’s commands are beneficial and reliable?

Do you believe that God’s way is better than your own?

Do you love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength?

That is the greatest commandment and obedience to Him flows from obeying that commandment first.

It does not mean that we will never falter, but like the psalmist here, loving the Lord spurs us on to learn how to better glorify Him in our daily lives.

When is the last time you considered the glory of God before doing anything?

We’re excellent at thinking about what we can do to bring ourselves glory, but how often do we consider the Lord in our daily lives?

I hope that the answer to that is constantly.