Psalm 119 Gimel | HSB Series

Service Notes

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Psalm 119:17–24 (KJV 1900)

17 GIMEL. Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, And keep thy word.

18 Open thou mine eyes, That I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.

19 I am a stranger in the earth: Hide not thy commandments from me.

20 My soul breaketh for the longing That it hath unto thy judgments at all times.

21 Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, Which do err from thy commandments.

22 Remove from me reproach and contempt; For I have kept thy testimonies.

23 Princes also did sit and speak against me: But thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.

24 Thy testimonies also are my delight And my counsellers.

Introduction

The psalmists love for God’s word can make me uncomfortable. The love seems so real, so right, so beautiful — and so foreign, at least some days.

We should welcome pain if it allows us to know this book better. Psalm 119:71 “71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; That I might learn thy statutes.”

What if we had to pay a monthly subscription. Psalm 119:72 “72 The law of thy mouth is better unto me Than thousands of gold and silver.”

We will look at many, many verses tonight. Which makes sense. You can follow along at VisionBaptist.com/sermonoutlines of in App

Life redefined

Psalm 119:17 “17 GIMEL. Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, And keep thy word.”

Why do I want to live?

see my kids find the joy of marriage and having a family

so many places I have never seen it

so many books I haven’t bought and even more that I have never read

What about the desire to keep his word?

Experience the wonderful things of God’s Word

Psalm 119:18 “18 Open thou mine eyes, That I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.”

“If you see the wonders in the Bible for what they are, they will amaze you beyond anything you could see in this world.”

This book is filled with wondrous things

God hears our cries and assures us that his Word will give us wisdom Psalm 119:65-66 “65 TETH. Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O Lord, according unto thy word. 66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge: For I have believed thy commandments.”

God’s Word provides direction to our path Psalm 119:105 “105 NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, And a light unto my path.”

God’s Word provides hope Psalm 119:49 “49 ZAIN. Remember the word unto thy servant, Upon which thou hast caused me to hope.”

God’s Word will comfort us in our pain. Psalm 119:50 “50 This is my comfort in my affliction: For thy word hath quickened me.”

We will experience God’s steadfast love Psalm 119:76 “76 Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, According to thy word unto thy servant.”

We will be strengthened Psalm 119:28 “28 My soul melteth for heaviness: Strengthen thou me according unto thy word.”

We will be filled with joy and peace that can with stand our grief Psalm 119:111 “111 Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: For they are the rejoicing of my heart.”

In seeing we will be changed.

2 Corinthians 3:18 “18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

This is why we have our kids soaking up the Word right now in the other room. Psalm 119:11 “11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, That I might not sin against thee.”

Prayer to see

Psalm 119:18 “18 Open thou mine eyes, That I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.”

You cannot see the wonderful things of God without God helping you see them.

Pharisees are standing face to face and not seeing the glory of God

We read the Bible is a literal, historical and grammatical manner.

Does this mean we take every thing as literal?

No, we read the Bible as it was written in the genre it was written. We read poetry was poetry. We read history as history.

We follow the rules of reading you follow in other readings.. but there is more.

There is a seeing without seeing.

Answer this question. Did they see? Deut 29:2-3 “2 And Moses called unto all Israel, and said unto them, Ye have seen all that the Lord did before your eyes in the land of Egypt unto Pharaoh, and unto all his servants, and unto all his land; 3 The great temptations which thine eyes have seen, the signs, and those great miracles:”

Yes and no. Deut 29:4 “4 Yet the Lord hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day.”

Jesus speaks in the same manner in Matthew 13:13 “13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.”

Illumination

We need God to turn on the lights. Psalm 18:28 “28 For thou wilt light my candle: The Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.”

The unbeliever does not receive the things of the Spirit 1 Cor 2:14 “14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

Understanding comes from the Spirit of God

Spiritual discernment comes from the Spirit

The word brings light into our lives. Psalms 119:130 “130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; It giveth understanding unto the simple.”

Fifteen times in this psalm (119), God is asked to teach or give understanding regarding His laws.

We often find ourselves in need of light in this dark world.

Difficult World

The difficulty of living in a world that is not only opposed to the faith but conspires against it

God’s faithful servants know this world is a temporary home and therefore need to know more of God’s will. Psalm 119:19-20 “19 I am a stranger in the earth: Hide not thy commandments from me. 20 My soul breaketh for the longing That it hath unto thy judgments at all times.”

We know that God will judge those who reject his word

Psalm 119:21 “21 Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, Which do err from thy commandments.”

We pray that God will remove the persecution.

Psalm 119:22 “22 Remove from me reproach and contempt; For I have kept thy testimonies.”

We will worship while we wait

Psalm 119:23 “23 Princes also did sit and speak against me: But thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.”

Knowing we do not sit alone

Psalm 119:24 “24 Thy testimonies also are my delight And my counsellers.”

What is the Holy Spirit’s illuminating work in believers?

The Spirit of God will always point us to the Word of God for our instruction.

John 16:12-15 “12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.”

Why does God help us understand His Word?

So we are able to live in its light.

The illumination always points to action

Psalm 119:88 “88 Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; So shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.”