Psalm 119:1-176

We've been working this summer together through the book of Nehemiah.

And I've got to tell you that honestly, I thought we would complete it.

That we would be wrapping it up at the end of the summer,

and we would be starting something altogether new together.

But I think that providentially, we have remained and we've tarried,

and there's been so much richness in here for our church.

And I think for those of you that are joining us now,

you're not going to be behind.

We're going to get you sped up and caught up.

And I think that you're coming back at a very perfect time

to pick up what's happening in the book of Nehemiah.

So as a quick recap, just to get your minds caught up to where we are.

This is post-exile.

Israel was carried off into exile by Assyria and then Babylon.

You know some of the classic stories.

A lot of the prophets take place during this exilic period.

The story of Daniel, for example, takes place during this period.

And then we see a return to the land.

Because the world power is turned over.

It's now under the power of Persia.

And the Persians are a little softer by God's providence.

Their hearts are being moved by a number of kings.

King Darius, King Artaxerxes.

And they've allowed the people to begin to return to their land,

even though they still rule over it.

And this is where we find the story of Nehemiah picking up.

Some 90 years since the first movement back to Israel, back to Jerusalem.

And Nehemiah has found himself, by God's sovereign hand,

serving as the cupbearer to King Artaxerxes.

Serving as his trusted right hand who's tasting his wine

to be sure it's not poisoned before he partakes of it.

And he receives news from his brother, we see in chapter 1,

that the wall around the city has yet to be rebuilt.

That it's still in ruins.

And therefore, the city of Jerusalem itself is not occupied.

We see that there aren't many houses built.

If you read previously in Ezra,

there has been a work to rebuild the temple.

And the temple has been completed.

But there's nobody living in the city.

They travel to worship at the temple,

go back to their homes in the suburbs to live.

And so the city's not thriving.

And this grieves Nehemiah.

Not because the glory of the city.

Not because he cares so much about stone and how it's erected.

But that in this day, the physical state of God's people

was proportionate to God's glory.

So he says, our God is a great God.

A mighty God.

Who's full of loving kindness and goodness towards his people.

And yet the people are in shambles.

They're not put together.

Something must be done for the sake of the glory of God.

He must be shown as he is.

We must build the wall.

So he boldly asked King Arxerxes,

after a bunch of time of prayer, months of prayer,

he asked King Arxerxes if he can go back and do this work.

Now recognize that the king had already issued an edict,

I believe if I'm remembering correctly,

14 years previously,

to stop the building of the wall.

He was convinced that it was a rebellion against him

to fortify the city of Jerusalem.

And so he had issued an edict to stop it.

And for a king in this day to reverse his edict

would be a great admission of his wrong to begin with.

So this is a bold thing that Nehemiah asked of the king.

And the king not only granted him to go back,

made him the governor over Jerusalem,

gave him his credit card, so to speak,

gave him the credit he needed to get the wood to rebuild,

by God's sovereign hand.

So Nehemiah goes back,

and this is where revival really begins to happen.

We see a spiritual revival that many would say

really starts in chapter 8,

but I would argue it's already begun

because the work has begun.

People have seen the need to build the wall.

They've joined in that fight.

We see through the chapters

there's much opposition to the work,

both with rumor,

with threat,

and actual physical opposition.

We see the people of Israel carrying stones on one shoulder

and a sword on the other,

really working.

And they complete the wall in 52 days.

Something that had yet to be completed in 90 years.

It gets done in 52 days.

You can see that in chapter 6.

We found ourselves last week in chapter 8.

And I brought to everybody last week

the evidences of God-sent revival.

And that's where we are.

That's what we're working ourselves through.

And we addressed two of them.

Now hear me clearly.

You have to be careful about how you think

about the term revival.

As revival is seen in the Scriptures,

we see ten movements of the Spirit of God

turning the people of God

whose hearts have grown cold

back to Him.

We find America in that state today.

Praise God that our church seems to be growing.

But churches all over America

are on the decline.

Religion itself,

devotion to God,

is on the decline in America.

And a revival is when the Spirit of God

visits in a special way

and turns the hearts of God's people

back to Him.

So hear me.

You cannot schedule a revival on a calendar.

It is impossible to do such a thing.

So don't think that's what I'm talking about

when I talk about a revival.

They held some events here,

but that wasn't the revival.

It was the power of God at work in them.

The sovereign Spirit working in them

that accomplished these things.

So we want to look at these evidences

because if we desire to be the people of God,

these people had a special visitation of the Spirit

and they lived in a certain way.

Shouldn't we also desire to live in that way?

I want to see revival come.

I want to see it come and sweep through

North Georgia,

the campus,

the region,

the southeast.

I want to see that happen.

I want it to go out to all the world

because our God is worthy to be proclaimed.

We want our Christ to be proclaimed

amongst all the peoples of the world.

I want to see revival happen in that way.

It may not in our lifetime.

I want to believe we're poised for it

and it's on its way.

And that's a near possibility for us.

But just the same,

we ought to press on to do these things.

We see that Ezra had a 14-year ministry

preaching the Word of God

to the people of God

with very little fruit

until we get to chapter 8 in Nehemiah.

The four evidences.

We addressed last week

that if revival is God sent,

God's people will be praying.

We've seen this as we've worked up to chapter 8.

Much prayer.

I didn't even realize that Nehemiah

really seems to be more than anything

a book of prayer.

I didn't know that going into it

and my soul has been blessed

by the study of that.

that God's people will be praying.

Secondly, we saw that if revival is God sent,

God's people will reestablish

the Word of God

as the ultimate authority

in their lives.

They will stop making excuses.

They will stop justifying every action.

They will stop comparing themselves

to the standard of the world

because I can tell you this,

if you compare yourself

to the standard of the world,

everyone in this room

is doing wonderful.

You place yourself under the authority

of the Scriptures,

we are all wretched,

wretched sinners.

We have betrayed God

in so many ways.

So these people reestablish

the Word of God

as the ultimate authority.

They don't look at the other things

around them,

the periphery things.

They look to God's Word

as the authority

in their lives.

The next two.

They recognize their defiance of God

and view His chastisement,

His correction,

as just.

And finally,

they turn from their defiance

to obedience.

And that's where I was headed this week.

Getting to chapter 9.

Looking at their repentance

in chapter 9.

But I couldn't do it.

God kept arresting my study.

Praise Him,

I'm a little ahead for next week

because I've been looking at chapter 9

quite in depth.

But kept drawing my mind back

to how vitally important it is

that we reestablish

the Word of God

as the ultimate authority

in our lives.

I could not get away from it.

In fact,

last Sunday,

I had had,

just as an example,

as the way we ought to be devoted

to the Word of God,

I was going to show you a bit

from Psalm 119.

And at the last minute,

I just realized

this is way too much information

and I cut it out.

And so guess where I ended up

all week?

Psalm 119.

So we're going to look at

Psalm 119 together.

Before you turn there,

I want to show you

just four quick observations

we looked at last week

to bring you up to speed.

And then we'll go there.

I want you to see,

in chapter 4,

I want you to see

their eagerness.

Their eagerness

for the Word of God.

Verse 1,

And they told Ezra the scribe

to bring the book of the law

of Moses

that the Lord had commanded Israel.

They built a platform.

They were celebrating

a prescribed feast

called the Feast of Trumpets.

You may have heard

the term Rosh Hashanah before.

This was a feast

that was to happen in Israel

nine days before

the Day of Atonement

when the high priest

would go into

the Holy of Holies

make an atoning sacrifice

for the nation of Israel.

This was to be

a great day of celebration.

And they knew this

so they put together an event.

All the people came, right?

It's estimated

that 30,000 to 50,000 people

were gathered

for this event.

But at the center of it

was the reading of the Word of God.

They were eager to hear it.

So much so

that they built a platform.

They elevated Ezra

high up above.

And they took turns,

I believe,

reading from early morning

until midday.

You'll see that in verse 3.

This was five to seven hours

that they met together.

All the people.

Every one of them.

Five to seven hours.

We are not eager

for the Word of God.

In this way.

It's hard to get us here

at 1030 too often.

Notice also in verse 13

they come back

on a second day.

They come up with a new way

to disseminate the Word of God.

But they come back

in verse 13.

The fathers of the houses

return to receive the Word

and take it back out

to their families.

They were eager

for the Word of God.

Notice their reverence.

Verse 5.

Ezra ascends.

He gets up on the stage.

The church opens up

the Word of God

and it says,

And as He opened it,

all the people stood.

Not because He asked them

to stand,

but because they were reverent.

And I'm not suggesting

that you have to stand

when the Word of God

is read, right?

But our hearts certainly

should stand at attention

when the Word of God

is read.

These are the very words

of our Lord.

We ought to be reverent

when they're being read.

Verse 6.

We see that their bodies

become engaged

in this activity.

They're lifting up

their hands.

They bow their heads.

They worship the Lord

with their faces to the ground,

which is a position

of reverence

which communicates

we are not even worthy

to be in your presence.

Right?

Your Word has been opened

and they recognize

that by the Word of God

being opened

that they were

in the presence of God

and that's why

they worshiped

on their faces.

Notice their responsiveness.

Verse 9.

Second half.

For all the people wept

as they heard

the Word of the Law.

I said last week

as Ezra and the men

that were helping him

read the Word of God,

the people saw

an ever-expanding chasm

in front of them.

It was opening up

wider and wider and wider.

As the holiness of God

was being elevated,

they recognized

their own sinful state.

They recognized

how very short

they came of this

and they wept over it.

They actually responded to it.

They allowed it

to enter through their minds

and affect their hearts

rather than sitting numb,

doodling,

clipping your fingernails.

That's happened here.

I found fingernails.

Balancing your checkbook.

Reading some other text

because you've checked out

and you're bored.

They allowed the Word of God

to permeate in them.

Consider that if you're not

getting anything

out of the sermon,

it might be your fault

and not mine.

Verse 9 and 10 and 11,

we see that this day

was a day that was meant

for celebration.

As they were realizing

how very sinful they were,

this was a day

that was to celebrate

the atoning work

that was coming.

This foreshadow

of the final atoning work

of Christ.

And so they're told repeatedly

that this should be

a day of joy.

That they ought to

turn from their weeping.

And there is a time

we see coming

that they're properly responsive

in repentance,

but this was a day

that their fear of God,

the fear of the holiness

of God,

was turned to joy

because of the atoning

work of Christ.

And then we see

their obedience.

They didn't just receive this,

stack a bunch of knowledge

into their head,

but they actually did

something with it.

They discover,

in verse 14,

we see they discover

another feast,

the feast of booths

that they were meant to practice.

Because I won't get into

all the details of that,

but they did

with the Word of God,

told them to do,

which is the true mark

of Christian maturity,

that you are obedient.

Not just a hearer,

but a doer

of the Word of God.

And then notice in verse 17

the result of their obedience.

And there was great rejoicing.

So that's where we were at

last week.

So here comes part two.

So there's the intro to it.

Here comes part two.

I want you to turn

to Psalm 119.

Psalm 119 is the longest psalm.

It's 167 verses,

or excuse me,

176 verses in total.

It has a very unique structure.

If I'm getting this correctly,

I think there are eight other,

or maybe nine other.

I think there are eight other

that kind of follow this structure,

other psalms.

But this psalm was written

in 22 stanzas,

each containing eight verses

or lines,

if you prefer.

Each one beginning with

a different letter

of the Hebrew alphabet.

So notice in your Bible,

probably,

you have a heading

right above verse 1

that says Aleph.

It would have been there,

A, so to speak.

And each of the lines in here

began with that letter.

It was an acrostic

that way.

So it's a very unique structure here.

We don't actually know

who wrote Psalm 119.

There's a lot of conjecture out there.

Two major ones.

Number one being

that David wrote it.

It's very Davidic

in its language.

It seems to follow

some of the events

of his life.

There's a proposition

that he wrote it

over a great period of time

as he reflected on

the Word of God,

his statutes,

his law,

and how it was

that it gave him life

in the midst of all

of these things

that he was experiencing.

That's the way

I tend to lean,

mostly because men

I respect lean

in that direction.

Sometimes I don't have

an opinion of my own

on something.

The other possibility,

though,

is that Ezra,

the priest scribe

that was reading

from the Word of God

in Nehemiah 8,

actually wrote it

and did so

as a way

to re-ingrain

in people

the value

of the Word of God

during this period

of exile

and the return

during this 14-year ministry

where this is basically

what he's been doing

is ministering to people

the Word of God.

People suppose

that potentially

he wrote it.

A few think

maybe Ezekiel did,

but most would say

of Ezra.

Now, either way,

Ezra,

as the priest scribe,

was the one responsible

for bringing back together

the words of Scripture

and that would have

included this

if David had written it.

So recognize that

during this 14-year period

of time,

it is most likely,

and this is,

I don't know this for sure,

but it is most likely

that this psalm

was being used

to minister

to the people of God.

These people

that decide

to get together

to celebrate Rosh Hashanah

and say to Ezra,

bring the book of the law.

We want to hear from it.

We're being fed

these words.

That their hearts

were being pricked

by the emotion

that goes in

to Psalm 119.

I wish

that all of us

could write

this psalm.

Not that we necessarily

have the writing ability.

I know that I don't

have the writing ability

to write in this way.

But that our hearts

could be united

with the psalmist's heart.

That we could really say,

this is true

of me.

Psalm 119.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

So let's pray together

and then we're going

to read it together.

It is long

and I'm going to read it

well to you.

But let me remind you.

I've been practicing.

Let me just remind you

as even maybe now

you're thinking,

oh my gosh,

it's going to take

about 15 minutes

to read it.

Five to seven hours.

hours.

Right?

Do you have such

a short attention span

that you can't look

at a copy

and follow along

with me

for 15 minutes?

And I'm going to ask

that you try to let

the words

permeate your heart.

Let's pray together.

Father God,

truly your word

is a gift to us.

And we recognize

as a church

that it is your word,

that it's inspired,

was written by a man,

but carried along

by your spirit.

And as such,

Lord,

help us to stand

underneath it.

Have it speak

into our lives.

Make it

the ultimate authority.

And Lord,

please,

prick our hearts

where our hearts

need pricking.

I know everyone

in this room

is not devoted

to your word

the way they ought to be.

And I pray

that our time together

will be a remedy

to that.

And I pray this

in Christ's name.

Amen.

Now,

before we get into this,

I want to read to you

a quote from

Charles Hattie Spurgeon.

There's much repetition

throughout Psalm 119,

but listen to what

he had to say.

Many superficial readers

have imagined

that it harps

upon one string

and abounds

in pious repetitions

and redundancies.

But this arises

from the shallowness

of the reader's own mind.

Those who have studied

this divine hymn

and carefully noted

each line of it

are amazed

at the variety

and profundity

of the thought.

Using only a few words,

the writer has produced

permutations

of combinations

of meaning

which display

his holy familiarity

with his subject

and the sanctified ingenuity

of his mind.

Have I made you feel bad yet

if you're going to be bored?

All right.

Let's go to work.

Verse 1.

Blessed are those

whose way is blameless,

who walk in the law

of the Lord.

Blessed are those

who keep his testimonies,

who seek him

with their whole heart,

who also do no wrong

but walk in his ways.

You have commanded

your precepts

to be kept diligently.

Oh, that my ways

may be steadfast

in keeping your statutes.

Then I shall not

be put to shame,

having my eyes fixed

on all your commandments.

I will praise you

with an upright heart

when I learn

your righteous rules.

I will keep your statutes.

Do not utterly forsake me.

How can a young man

keep his way pure?

By guarding it

according to your word.

With my whole heart

I seek you.

Let me not wander

from your commandments.

I have stored up

your word in my heart

that I might not

sin against you.

Blessed are you,

O Lord.

Teach me your statutes.

With my lips

I declare all the rules

of your mouth.

In the way of your testimonies

I delight as much

as in all riches.

I will meditate

on your precepts

and fix my eyes

on your ways.

I will delight

in your statutes.

I will not forget

your word.

Deal bountifully

with your servant

that I may live

and keep your word.

Open my eyes

that I may behold

wondrous things

out of your law.

I am a sojourner

on the earth.

Hide not your commandments

from me.

My soul is consumed

with longing

for your rules

at all times.

You rebuke

the insolent,

accursed ones

who wander

from your commandments.

Take away from me

scorn and contempt

for I have kept

your testimonies.

Even though princes

sit plotting against me,

your servant

will meditate

on your statutes.

Your testimonies

are my delight.

They are my counselors.

My soul clings

to the dust.

Give me life

according to your word.

When I told

of my ways,

you answered me.

Teach me

your statutes.

Make me understand

the way of your precepts

and I will meditate

on your wondrous works.

My soul melts

away for sorrow.

Strengthen me

according to your word.

Put false ways

far from me

and graciously

teach me your law.

I have chosen

the way of faithfulness.

I set your rules

before me.

I cling to your testimonies,

O Lord.

Let me not be put

to shame.

I will run

in the way

of your commandments

when you enlarge

my heart.

Teach me,

O Lord,

the way of your statutes

and I will keep it

to the end.

Give me understanding

that I may keep your law

and observe it

with my whole heart.

Lead me in the path

of your commandments

for I delight in it.

Incline my heart

to your testimonies

and not to selfish gain.

Turn my eyes

from looking

at worthless things

and give me life

in your ways.

Confirm to your servant

your promise

that you may be feared.

Turn away the reproach

that I dread

for your rules

are good.

Behold,

I long for your precepts

and your righteousness

give me life.

Let your steadfast love

come to me,

O Lord,

your salvation

according to your promise.

Then shall I have

an answer for him

who taunts me

for I trust

in your word.

And take not the word

of truth utterly

out of my mouth

for my hope

is in your rules.

I will keep your law

continually

forever and ever

and I shall walk

in a wide place

for I have sought

your precepts.

I will also speak

of your testimonies

before kings

and shall not be put

to shame

for I find my delight

in your commandments

which I love.

I will lift up my hands

toward your commandments

which I love

and I will meditate

on your statutes.

Remember your word

to your servant

in which you have

made me hope.

This is my comfort

in my affliction

that your promise

gives me life.

The insolent

utterly deride me

but I do not turn away

from your law.

When I think

of your rules

from old

I take comfort,

O Lord.

Hot indignation

seizes me

because of the wicked

who forsake your law.

Your statutes

have been my songs

in the house

of my sojournings.

I remember

your name

in the night,

O Lord,

and keep your law.

This blessing

has fallen to me

that I have kept

your precepts.

The Lord

is my portion.

I promise

to keep your words.

I entreat

your favor

with all my heart.

Be gracious to me

according to your promise.

When I think

on my ways

I turn my feet

to your testimonies.

I hasten

and do not delay

to keep your commandments.

Though the cords

of the wicked

ensnare me

I do not forget

your law.

At midnight

I rise to praise you

because of your

righteous rules.

I am a companion

of all who fear you,

of those who keep

your precepts.

The earth,

O Lord,

is full of your

steadfast love.

Teach me

your statutes.

You have dealt well

with your servant,

O Lord,

according to your word.

Teach me good judgment

and knowledge

for I believe

in your commandments.

Before I was afflicted

I went astray

but now I keep

your word.

You are good

and do good.

Teach me

your statutes.

The insolent

smear me with lies

but with my whole heart

I keep your precepts.

Their heart

is unfeeling

like fat

but I delight

in your law.

It is good for me

that I was afflicted

that I might learn

your statutes.

The law of your mouth

is better to me

than thousands

of gold

and silver pieces.

Your hands

have made

and fashioned me.

Give me understanding

that I may learn

your commandments.

Those who fear you

shall see me

and rejoice

because I have hoped

in your word.

I know, O Lord,

that your rules

are righteous

and that in faithfulness

you have afflicted me.

Let your steadfast love

comfort me

according to your promise

to your servant.

Let your mercy

come to me

that I may live

for your law

is my delight.

Let the insolent

be put to shame

because they have

wronged me with falsehood.

As for me,

I will meditate

on your precepts.

Let those who fear you

turn to me

that they may know

your testimonies.

May my heart

be blameless

in your statutes

that I may not

be put to shame.

My soul longs

for your salvation.

I hope

in your word.

My eyes long

for your promise.

I ask,

when will you

comfort me?

For I have become

like a wineskin

in the smoke,

yet I have not

forgotten your statutes.

How long

must your servant

endure?

When will you judge

those who persecute me?

The insolent

have dug pitfalls

for me.

They do not live

according to your law.

All your commandments

are sure.

They persecute me

with falsehood.

Help me.

They have almost

made an end of me

on earth,

but I have not

forsaken your precepts.

In your steadfast love

give me life

that I may keep

the testimonies

of your mouth.

Forever,

O Lord,

your word is firmly

fixed in the heavens.

Your faithfulness

endures to all

generations.

You have established

the earth

and it stands fast.

By your appointment

they stand this day

for all things

are your servants.

If your law

had not been my delight,

I would have perished

in my affliction.

I will never forget

your precepts

for by them

you have given me life.

I am yours.

Save me

for I have sought

your precepts.

The wicked lie

in wait to destroy me,

but I consider

your testimonies.

I have seen a limit

to all perfection,

but your commandment

is exceedingly broad.

I love that one.

Oh, how I love

your law.

It is my meditation

all the day.

Your commandment

makes me wiser

than my enemies

for it is ever with me.

I have more understanding

than all my teachers

for your testimonies

are my meditation.

I understand more

than the aged

for I keep your precepts.

I hold back my feet

from every evil way

in order to keep

your word.

I do not turn aside

from your rules

for you have taught me.

How sweet

are your words

to my taste,

sweeter than honey

to my mouth.

Through your precepts

I get understanding.

Therefore,

I hate every false way.

Your word

is a lamp to my feet

and a light

to my path.

I have sworn an oath

and confirmed it

to keep your righteous rules.

I am severely afflicted.

Give me life,

O Lord,

according to your word.

Accept my freewill

offerings of praise,

O Lord,

and teach me your rules.

I hold my life

in my hand continually,

but I do not forget

your law.

The wicked have laid

a snare for me,

but I do not stray

from your precepts.

Your testimonies

are my heritage forever,

for they are the joy

of my heart.

I incline my heart

to perform your statutes

forever to the end.

I hate the double-minded,

but I love your law.

You are my hiding place

and my shield.

I hope in your word.

Depart from me,

you evildoers,

that I may keep

the commandments

of my God.

Uphold me

according to your promise

that I may live,

and let me not be put

to shame in my hope.

Hold me up

that I may be safe

and have regard

for your statutes continually.

You spurn all

who go astray

from your statutes,

for their cunning

is in vain.

All the wicked

of the earth

you discard like dross.

Therefore,

I love your testimonies.

My flesh trembles

for fear of you,

and I am afraid

of your judgments.

I have done

what is just and right.

Do not leave me

to my oppressors.

Give your servant

a pledge of good.

Let not the insolent

oppress me.

My eyes long

for your salvation,

for the fulfillment

of your righteous promise.

Deal with your servant

according to your steadfast love,

and teach me your statutes.

I am your servant.

Give me understanding

that I may know

your testimonies.

It is time

for the Lord to act,

for the law

has been broken.

Therefore,

I love your commandments

above gold,

above fine gold.

Therefore,

I consider all your precepts

to be right.

I hate every false way.

Your testimonies

are wonderful.

Therefore,

my soul keeps them.

The unfolding

of your words

gives light

and imparts understanding

to the simple.

I open my mouth

and pant

because I long

for your commandments.

Turn to me

and be gracious to me

as is your way

with those

who love your name.

Keep steady my steps

according to your promise

and let no iniquity

get dominion over me.

Redeem me

from man's oppression

that I may keep

your precepts.

Make your face

shine upon your servant

and teach me

your statutes.

My eyes shed

streams of tears

because people

do not keep your law.

Righteous are you,

O Lord,

and right are your rules.

You have appointed

your testimonies

in righteousness

and in all faithfulness.

My zeal consumes me

because my foes

forget your words.

Your promise

is well tried

and your servant

loves it.

I am small

and despised

yet I do not forget

your precepts.

Your righteousness

is righteous forever

and your law

is true.

Trouble and anguish

have found me out

but your commandments

are my delight.

Your testimonies

are righteous forever.

Give me understanding

that I may live.

With my whole heart

I cry.

Answer me, O Lord.

I will keep

your statutes.

I call to you.

Save me

that I may observe

your testimonies.

I rise before dawn

and cry for help.

I hope in your words.

My eyes are awake

before the watchers

of the night

that I may meditate

on your promise.

Hear my voice

according to your

steadfast love,

O Lord.

According to your justice

give me life.

They draw near

who persecute me

with evil purpose.

They are far

from your law.

But you are near,

O Lord,

and all your commandments

are true.

Long have I known

from your testimonies

that you have founded

them forever.

Look on my affliction

and deliver me

for I do not forget

your law.

Plead my cause

and redeem me.

Give me life

according to your promise.

Salvation is far

from the wicked

for they do not

seek your statutes.

Great is your mercy,

O Lord.

Give me life

according to your rules.

Many are my

persecutors

and my adversaries,

but I do not swerve

from your testimonies.

I look at the

faithless with disgust

because they do not

keep your commands.

Consider how I love

your precepts.

Give me life

according to your

steadfast love.

The sum of your word

is truth

and every one

of your righteous

rules endures

forever.

Princes persecute me

without cause,

but my heart

stands in awe

of your words.

I rejoice

at your word

like one who

finds great spoil.

I hate

and abhor

falsehood,

but I love

your law.

Seven times a day

I praise you

for your righteous

rules.

Great peace

have those

who love your law.

Nothing can make

them stumble.

I hope for your

salvation, O Lord,

and I do

your commandments.

My soul

keeps your

testimonies.

I love them

exceedingly.

I keep your

precepts and

testimonies,

for all my

ways are

before you.

Let my cry

come before you,

O Lord.

Give me

understanding

according to

your word.

Let my plea

come before you.

Deliver me

according to

your word.

My lips

will pour

forth praise,

for you teach

me your

statutes.

My tongue

will sing of

your word,

for all your

commandments

are right.

Let your hand

be ready to

help me,

for I have

chosen your

precepts.

I long for

your salvation,

O Lord,

and your law

is my delight.

Let my soul

live and praise

you,

and let your

rules help me.

I have gone

astray like a

lost sheep.

Seek your

servant,

for I do

not forget

your commandments.

Can you

honestly join

in with

everything the

psalmist says

in that psalm?

I can't.

I've read it

a number of

times in the

last couple of

days,

getting ready

to not

make any

mistakes.

And even

still,

as I read

it again,

I go,

some of

those.

The way

he speaks

of the

word of

God,

there's all

these synonyms

used here,

word,

law,

commandments,

statutes,

ordinances,

testimonies,

precepts,

all of these

things are

synonymous.

He's talking

about the

written word

of God.

This is what

he is referring

to.

That it is

the source

of joy

and life.

That it is

a comfort

to him.

That it

builds him

up.

That he

can stand

firm because

of it.

In the

light of

any obstacle.

That he

stays up

late,

awakes at

midnight,

rises early

because the

word of

God is

a salve

to him.

It's a

solution that

gives him

strength,

that helps

him go on,

that helps

him persevere

in the

light of

these

things.

You hear

the way

he praises

the God

of the

word

throughout

all of

this?

He has

a clear

understanding

of the

holiness

of God.

He stands

under the

word in

fear and

trembling.

Your

word has

spoken.

I love

it.

I delight

in it.

I fear

it.

I want

to know

it.

I want

to have

it permeate

all of

my being.

rather than

much of

us who

stand over

the word

of God.

We spend

a paltry

15 minutes

a day

and then

we want

to tell

people what

it says.

You have

no right

if that's

the way

we love

God's

commands.

This is

a precious

psalm and I

hope that

it's working

in your

heart.

Let me

draw your

attention to

just a few

verses as

we move

on.

Have you

ever considered

the very

interesting

language that

the gospel

of John

uses?

The apostle

John uses

a language

that's unique

in the

scriptures.

As he

begins the

book of

John,

he says,

in the

beginning was

the word.

And the

word was

with God

and the

word was

God.

Speaking of

Jesus Christ

and he calls

Jesus Christ

the word,

the logos

in Greek.

And this is

the only place

that we see

this in the

scriptures and

it causes

me often

to try to

figure out

the interplay

with that.

What is

being communicated

to us?

Why is it

that John

was moved

to use

those

particular

words?

Let me

draw your

attention

here in

Psalm 119

to two

phrases that

reoccur.

I hope

in your

word,

logos,

right?

This would

have been

in Hebrew.

The Greek

translation of

it would

have used

the word

logos here.

I hope

in your

word and

give me

life according

to your

word.

We see

this verse

25,

verse 81,

verse 107.

I'm doing

this for the

sake of

those taking

notes.

Jot these

down.

Verse 25,

81,

107,

114,

154.

We see

these phrases

repeated

here.

And it

draws a very

clear connection

in my mind

to what's

happening in

this case.

We could

read it,

I hope,

in your

logos,

the very

being of

who you

are,

your

representation

here on

earth,

because we

can come

to understand

what John's

trying to

communicate by

simply looking

at the

text.

So do

that.

Turn to

John,

John 1 · chapter mention

chapter 1.

Keep you

on your

toes.

Those of

you who

only brought

your New

Testament

version of

the Bible,

you're on

the same

page with

us now.

All right,

let's read it

together.

John chapter

John 1 · chapter mention

1,

starting in

verse 1

through verse

5.

In the

beginning

was the

Word,

and the

Word was

with God,

and the

Word was

God.

He was in

the beginning

with God.

All things

were made

through him,

and without

him was

not anything

made that

was made.

In him

was life,

and the

life was

the light

of men.

The light

shines in

the darkness,

and the

darkness

has not

overcome it.

Skip down

to verse

14.

And the

Word became

flesh,

and dwelt

amongst us.

And we

have seen

his glory,

glory as

of the

only Son

from the

Father,

full of

grace and

truth.

I have a

painting that

Sam did

for me.

Well,

she didn't

do it for

me.

She did

it for

a show,

and I

took it

in my

study downstairs

that simply

says,

And the

Word became

flesh,

and dwelt

amongst us.

And it's

this constant

reminder to

me that as

I preach,

what I

preach is

Christ

crucified.

That's

the point.

The

Word of

God

here simply

testifies,

the words

of God

testify of

the Word

of God.

So understand

that God

and Word

go together

because the

Word is

his

manifestation.

It's his

showing of

himself.

And John,

here,

chapter 1,

would seem

to say to

us that

there cannot

be God

without Word,

that God

cannot be

oligos,

but he is

in fact

logos,

that the

Word and

God go

together.

The Word

is the

agent by

which God

makes himself

known.

And this

is why

both our

scriptures and

Jesus Christ

are called

the Word

of God.

The words

of God.

They testify

of our

great Lord.

Jesus Christ

himself is

the subject

matter of

this entire

thing.

From

beginning

to end,

this is all

about Jesus

Christ.

God

is the

Lord.

Sometimes people

try to press

him into

some text

where he

may just

not exactly

belong.

Sometimes the

text is really

about me,

but ultimately

it's about how

much I need

Jesus Christ.

This is what

the Bible

is about.

And therefore,

if you love

Jesus Christ,

you'll love

the Bible.

If you love

the Word,

you're going

to love

the Word.

Are you

with me

on that?

We see a