Join with me if you would in Psalm 119. And I foolishly thought that we would cover one section a day here in Psalm 119, Probably each time we'll look at a thought from each section of this.

Psalm 119, it's kind of debated on who wrote this psalm. There's no title to it. There's no recorded author of it. Generally, given that David wrote it, and there are those that say there's no proof of that, but however we have it, it was whoever the scribe was, it was given to us of God, of course, as all of our scripture have been. It's the longest psalm by more than double, not only in bulk, of word and in verses, but there is so much in this psalm that it's a remarkable psalm. It's divided or set down in 22 sets of eight verses each. each set in the Hebrew alphabetical order, each of the eight verses in the original start with the same letter. There's even debate on why it is set down this way, which I find a little bit silly that they debate that why whoever wrote this down wrote it down this way. If God gave this, it doesn't--and said that various authors might have had different reasons for writing it this way, but I have an idea that it was given as God would have it given. There's those that say, well, it was easier for children to memorize because it was in alphabetical order. And it was in the Hebrew poetical way. And one of the commentators said, we don't know what the Hebrew poetical way was. Anyhow, those are conjectures that really bear not much on what this psalm have to say. But that's the kind of the layout of this psalm.

Keep in mind as we look at the various sections in order in this psalm, ten words that in one form or another appear in every verse except verse 122. that have in their meaning a communication from God to men. In whatever you want, there are 10 words particularly that are used repetitively in one form or another in this Psalm. And those 10 are the way, law, testimonies, word, commandments, precepts, statutes, judgments, righteousness, and truth or faithfulness." That word is translated truth or faithfulness. And if you look at this in the front, that's, oh man, this is going to be a tough row to hoe. This is like the Ten Commandments, you know. But these words are a blessing to us, as we'll see.

And the ten words are His way, God's way, His way, rule or method of His providence. His law, those things and those thoughts enacted as our and by our sovereign, Testimonies, that which is declared and attested beyond contradiction. His word, declaration of his mind and Christ the eternal word, eternal word who is all in all. Commandments, those things given with authority and lodged with us as a trust. Precepts, prescribed Thoughts and ideas not left indifferent, but are specific in some thoughts that they have there. Statutes, his statutes, fixed, determined, and perpetual. All of his word is that, but the statute in that is the connotation that that particular word. Judgments, framed, his judgments, framed in infinite wisdom to them and to them we judge, and by them we are judged, and we judge. We can, by His judgments, we can apply those judgments to thoughts and ideas, and particularly what we think, and as we go through the Scriptures, what God's determination on things, or what our determination have to be, based on His things. His righteousness, all holy, just, and good, and rule, and standard of righteousness, his standard of righteousness, and his, God's truth or faithfulness, his divine law on eternal truths, And all those are different words that point, and we'll see as one of the commentators says, they all point as rays from different direction pointing to the same thing. And that center being the Lord himself. in what is brought out in the Scriptures.

And I'd like to, in 2 Timothy, turn the book of 2 Timothy, very familiar passage to us, but I think it's apt at this time to look to this. 2 Timothy chapter 3, And it talks to those that have different views and misappropriation, I think, of God's Word.

But in 2 Timothy 3, starting with verse 12, It says, Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution, but evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them. and that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God might be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."

And here, a couple of thoughts from this, and it says that we continue in those things that have heard, as it says here, been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them. And the author here was not saying, you've learned them of me, but if we have learned any spiritual teachings or lessons or any of these other words that we're going to look into, the true teaching has come from God and not from man.

I've looked at a number of commentaries dealing with this particular psalm, and there's a lot of a lot of bearing and a lot of words put towards how we obey and how we-- follow all these different words that we have. And if indeed they are words that, those 10 words that are repeated so many times in connection with this psalm particularly, there's a burden there, if you want to look at it, that we cannot bear. And it has to point to the one that is the true one that's the law keeper, as we'll see, for us. those things.

And all of God's Word to us for the purpose by His Holy Spirit to make us wise unto salvation though through faith in Christ Jesus. That is the point and the thrust of the scripture is to God's people and for their welfare and benefit and for the revealing of the Lord himself to them and by the Spirit. And that's the thrust and the benefit of all of scripture and indeed this psalm here.

These 10 words that we looked at, And indeed, all of scripture reveal the heart and intent and will of God in his purpose of the redemption of his people in Christ. And indeed, in all things. There are many, many things revealed by the Spirit through his word to us. These words, by their various and particular thoughts, I firmly believe, focus from different angles upon our Lord Jesus Christ."

And I read that one thought. I think Brother Hawker pointed that out, that all these things point to him. They may say some other things, too, but the primary thrust is to shine that light upon the Savior himself. I would like to read a couple of spots in this same psalm, in Psalm 119, skipping clear into the middle of it, which would be, let me get back there to Psalm 119, and verse 139. And this bears upon those that look to the law and to those statutes and ordinances and testimonies and precepts and all those words that we will run into that try to look in and put that as a burden or as a duties to man, particularly,

This verse here, 139, and this thought of it, and this is the Lord's words. It says, my zeal hath consumed me because mine enemies have forgotten thy words. And this first part of this, my zeal hath consumed me. And Brother Hawker said, and I don't get to quote others too much, but he said, that none but Christ Jesus could ever use such words. And also, none other had God's glory and the everlasting welfare of the sheep in mind always. before him.

And this is not speaking of the psalmist, this is speaking of the Lord himself. And there are a couple of people that said this verse put in the middle here is actually a focus both ways from this verse to keep us and remind us who the central theme and central one that this psalm is speaking of. And it's not of David and his woes or his highs or lows, but of the Lord himself and what he has done and does do for his people.

rightly focuses our eyes on him, though the whole of this psalm, through the whole of this psalm, as well of scriptures, focuses on the Lord himself, that this thought. And this is alluded to, this same quote is in Psalm 69, and also in John 2, verse 17, it's alluded to the same thing, in that the Lord Himself.

And there's a passage that the Lord, and I think that Paul wrote it down, I don't have it in front of me unfortunately, but that it says, you have not yet strived, and I think it says, strived to blood against sin. So the comparison there is that he has done and does do this, and he is single-minded about that to his people and has been.

Also, as an introductory here to Psalm 119, turn to Psalm 1, the first psalm. And I think this also sets the stage or the thought of the rest of the Psalms as we go, and indeed, as the rest of the scriptures, this is a good introduction to.

In the first three verses here of Psalm Psalm 1, it says, blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law doth he meditate day and night. and he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that bringeth forth his fruit in his season. His leaf also shall not wither, and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."

And then it says, the ungodly are not so. But here, this is, this speaks of Christ and all that are found in him. He is the only one that could say and could be pointed to as not walking in the counsel of ungodly or standing in the way of sinners or sitting in the seat of the scornful. He had never had that of his own. He took on those positions in our stead, obviously, and took care of them. But this is who it's speaking about.

His delight is in the law of the Lord, and he is the one that, it says, planted a tree by the rivers of water and bringeth forth his fruit in his season. Any fruit that it is born, spiritually is of that tree by His Spirit. It's not fruit that we bring to pass, it is fruit that is given and is put in His people. It speaks to Christ and all those that are found to be in Him, to be blessed in Him, the truly blessed One, the Holy One.

And I think this is, like I said, an apt beginning to the Psalms and also an apt beginning to Psalm 119 to keep us focused and remember where we're headed down this. And I think it's always, that's always a good a good thought to have in mind is where we're headed when we approach God's word and what we expect from it and what we expect to see there.

Now some thoughts on this first division of Psalm 119, starting with verse one. And we're going to look at a couple of thoughts on verses one and two today. Verse one says, blessed are the undefiled in the way who walk in the law of the Lord. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies and that seek him with the whole heart. They also do no iniquity. They walk in his ways. Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently. Oh, that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes. Then shall I not be ashamed when I have respect unto all thy commandments. I will praise thee with uprightness of heart when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments. I will keep thy statutes. Oh, forsake me not utterly."

That first section. Then, and it, it, All those words are stuffed into that in all the connotations of them and all the thoughts of those. But in the first one where it says, blessed are the undefiled in the way who walk in the law of the Lord. And this verse, I'm convinced, and there are not many of the commentators I read that think this, but I'm convinced that the blessed in the undefiled in the way that the only one that could be speaking of is wholly of the Lord himself in that first verse. That's all that's who that is speaking of. Who do we reckon is the, it says are, but is the undefiled? Only one perfect, holy, righteous one, the Lord himself. That is all. And none of God's people would argue that point. There are those I'm sure that say they're undefiled in the way and walk after everything. I would just say that's simply not true of themselves. There's only one undefiled and perfect one.

We're going to look at a few places that say that to us. In the book of Hebrews, Hebrews chapter 7, In the book of Hebrews, what an eye-opener it is as compared to what the Scriptures show. In the Old Testament, in all the sacrifices and that economy they had there, and in the book of Hebrews, is shown the other side of that, as it were, and who all those things are speaking of. And as the Lord be in all those pictures of the priesthood, the tabernacle, the temple, all the sacrifices. But in chapter seven of Hebrews and verse 26, verse 26, it says, For such a high priest became us, speaking of the Lord, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens. who needeth not daily as those high priests to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's. For this he did once when he offered up himself."

And then over to the book of Romans, but here he's separate from sinners, undefiled, holy. Only one can be described that way by nature, and that is him. In the book of Romans, Romans chapter 10, It's starting with the first verse and the thought here that what Paul is talking about. He said, Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. for they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth." And this indeed is applicable to all of mankind indeed by nature. This is the This is not just of Israel in that day, but all from beginning to end, till he would come.

A couple of thoughts from here, that having a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. There are many of those that have a zeal in religion, but not according to what the scripture had to say, that are very zealous. We were talking about that, Norman and I were talking about that a little earlier, about martyrs in religion. There have been many martyrs in religion. How many martyrs they have been for the Lord and for righteousness sake, we don't know. But in a lot of places, depending on which religion is in power in the day, you may be martyred by them. And it may be a shoe might be on the other foot.

the future but speaking of those things and the zeal that is man has religious zeal that when Moses came down from the mount the first time there were there was some religious zeal going on but it sure was not according to what they had been told and what they had seen. And then here, verse 3, being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

all religion establishes their version of what righteousness is and what is needed to approach unto God. Whatever that view of God is, whatever God and whatever view of righteousness, they go about to doing that. But it says here, ignorant of God's righteousness, and for Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth.

There's a statement that, and I can't even tell you who said it that I read, but that said, whatever you turn to for perfection in your life, that's what you turn to for your righteousness. If it's to obedience of commandments, of whoever's commandments, church law, or whatever regulations or those things, of obedience of that is how you look to be perfect for God. That's how you look for your righteousness. And if that's indeed what that verse here says, verse 3, ignorant of God's righteousness, We go about to establish our own. And that's not just some heathen somewhere. We can attest, I can attest myself, what we thought about what righteousness was and how we attained it and what we did to try to live up to that view of that. And without the Spirit revealing those things to us. And aside from the new birth, we can't understand what the righteousness of God is, what's required. And there are many that go about in their own mind of zealous for God, but ignorant of what righteousness is.

And he is Christ, it says, is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth. And over here, as we look at Psalm 119, if people are going down through that and saying, as a checklist of things that we do or strive to do, I think they're missing the mark. In Him, we can say, in Him, we have these things. That's the blessing that we have, and that He is the perfect one.

A couple more spots. In 1 Corinthians, while we're nearby, 1 Corinthians in the first chapter, it talks about here in the first chapter of those that are wise, those that are looking after things, that are wisdom in their own, but it says they did not know God. But down here in verse It's starting with verse 27, I'm sorry, 1 Corinthians 1. It said, But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty. And base things of the world and things which are despised hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not to bring to naught things that are. and the reason for, that no flesh should glory in his presence.

But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. that according as it is written, he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. And so any place that we see here in the Psalms or other places that says, blessed are the whatever, when it's speaking about the church or God's people, those are blessed because of Him, because we are blessed in Him, and He's made these things, been made these things to us. It's not a, blessed are you because you've done such a great job today.

And Paul deals with that. He says, that is pretty tough. And he says that, what Paul says, and speaks for the church, and that word that he was given of God, that when he talks about in the flesh, that we're not able to do good things in the flesh of our own self. as far as good things that have to do with the righteousness that God desires and determines and requires that we have. And that he says, as he says, and we can all relate to that, those things I'd like to do, I'm determined to do, I can't do them. The things I'm determined I'm not gonna do, Those are the things that I seem to do.

And who is the answer? Who can save us from the body of this death? And he said, Lord, I thank God, the Lord Jesus himself. That's the only salvation that we have in this. And I'm going to read one thought, a quote, again by Brother Hocker. And I realize any light that he can shed on it is that the Spirit can use is good. And according to what he says here is according to the Scripture. And I like how he worded it. And I'm going to read this a little bit.

It says, Jesus, our lawful filler, what a beauty doth it throw over the whole of this blessed Scripture, speaking of Psalm 119, and beholding all pointing to him as so many rays of light to one center and forming a constellation in the person of Jesus as being blessed as our glorious head and blessing all his people in him, one perfect, holy, and undefiled, precious, precious Jesus.

And his comment on what the first verse is saying here, blessed are those undefiled, and it's a description of the Lord himself and those things. Christ, again, in verse four of the Romans 10 there, Christ is the end of the law for these things and for righteousness, and that's what this is. continually showing us is and pointing to is to Christ himself.

And in verse two, on the thought of verse two, it says, blessed are they that keep his testimonies and that seek him with the whole heart. And in the first one, a couple of things that was pointed out to me in reading and looking, studying and seeing what might be here, blessed are or is the undefiled in the way. That word is singular. That isn't blessed are. This is speaking of one person that is blessed and is undefiled, and that one person is the Lord himself.

In verse 2, it said, blessed are they, and are is in italics, actually in both words, in both verses. But this one here is, as one of the commentators said, the learned reader will understand that this is plural. The Hebrew word for that is the same, but it's a plural version of it. And speaking of the sheep, the church, his redeemed ones that are blessed in him.

Verse one, the perfect man, our Redeemer. Here in verse two, they that keep his testimonies, or plural, his people, those who are blessed in Christ as the law keeper. not ourselves, and not saying, well, I've done that, and I'm doing pretty good on that one. And we all know what those are like.

as one that spoke here many years ago now said, and Lauren referred to him in his last message, that these verses and these scriptures here and all these are those to tend to get our head out of our belly button and focus on as one other man said, the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing, and the Lord himself is the main thing. And as people might wonder how many messages that Brother Norm has, he only has one message that he said, and that is focusing on the Lord himself and what he is and what he has done for his people.

It speaks, this verse two, as verse one spoke, holy of the Lord, verse two speaks holy of the church and those that are blessed because of the blessed one. And a couple of places we're gonna look at here. Let's start in Romans again, chapter seven of Romans. chapter 7 of Romans and another spot.

Romans 7, and this is right after Paul said that who's going to deliver me from this body of this death. He says this is in the middle of that, that good I would, I do not, evil I, which I would not, I do. In verse 22, It says, For I delight in the law of God after the inward man, but I see another law in my members warring against the law of my mind and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind, I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh, the law of sin.

And the way or the testimony or the statutes or the commandments or the precepts, all those are brought into thought here. And Paul just saying in the flesh, we can't accomplish anything, we can't do anything in the flesh. And it doesn't mean that every day we are as sinful or as bad or those things. I don't think when Paul was talking about this, that he meant that he could do no good in society with other people, or that he just tended to be the worst that you could imagine. I don't think that's necessarily what he's speaking about.

But in the spiritual realm, we're just helpless. we're just helpless except for His working in us, and He works in us to do those things. In Ephesians chapter 3, and we're going to actually be in chapter 1 and 2, but in Ephesians chapter 3, It says here, and I'm breaking into quite a passage here that I would recommend that you go back and read again on your own, but here, starting, at verse 16 and reading down, that he would grant you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with might by his spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith, that you be rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, length, depth, and height, to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge that you might be filled with all the fullness of God. and strengthened in the inner man.

That is the only, that is the work that the Spirit does. The inner man, he talks about, and being delighted in the inner man of spiritual renewal, spiritual warfare, and spiritual strength all comes from God himself, and none of it comes from within us. It's only been placed there by his doing.

And then while we're here in Ephesians, turn back to chapter one. And I think this bears directly on what we're saying, and I'd like to read the Verse 3, is speaking to the saints and faithful in Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ, according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love, having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will. to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the Beloved, in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace, wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth, even in him."

And it goes on and speaks of what we've gained and how we've gained that in him, but here that we have all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Him. And the blessings, it speaks about the blessing that we have in Him. And not only that, but the redemption that we have, it speaks on there.

And then in chapter 2, And short of reading the book of Ephesians, at this point, some thoughts that are in chapter 2, verse 1 says, and you hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sin. That's a key to anything else that we read about this and that we're going to see. You hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sin.

5. Even when we were dead in sins hath quickened us together with Christ, By grace are you saved, and hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are you saved through faith, not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.

And we're going to break this off at this particular spot. And we have a few more thoughts on the first section of Psalm 119, but leave it with the thought of the The blessed one being the Lord himself and the other, the blessed many are his people that are blessed in him. And we want to keep that in mind as we go further into Psalm 119.

And with that, once again, be free. Thank you.