If you would, be turning to Psalm
19. Psalm 19. For me, I read this
when Cody was here. And it is going to have some
things in it that Joe spoke about, and in particular, some things
that Walter went over in his last message. I'll be right on
that. Psalm 19. I guess I need to turn
to it. The heavens declare the glory
of God, and the firmament showeth his handiwork. Day unto day uttereth
speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. There is no
speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Their line
is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of
the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle
for the sun. which is as a bridegroom coming
out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.
His going forth is from the end of the heaven and his circuit
unto the ends of it, and there is nothing hid from the heat
thereof. The law of the Lord is perfect,
converting the soul. The testimony of the Lord is
sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are
right, rejoicing the heart. The commandment of the Lord is
pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean,
enduring forever. The judgments of the Lord are
true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than
gold, yea, than much fine gold, sweeter also than honey and the
honeycomb. More over by them is thy servant
warned, and in keeping of them there is great reward. Who can
understand his errors? Cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from
presumptuous sins. Let them not have dominion over
me. Then shall I be upright, and
I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Let the
words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in
thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. This psalm starts out, and what
we first hear is it saying that God's creation shows who he is.
It says that it declares his handiwork. Romans 1.20 says,
for the invisible things of him from the creation of the world
are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made,
even his eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.
This is certainly true that his inanimate creation does speak
of his glory. I say that for a reason, because
I will expound a little further in a minute. It goes on to say
that this happens all the time. Language is not a bearer to this
speech, showing forth of knowledge by his creation. Their line,
or that is, their binding ruler, or cord, has went out in their
words to the end of the earth. When you see God's creation,
you know there had to be a being who created all this because
it could not have created itself. God's creation testifies to this.
In them, this says, hath he set a tabernacle for the sun. There
is one place created and set for the sun to shine, to give
light to the whole creation. This is God showing us what he
has done. It says in verse five, which
is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber and rejoiceth
as a strong man to run a race. The sun, as Robert Hawker has
said, and I quote, and particularly with reference to the glorious
luminary of the day, which is placed in the center under the
striking similitude of a bridegroom or of a strong man, the sun is
represented as unceasingly issuing forth with renewed vigor from
day to day to enlighten, fertilize, and warm all the varieties of
the earth, end quote. This sun that God placed there
in the middle of the universe covers everything from the east
to the west. The light might not go to every
place, but the heat of it will reach everywhere. To create such
a world and a universe had to take knowledge that this world
has not seen or knows. No matter where you come from,
this says you understand and see, man had nothing to do with
what we see before us every day. This does speak of creation,
but this speaks much more than just creation of inanimate things
such as the sun and the moon and the stars. I have three points. The law of the Lord, the gospel. The law of the Lord, converting
the soul. The law of the Lord, known in
the Redeemer. I've grouped these in certain
verses, verses one through six. I'm putting under the point the
law of the Lord, the gospel. We read in, I'm going to say
verses one through six, of what the gospel of God speaks of.
I said this point is the law of God, the gospel, because when
it speaks of the law of God in this psalm, that is what it is
talking about. The word for the law is Torah,
and this is the same word that is used in Scripture when specifically
speaking of the Law of Moses, or the Law of Commandments, if
you will. The Torah, or the first five books of the Bible, do include
the Law of Commandments. But there is much more in those
books than just the Law of Commandments. What we must be careful to see
is in what way is the law of commandments included and to
whom is it referring to when it includes the law when we speak
of the gospel. There is no doubt in my mind
this psalm is speaking of the gospel when it talks about the
law of the Lord. Let's look at these verse again
now and the rest of the psalm to see what it tells us, especially
as it concerns the gospel. The heavens declare the glory
of God, and the firmament showeth his handiwork. Day unto day uttereth
speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. There is no
speech nor language where their voice is not heard, as the first
three verses. Daniel 12, three says, and they
that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament,
and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever. I think this here is what we
call a metaphor, although it is real at the same time, because
as we have already seen, God's creation does tell men and women
that there is a creator that created all things. But this
is a metaphor where we see what God creates declares His glory.
Those for whom God has given life will declare the glory of
God. They manifest His handiwork of
grace upon them. They speak the gospel day and
day and night into night. God has some over here and some
over there. There is not a time when the
gospel is not being proclaimed somewhere, especially as we see
things today and how you have the internet when anyone at any
time could bring up a gospel message. It does not matter what
language you speak. If God intends for you to hear
this gospel, you will hear it. Their line is, verses four through
six, their line has gone out through all the earth, and their
words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle
for the sun, which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and
rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is
from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of
it, and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. Here we
see what God has done, the gospel itself. Each of his, in that
time and place, God hath been pleased for every one of us.
That is the line it speaks of here. In that line that God has
ordained and brought to pass, no one going beyond where he
has been pleased they go, have been heard throughout all the
earth. in them, that is both in them and his people, giving
them life, and also amongst them he hath set a tabernacle. He
set a tabernacle in the world and he gives that tabernacle
in us, is what I'm trying to say. Hebrews 10 and five says,
wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, sacrifice
an offering thou wouldst not, but a body hast thou prepared
for me. And then in Hebrews 9 verses 11 and 12 it says, but Christ,
being coming high priest of good things to come, by a greater
and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is
to say, not of this building, neither by the blood of goats
and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy
place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. Jesus Christ
was made a man, and it was this son, just like the son God put
in the middle of our universe, he placed this son right where
men lived. This man was as a bridegroom
coming out of his chamber. This is said in such a way using
some of John Gill's words. It is, they are, it is as such
a one, is what he says, in which he shows his readiness, velocity,
and strength, and this denotes the swiftness of the sun in running
its course, and its never-fatiguing state in its constant motion,
though it has been employed therein for so many thousands of years,
yet every morning rises with the same cheerfulness, pursues
its course, and is never weary." This is Jesus Christ and him
being set like a flint to do what he came to do. Here are
a couple of verses, Malachi 4.2. But unto you that fear my name
shall the son, and it's S-U-N is what it says here, but it's
talking about Christ, shall the son of righteousness arise with
healing in his wings, and ye, and that's how we know it's talking
about Christ because it says, with healing in his wings, and
shall go forth and grow up as calves of the stall. Then we
have Isaiah 60, 19 and 20. It says, the sun, S-U-N, shall
be no more thy light by day, neither for the brightness shall
the moon give light unto thee, but the Lord shall be unto thee
an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. Thy sun shall
no more go down, neither shall thy moon withdraw itself, for
the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy morning
shall be ended. It is He that came into this
world to do the work of salvation, and it is He that completed that
work of salvation. It is this very light that we
see God, as we just read, sending that son of righteousness into
our hearts. 2 Corinthians 4, 6 says, for
God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath
shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of
the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. It says in verse
six, his going forth is from the end of the heaven and his
circuit unto the ends of it. And there is nothing hid from
the heat thereof. It says there that what he does
is forever. That for which Jesus Christ has
done will never be undone. That which Christ has done will
expose everyone for what they are because nothing is hid from
the heat thereof. When that gospel comes to them,
they will be exposed for what they are. So we see here the
sun shining forth in their heart. God sending his gospel to individuals. And the result of that, we now
read. That's my second point, the law
of the Lord converting the soul, verses seven through 10. And
let's just read that again. The law of the Lord is perfect,
converting the soul. The testimony of the Lord is
sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are
right, rejoicing the heart. The commandment of the Lord is
pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean,
enduring forever. The judgments of the Lord are
true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than
gold, yea, than much fine gold, sweeter also than honey in the
honeycomb. First of all, notice here that
it says the law of the Lord. Capital L, capital O, capital
R, capital D. This word is Jehovah. This word
is used for Jesus Christ. Not only here, but everywhere
it is used, it is speaking of Jesus Christ. It is this name
which is spoken of and written about in the whole of God's word. Psalm 47 says, then said I, lo,
I come in the volume of the book it is written of me. Christ himself
tells the Pharisees in John 539, search the scriptures, for in
them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which
testify of me. We are told in Psalm 19 that
the law of the Lord converts the soul. This is talking about
the gospel of Jesus Christ. This does not include the law
of commandments, but only, it does include the law of commandments,
but only in this sense. Jesus Christ fulfilled all of
the law of commandments for us. He who was perfect and was full
of grace and truth fulfilled the law ever jot and tittle. The law of commandments is holy,
just, and good. This is true. Is not Jesus Christ
perfect in not only of the keeping of the law, but of the sacrifices
as well? He was the one sacrifice that
took away the sin of the world. Let me ask you, are you converted
by hearing thou shalt not kill? Maybe you think you are, but
the scripture says this in Romans 7, verses 12 and 13. Wherefore
the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Was
then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear
sin, working death in me by that which is good, that sin by the
commandment might become exceeding sinful. The law of commandments
is not evil. It is holy, just, and good. It
is that which is good, and that has not made death to me, but
sin worketh death in me by that which is good, or that is the
law of commandments. My sin, my sin is there no matter
if there is a law or not. But the law makes it so much
more apparent. The law has a weakness. Its weakness
is in the flesh. Fallen sinful man could not and
cannot obey God's law in any way or at any time. Romans 8
3 says, for what the law could not do in that it was weak through
the flesh. God sending his own son in the
likeness of sinful flesh and for sin condemned sin in the
flesh. We read this as so that our sin
is strengthened by the law, 1 Corinthians 15, 56. It says the sting of
death is sin and the strength of sin is the law. The law gives
sin strength. That is what that says. So do
you look to be converted by the law? The law of commandments,
I mean? We are converted by hearing of that one who says in scripture,
I kill and I make a lot. But when he walked on this earth
as a man, he obeyed the law of commandments perfectly. The law
of commandments is something we could and cannot keep. We
are not trying to keep them. Ephesians 2, 14 through 16 reads,
for he is our peace, who hath made both one and hath broken
down the middle wall of partition between us, having abolished
in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained
in ordinances. for to make in himself of twain
one new man, so making peace, and that he might reconcile both
unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby. If your conversion is not the
conversion to Jesus Christ and what he has done, then you are
a debtor to the whole law, if you think the law of commandments
has converted you. We are not trying to live by
the commandments after we are converted. We cannot keep the
law of God by our works. I do not look to the law as my
way of life before God. In Galatians, we read here in
what Paul says, and this just kind of struck me a little bit,
but in Galatians, let's turn to Galatians for a minute. Actually,
we might be in there for a little while, so. Galatians one. Get me a water. Galatians 1 and then verses 6
and 7. I marvel that ye are so soon
removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ
unto another gospel, which is not another, but there be some
that trouble you and would pervert the gospel of Christ. Now, keeping
this in context, we gotta keep reading to see what the context
is. Now, Paul goes on through and talks about when God first
done something with him. The people that he first went
to didn't know Paul, and all they knew was he persecuted the
church and wasted it. But then we get down to Galatians
2, verses three and five, three through five. And it says, but
neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled
to be circumcised. And that because of false brethren
unawares brought in, who came in privately to spy out our liberty,
which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into
bondage, to whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an
hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. Titus
did not want to be circumcised. That law which was being taught
by some, he did not want to do it. These were false brethren,
it says. And Paul says, we did not put
up with it at all. This, so the gospel would continue. And then in Galatians 2, verses
11 through 21, I wanna read all that. But when Peter was come
to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, this is Paul speaking,
because he was to be blamed. For before that, certain came
from James. He did eat with the Gentiles.
But when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing
them which were of the circumcision. And the other Jews dissembled
likewise with him, insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away
with their dissimulation. But when I saw that they walked
not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto
Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the
manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compelst thou
the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? We who are Jews by nature
and not sinners of the Gentiles, knowing that a man is not justified
by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ,
even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified
by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law. For
by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. But if
while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also
are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. For if I build again
the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live
unto God. I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless
I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me, and the life which
I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God,
who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the
grace of God, for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ
is dead in vain. There is no righteousness in
the law as it concerns my flesh. I am not converted by the law
of commandments because the only thing I find there is death,
unrighteousness, enmity with God. The only place I'm going
to find righteousness is found in the gospel of Jesus Christ
and him crucified. The law of Christ, the law of
the Lord. Believing Jesus Christ and what
he has accomplished. This is conversion conversion
to the righteousness of God Jesus Christ and him crucified converts
my soul and it is his faith and his works that are perfect His
witness in his word is true because he is truth personified That
is what will teach this simple or that is foolish proud silly
man that I am The law of commandments only kills me. It does not reveal
Jesus Christ to me. But it is the law of commandments
that shuts me up until that time of faith. That is faith being
given to me in regeneration and faith proclaimed to me in the
gospel. When this happens, God begins
to convert me by his spirit. We know what the scripture tells
us. We found out what lust is when we hear thou shalt not covet,
and it kills us just like it did the Apostle Paul. I know
I cannot do this. This is what we say, I know I
cannot do this. I know that in myself that I
will covet continuously if someone does not intervene. I will break
every commandment in the law should not someone greater than
man come between me and Elohim, God Almighty. There I am stuck
until I find someone who can close the gap, if you will. I
know I'm a rebel against God, and knowing that I cannot keep
his law, I will be destroyed. I find out that I am dead. The
law of commandments kills me. It does not convert me, but shows
me I am dead. Galatians 3.12 says, and the
law is not of faith, but the man that doeth them shall live
in them. I find no life there in the law
of commandments. I find nothing but corruption
and death. I am sin, and sin is the strength
of the law of commandments. Galatians 3.14 says that the
blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus
Christ, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through
faith. We must see Jesus Christ. We
must believe Jesus Christ. And if God in grace sends us
his gospel, he will convert us to Jesus Christ. Galatians 3
verses 21 through 26. Is the law then against the promises
of God? God forbid. For if there had
been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness
should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded
all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might
be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were
kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards
be revealed. Wherefore, the law was our schoolmaster
unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after
that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. Verse 24 it says, wherefore the
law was our schoolmaster and it has to bring us. It's not
there, take it out. That does mess it up. The law
doesn't bring us to Christ. It's up, it's like here and it's
up to this point, then here's faith. That's what it means. Unto Christ that we might be
justified by faith. The law certainly shows us we
are dead and that we cannot please God on our own, but it shows
us nothing else. But Jehovah's statutes are right,
rejoicing the heart. What are his statutes? Believe
me, he says, I have done everything needed to justify you before
myself. Just believe me. The gospel brings
this statutes to my ears. Being given faith, it is that
which rejoices my heart. When by faith I see this, it
enlightens my eyes to him, bringing me down into submission before
him. I found out the most pure thing
I can do is to fear him. His judgments are forever, and
if he has said he took my sins away, then that stands forever. His judgments are all right because
He said they are all right. He is the truth, the way, and
the life, and no man cometh unto the Father but by Him. The gospel
is sweeter to the one having been given grace than anyone
else. It is that sweet taste of the gospel they long for,
and if they do not have it, they crave it. They are perfectly
fine to be inebriated with the gospel. So hearing the gospel
then teaches us some other things, things about ourselves and things
about how he takes care of us. The law of the Lord, known in
the Redeemer. So what does the gospel mean
to the believer and what does it teach him? The gospel that
says here, thy servant is warned or that is enlightened or to
be admonished. As we have read before and as
it says in scripture, all scripture is given by inspiration of God
and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction,
for instruction in righteousness. That is doctrine of Christ, reproof
or evidence of Christ, correction in Christ, and education or training
in the righteousness of Christ. To keep them, it says, that is
those who have been enlightened by the gospel, will keep his
word close to them. They will protect his gospel,
take heed to it, and attend to it, as much as Christ gives them
the grace to do so. The reward is knowing him who
is our life and being sure and confident that he did what he
did was for certain. His righteousness, when we see
it in the gospel, informs the soul what we are by nature. When we see His holy nature,
we come to see that we have sins that we do not even know about.
In 1 John 1-9 it says, if we confess our sins, He is faithful
and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. But what about those sins we
did not even know about that we committed that we read here?
How are we to confess man? I thank God through the work
done by our Lord on Calvary. Because of that work, he by his
Spirit confesses those sins for us. Romans 8 26 says, likewise
the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities. For we know not what we should
pray for as we ought, but the Spirit itself maketh intercession
for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. But it is the believer's
continual prayer because of his precious gospel But we pray that
he keeps us from those proud sins. We are taught what we are
and that we still have this old nature. And if we give it a little,
it will go a long way. But we look to him, his gospel
continually breaking us down. We look to him for his power
and might to keep us. Jude 24 says, now unto him that
is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless
before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. We are not
able, but he is able. And it is he that the believer
looks to to keep him always. That will never end. He will
always be our light and life. The gospel causes each and every
believer to look to him for causing them to walk in his way, talk
in his way, and think in his way. Knowing it is done by his
power and based on what he did on that tree, they see continually
through the gospel their redeemer. That one who took all those sins,
the ones known by all, the ones only known to the individual,
and the ones not known by anyone but God, Him knowing all things,
but Him taking all those sins of mine and burying them in His
own body on the tree has secured salvation for me, for you if
you're in Him, O blessed Redeemer of mine. The gospel being proclaimed
is what God has been pleased to save them that believe. He
will send you those who proclaim His gospel by His power. He will
take that word proclaimed and will by His Spirit give increase
to each and every one of His as He is pleased. It does not
get old for His people to hear that same account of what Jesus
Christ has done for sinners. Knowing by His Spirit that is
what we are, we gladly fall down at His feet in absolute joy knowing
if I am in Him, then God is totally satisfied with me. In Christ,
I please God. Isn't that some joyous, wonderful
news to hear after God keeping us shut up under the law of commandments?
Then at His appointed time convert us to His dear Son in life to
Him? Galatians 5, 6 says, for in Jesus
Christ neither circumcision availeth anything nor uncircumcision,
but faith which worketh by love. It is that fruit of the Spirit
which enables us all to do these things. We are not under the
law. We do not live by the law of
God. We do not find our way of life through the law of commandments.
But by the fruit of the Spirit, we are enabled to do these things. And I wanna read one last passage,
Galatians 5, 13 through 18. For brethren, ye have been called
unto liberty Only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh,
but by love serve one another. For all the law was fulfilled
in one word, even in this, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be
not consumed one of another. This I say then, walk in the
Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the
flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh.
And these are contrary to the one to the other, so that ye
cannot do the things that you would. But if ye be led by the
Spirit, ye are not under the law. And let me say it this way,
to hopefully get my point across this morning. We must have life
before God, before we know, we can even know that we're dead.
I know some do not agree with this on this, but God gives life
whenever he is pleased. He gives us life first before
we can hear the gospel. Otherwise, being dead, we cannot
hear the gospel. God is the lawgiver. The law
is his schoolmaster. He has said that his schoolmaster
would be there up to a certain point. That point, I believe,
is when faith comes, and that is faith given to me in life
and faith to me in the gospel. I do not preach the law of commandments. I'm not a lawgiver. I'm a gospel
preacher. I preach Christ and him crucified
peradventure. If God has one of his listening
to that message, he will convert them by his power. Life is only
found in Christ. What does Paul say in 1 Corinthians
1, 23 and 24? But we preach Christ crucified
unto the Jews a stumbling block and unto the Greeks foolishness.
but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ
the power of God and the wisdom of God. May He continue to send
us the gospel, that soul-refreshing, spiritual thirst-quenching message
of Jesus Christ and Him crucified. And then we will say, as the
words do in Psalm 1914, let the words of my mouth and the meditation
of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, capital L,
capital O, capital R, capital D, and my Redeemer. Amen.