If you'd like to follow along,
I'm gonna be in Psalms 130. The 130th psalm. No, that is incorrect, I'm sorry. I even wrote it wrong. I'm in
Psalms 119. I'm gonna preach from verse 130. Yeah, because that's that big,
long psalm. 119th psalm. And I'm gonna actually
begin reading in verse 129. Thy testimonies are wonderful. Therefore, doth my soul keep
them. The entrance of thy words giveth
light, and it giveth understanding unto the simple. I opened my
mouth and panted, for I long for thy commandments, Look thou
upon me and be merciful unto me as thou used to do unto those
that love thy name. Order my steps in thy word and
let not any iniquity have dominion over me. Deliver me from the
oppression of man, so will I keep thy precepts. Make thy face to
shine upon thy servant and teach me thy statutes. Rivers of water
run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law. On the 119th Psalm, it doesn't
say who wrote it. But it seems like most people
seem to agree that David wrote it. I don't know who wrote it. I just know that it's true. And
in this place in particular, Verse 130, I read that in a bulletin,
one of the Tim James bulletins. There was no comment on it, he
just put it in as a little bit of filler at the bottom of the
page. And I read that verse, the entrance
of thy words giveth light, it giveth understanding to the simple.
By gollies, that's me. And if you know Christ, that's
you. And that's what we're gonna try and talk about this morning.
But first I wanna start in the beginning, verse 129. Thy testimonies are wonderful. Because this is where we're starting.
Now, first of all, just in case anybody gets any kind of goofy
idea, this is not talking about your testimony. This is talking
about the testimonies of God. You can read back in verse 126
it is time for thee Lord to work for they have made void thy law
therefore I love thy commandments above gold yea above fine gold
Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right
and I hate every false way Thy testimonies are wonderful. We're
still talking about the Lord's Testimonies is what this is talking
about. These are God's testimonies.
They are wondrous and they are The word means miraculous. Now,
we have the testimonies of God right here in this book. This
is all we have. I'm not concerned about any dream
that any man had last week, especially if it disagrees with this word,
if it disagrees with this book. God's testimonies, some of them,
are in this book. And that's all we have. I mean,
go back to the book of Genesis. His testimonies about the seed
of woman, about the seed of woman. Now we know, now we know, that
seed of woman was spoken of in Isaiah as the child that was
born and the son that was given. But in Genesis 3, he says that
the seed of woman would come and bruise the serpent's head.
Now we say he has bruised the serpent's head. But the testimonies,
thy testimonies are wonderful. There's testimonies of Noah who
found grace in the eyes of the Lord. The testimonies of Abraham
and Isaac testifying that God will provide himself a lamb for
the offering, the burn offering, and God did. The testimonies
of the Lord's Passover and the Passover lamb are given in the
book of Exodus, chapter 12. It starts with a lamb, then the
lamb, And then it says, your lamb, your lamb. And then Paul
tells us explicitly that the Passover lamb was Christ. Christ, our Passover. I could go on. Stand still and
see the salvation of the Lord. There's a multitude of testimonies
in this book, even up to this point in Psalms, where David
or whoever was writing it. The scriptures testify of God,
his mind, his will, his power, and his work in this world. And those testimonies are wonderful,
miraculous. He's working, Paul, he's working
his way right now among the armies of heaven and all the inhabitants
of the earth. And none can stay his hand or
say unto him, what are you doing? Although some will. We're that
dumb. The Lord's testimonies of himself, it's written in Acts 749, but
it's quoting Isaiah, I believe. Heaven is my throne. And earth
is my footstool. What house will you build me,
saith the Lord? Or what is the place of my rest? That was from, quoted from Isaiah,
but that was from the message of Stephen right before they
stoned him. The testimonies, thy testimonies
are wonderful. And then it says this. Therefore,
does my soul keep them? I looked at that, and I looked
at it, and I realized what David wrote here was, it's my soul
that wants to keep these testimonies. Not my emotions, not my logic,
not just my mind, and not just my heart. No. The believer's very being is
wrapped up in the testimonies of God, the truth of God, his
word, his work, his will, and his way. This is my soul wants
to keep them. And I like that. Now that word
keep is very interesting. Because I know some people read
this and they'll think, oh, yeah, he's talking about keeping the
law. No, he's not. It's not the reference. Because
if you look at the word, and it is an actual definition of
the word keep, but I think a better word for it in this context to
get the point across is my soul, what does it say? Let me look
at it and make sure I say it. Therefore doth my soul and the
word is guard them guard them Hold them Hold them fast He's
not talking about Oh keeping the law don't know hold on to
the testimony thy testimonies are wondrous therefore My soul
doth guard them not forgetting them, holding
them close. You know, it tells us in Hebrews,
I believe, it says, hold fast the profession of thy faith. Well, I'm gonna tell you here,
hold fast the testimonies of God. Same thing. It doesn't say hold fast to your
profession, it says hold fast the profession. And there's a
world of difference between there. But here he's saying, my soul,
my very being, wants to hold on to these testimonies that
are just wondrous, miraculous, not forgetting them, keeping
them close in my very being. But these are the words I read
that got me here. The entrance of thy words giveth
light. It giveth understanding unto
the simple. That phrase, the entrance of
thy words, this is just grace, pure, unadulterated
grace. This is a grand statement, and
it's a gracious statement. You understand what he says here.
He says, the entrance of thy words. He doesn't say the preaching
of thy words. He doesn't say the singing of
thy words, the praying of thy words, not even the reading of
thy words or the repetition of thy words. He says the entrance
of thy words giveth light. And there is all of that. But
that's not the point of the writer of this psalm. The entrance of
thy words. It means he is writing of the
opening of thy words and the disclosure of thy words to my
soul, to my soul. They are wondrous. Keeping them,
guarding them in my soul, thy words make an entrance into the
believer's soul because thy words dwell there. You say, how does he make an
entrance? How is it opened? How is it discerned? How is it disclosed? We're told
that ye must be born of God. Ye must be born again. Ye must be born. from above. Then and only then are when the
words make entrance. Understand people are under gospel
preaching today and yet don't believe. And I heard it coming
up on the road this morning where Henry Mahan was quoting Rolf
Barnard, where the man said, If my voice is the only voice
you hear, then nothing of any eternal value will happen. This is what he's talking about,
the entrance of thy words. Not the entrance of my words,
the entrance of thy words. I like that, I do. Jesus Christ
said it himself in John 5, 25. You don't have to turn there.
Verily verily I say unto you the hour is coming and now is
It's 2,000 years ago. He wrote it. He said this When
the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God and they that
hear shall live That's the entrance of thy words that David's writing
up here because the entrance of thy words is has results,
and which is what he writes. Those that are born of God hear
the voice of the Son of God. And it is his voice, the voice
of the Son of God, who makes the entrance of his words. And
the results are given. The entrance of thy words giveth
light. Light. Now we know from the gospels
that the light is a hoop. Jesus Christ is the light. Jesus Christ is the light. And
that light always shines. And the unbelieving will not
and cannot see. the light. But the entrance of
thy words gives light. The entrance of thy words gives
light. Oh my. You know what the first words of Jesus
Christ were recorded in the scripture? I bet some people don't. It was
four Single-syllable words the first four words that Jesus Christ
spoke in the Bible are this let there be light Now I notice in Genesis 1 But
I also know that Jesus Christ is the voice of God and He's
the one that spoke the worlds into being he's the one that
spoke those words Let there be light And what happened? There was light. There was light. You understand? There wasn't
a sun, and there wasn't a moon. That comes later. But there was
light, Mason. There was light. And I'm going
to tell you this. The entrance of thy words give
light. Give light. Oh my. What is it? The seeing eye and
the hearing ear, the Lord hath even made both of them. He's
made even both of them. There'll be no seeing of the
light until the entrance of thy words, until life is given. Then it says, this entrance gives
understanding. Then opened he their understanding
of the scriptures. That's what it says in the end
of Luke. Then opened he their understanding
of thy testimonies. And what he has opened, no man
shall shut. He gives the light. He gives
the life, he gives the light, and he gives the understanding.
And of what? Thy testimonies are wonderful. Thy testimonies are miraculous.
You understand, there's no understanding without the light that he gives. And with the light that he gives
will come an understanding. Because what he opens, I said
it, what he opens, no man shuts. No man shuts. And I have to point it out particularly
of that word giveth. Says it twice. You don't get
light and understanding, you are given light and understanding. We are just like, naturally,
we are just like that blind man in John chapter nine. What was
he that was different than the rest of them, as far as it's
told in the scriptures? He was born blind. He was born
blind. And the Lord gave him sight. And he had a little bit of understanding. Because he told the Pharisees,
who tried to get him to deny Jesus, he told those Pharisees,
he says, one thing I know, I was blind, but now I see. And I've said it before, I say,
nobody can ever take that away from you. You understand, if
God gives you light and he gives you understanding, you're going
to know that you see. You may not understand all that
you see. I'm sure you won't, because I still don't. And I
don't know anyone who does. But you'll understand that you
see. And you'll see the world, and not as the way the world
sees it. And you'll see Christ, and not as the world sees Christ.
The Lord Jesus Christ gives life and understanding, or you don't
see or understand. And then Christ revealed himself
to that same blind man who could now see. Saying, do you believe
on the Son of God? He says, I don't know who he
is. And Christ said, it's he that speaketh to thee. I am he. And he worshiped Jesus Christ.
Why? Because the entrance of thy words
giveth light. It giveth understanding. And those last three words, I
looked at this and I looked at this. The entrance of thy word
giveth light. It giveth understanding. Those
last three words. under the simple, under the simple. And I looked at that, and I looked
at that, and of course the first thing that comes to mind is this.
Folks, compared to God, simple is the best we can be. Simple
is the best we can be. You may not like the description,
but that doesn't make it incorrect. The description, excuse me. Matter
of fact, you're not liking the description, might be an indication
that the description is correct. Walter, you said it the other
day. I got tickled. Everybody, a lot of people will
admit to being a sinner, but then ask them if they're an ungodly
sinner. They may not like that as much. But that's what a sinner
is. A sinner is ungodly. Well, this says He gives light
and He gives understanding to the simple. He doesn't give it
to the intelligent. He doesn't give it to the powerful.
He doesn't give it to the noble, to the proud, to the demanding.
He doesn't even give light and understanding to the beautiful
and the good, because we are neither. The entrance of thy
word comes to the simple. And I'll say this in reference,
what I said last week, it comes to the single-minded. You understand, you can't claim
light and understanding unless you confess that you're simple.
That's who he gives it to. Jesus Christ came to save sinners. I came not to call the righteous,
but sinners to repentance. That's the question. Are you
a sinner? Are you ungodly? Because that's who Christ came
to save. Do you fit? Do you know? Because
I'm going to tell you this. Part of the light and the understanding
that he gives is a knowledge that you are simple. That you
are a sinner. That you are ungodly. That you
are unrighteous. that you are unholy. See, the light not only reveals
himself, it reveals a bit about you. And you still don't see
how bad you are in God's sight, but you see how bad you are in
some ways. Paul wrote it full of wounds
and bruises, and here's the one that sticks with me, putrefying
sores. You know what that is? That's
infected source. That's what we are in reality.
But this word simple, and it means simple, easily seduced,
foolish. But here's one that I like. This
word simple means silly. Silly. Foolish. You understand? God is not going
to allow you your dignity. A lot of people want to be dignified,
want to stand up straight. No, no. No. You're either an
ungodly sinner or you're not a sinner. You have to be honest
about it. Silly. We have to be honest about
it. And the reason God won't allow
you your dignity is you really don't have any. But here. Another thing Henry said, honest
people don't go to hell. Is there anything in this world
sillier than a man? Because a man will think, a man
will think that he can go about and establish a righteousness
with God. Understand folks, that's plain
silly. Understand, God is holy. God is holier than we can even
realize. God says the plowing of the wicked
is sin. God says he will not ever clear
the guilty. God forsook. his own son on the tree because
of the sin that was in him and on him. He became sin. He bore our sins in his own body
on the tree, and God turned his back on his perfect son. He knew
no sin, but he had our sin. And God turned his back on him,
and here is man. who says, I'm going to be good
enough so God will accept me. I'm telling you folks, that's
silly. That's the definition of silly. It's the definition
of simple. It's the definition of a sinner.
It's the definition of ungodly. And it's the definition of unrighteousness.
To think that you can do anything that God would approve of, that's
the height of silliness. And that's what this word means.
God describes us as worms and maggots. Now that's only because it's
true. That's the only reason he says
it. It's because it's true. But we are so depraved, we are
so depraved that we don't know we are simple compared to God. We don't know. Unbelievers don't know. And we will never know until
thy words make thy entrance into the believer. Let's say, I opened my mouth
and panted afterwards. The entrance of thy word giveth
light and giveth understanding unto the simple. Then it says,
I opened my mouth and panted for I long for thy commandments. Look thou upon me and be merciful
unto me as thou used to do unto those that love thy name. The entrance of thy words make
a difference. Make a difference. And the entrance of thy words
give light and understanding to the simple. Now what do you
have to say to that? Praise God from whom all blessings
flow. Thank God. who has blessed us
with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies in Christ,
in Christ. See, I thought about this. This
is, this is 2021. You know, I never thought I'd
see the year 2000. And this is the year 2021. 39 years ago, I figured it out. 39 years ago, the entrance of
his words happened to me. And he gave me light and understanding. 39 years ago, 1982, if my math
is correct. It was 1982, I do know that.
I'm not suspect about the year, I'm suspect about the math. He revealed his grace to me. And today, what's true today? The entrance of thy word giveth
light. It giveth understanding to the
simple. Understand, if his words aren't
making an entrance in you now, You don't know him. His word
never stops coming to the believer. What did he say? He said, my
sheep hear, not heard, my voice. No, my sheep hear my voice, and
they follow me. If you continue in my way, then
Then are ye my disciples indeed. Understand, his light and his
understanding that he gives have no end. I got a song here. This is written
by Isaac Watts. And I really like the words of
it. Thinking of this song. Let every quickened ear attend
and every heart rejoice. The trumpet of the gospel sounds
with an inviting voice. Come all ye hungry, starving
souls that feed upon the wind and vainly strive with earthly
toys to fill an empty mind. Eternal wisdom has prepared a
soul-reviving feast and bid your longing appetites the rich provisions
taste. God has given us a feast in his
word. His testimonies are wonderful. Therefore, my soul keeps them,
guards them, wants to hold fast to them. Thank God for His grace and His
mercy. Our Heavenly Father, we are thankful
at this time and this place. You have given us Your Son, our
Lord Jesus Christ. He has given us light, He has
given us understanding, and He continues to give us more and
more to help us grow in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord
and Savior, Jesus Christ. Be with Paul and be with Walter
as they come to preach your word. Give us ears to hear and heart
to understand. And Lord, shine the light in our hearts,
the glorious light of your son. In whose name we pray, amen.