Psalm 119 and starting and looking on, let me get the page here. Psalm 119 verses 33 through 40. And I'd like to read these before we take a look at them a little closer. It says, teach me, verse 33, teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes, and I shall keep it unto the end. Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law.

Yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. Make me to go in the path of thy commandments, for therein do I delight. Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness. Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity, and quicken thou me in thy way. Establish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear. Turn away my reproach, which I fear, for thy judgments are good. Behold, I have longed after thy precepts. Quicken me in thy righteousness. And I'd like to call this, look today at this, I'd like to call this How Great Our Need and subtitled How Great Our God.

All those things most needed, let me put that down, most needed by a born again from above but sinful people, It can't be generated of ourselves, the things that are needed in a spiritual way. realm, let alone a physical realm. We talk about birthdays and aging and the things that come naturally to us. We have no control over those things, and no more control over those, and I think even less so over spiritual things. If God doesn't give the new birth and doesn't give the eyes to see and ears to hear.

They can't be generated, but must be granted from above. And I'd like to notice in these verses here, these eight verses, that he says, teach me, give me understanding, make me to go, incline mine heart, turn away mine eyes, quicken thou me, establish thy word, turn away my reproach, and quicken thou me in thy righteousness. All these are things that the psalmist is appealing to God. to do. These are all things that the psalmist, as he was by the Holy Spirit given the inspiration to write, these are things that he is requesting of God that he do to the psalmist and to do to his people and do for his people.

And those are all things that we We can't incline our heart. We can't give understanding. We can't be taught the spiritual things unless the Lord do it. And no matter how intensely we read or study or look into things, if the Lord isn't in it, it's It's academic, it's not spiritual.

Quicken thou me. And we've looked many times at what the gospel has to say and that the gospel is God quickening his people. And that's what he must do. And these requests in regard to Thy statutes, thy law, thy path, thy commandments, thy testimonies, thy way, thy word, thy judgments, thy precepts, and thy righteousness.

We started out the look at Psalm 119 when we first looked at the first few verses of it. These things came to mind because they're in the scriptures there, these 10 words that all deal with God communicating with his people through his word. And we've looked at these 10 different words that they all have a different connotation or a different point of view from God as far as like a diamond facets. Many different directions you can look at that and see that diamond. And the same way here, these are all different facets or different types of thought that the Lord has communicated to his people. And from the first we noted these to convey the many thoughts that God has given to us in the word and with all the ways used by the spirit to reveal himself to his people.

And that these are prayerful requests of the psalmist of things that he requests God to do according to God's word and not according to things that are outside of God's word or his will that's revealed therein. He's not asking for something outside of what would be proper for his people to request. And all the things that we request, that we pray about and are according to God's will, how it's revealed to us or not revealed to us. We pray that all things, and we don't know, as the scripture says, we don't know how to even pray for things that we ought, but the Spirit intercedes in our behalf and does present those to God in a way that is pleasing to Him and according to His word. The psalmist is speaking on our behalf the words of God to his people, the sheep of his pasture, the prayers of those who have been given life. In him we live and move and have our being.

And that covers all these requests in these eight verses here are those things that he provides and that he must provide to his people. Turn to the book of Ephesians. if you would please, Ephesians chapter three. Ephesians chapter three, and remembering all those things that the first chapter of Ephesians speak about God and his people and God's work in having a people. and that not only having a people, but the Lord himself and who he is and what position he has over all things in that salvation that's revealed to us. And then the first verse of chapter two of Ephesians, it says, and you hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sin. And I wanna, that speaking of who he's writing to are those that God has quickened. not just a way in Ephesians that God does business with the church and with the sheep and with people, whoever they may be, but he's speaking to those that God has quickened, that he has actually given the new birth to in these things that he's revealing and speaking to.

And then in the chapter three, starting with verse 14 and reading down a bit, according to the purpose that God has in, it says in the Lord Jesus Christ, our Lord, but verse 14, it says, for this cause, I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that he would grant to 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 ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height, and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that worketh in us. Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. This knowledge speaks of God's power is without limitations to do much more than we ask, and by the Spirit working in believers greater than we comprehend or expect, and faith given to us to believe that His grace is great, we can come boldly and confidently to His throne, rooted and grounded in love." From another spot there. Because of this, because of that he is the one that this, his limitless power can do much more than we, not only than we can think or ask that we even are aware of, that he's able to do and that, as it says here, he's able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.

And by his spirit, these things that, looking back to what the psalmist is writing and realizing, these things can only come from him, but he is able to do these things that he does. And I think these are not just, he's not just asking for things for the sake of themselves, but for the greater understanding and it says growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ and all that that means as far as in salvation of his people. And as I said, we can come boldly or confidently asking these things because these These are according to his word and his will. If he teaches us and gives us understanding and inclines our heart, turns us, all those things are necessary and things that only he can do, but he said that he will do these things and does do these things for his people.

And where it said that we have all spiritual blessings in Christ in heavenly places. It's all in Him that this comes about and by the Spirit that this comes about. It's not asking things that are unseemly or unneeded. These are all things that are needed by God's people.

These aren't just additional want lists that David made up that sound like good things to have, but these are necessary items that God causes to walk in what his word has to say and understand some of that and by his power able to do that. In the book of Romans, turn back to the book of Romans chapter after eight, And these are passages we've been over as we've gone through the book of Jude, first, second, third John, other places. They're so interconnected with all of what the scripture says. Chapter eight of Romans, and I'd like to start reading with verse 26.

It 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. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who called according to his purpose.

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called, and whom he called, them he also justified, and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He is, as it says, he has purposed that these things come about. He has purposed it for, it says that to be conformed to the image of his son, that he, the son, might be the firstborn among many brothers. And that must take place, that he will conform his people to his image.

We don't often see that in ourselves, and we sure know we don't see it in others sometimes. But the image isn't speaking about the physical attributes, it's speaking about the change of mind that God has given to his people. And Norm and I were speaking about that earlier about Saul and that picture of he on the road to Damascus of the Lord meeting with him. And we don't go through that same physical process, but that was a picture of the spiritual that takes place, of the eyesight given, of the light, coming on as it is, as the truth of the gospel that comes to light by him. But we go through the same process in salvation, in the new birth that Paul went through. We came from the same sort and the same makeup as Paul did. We didn't maybe live the same way or do the same things. or in the flesh, and the heart was the same. The heart was no different or no closer to God than Saul's heart was by nature, and he must reveal those things.

This is part and parcel, I think, of what the psalmist is asking for there in verses 33 through 40 in Psalm 119. Turn to the book of Philippians, if you would, for just a minute, to chapter four, Philippians chapter four, and I'd like to start with verse four. Speaking to, it says, the dearly beloved and to those believers in Philippi, it says, rejoice in the Lord always. And again, I say rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be known unto God. And the God of peace, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things have a good report. If there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things which you have both learned and received and heard and seen in me do, and the God of peace shall be with you." And again here, speaking about that, that it says here. that the God of peace, which pass all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

And then it goes on, and we looked at this a number of years ago in the book of Philippians, this list of things here, whatsoever things are of virtue, of good things, and those all tie back to the Lord himself. Those things that are talked about of who he is. And those, tied in with what the psalmist is asking for and requesting in prayer, or that he be conformed to the image of the Lord, that he be kept through him by these different verses and ways that he's voiced that there in the Psalms. In the book of Colossians, right next door there, Colossians chapter, first chapter, and starting with verse nine, Verse nine of Colossians, it says, for this cause we also since the day we heard it do not cease to pray for you and desire that she might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.

That she might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. Strengthened with all might according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness, giving thanks unto the Father which hath made it meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light, who hath delivered us from the power of darkness and has translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son, in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins, who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature, For by him were all things created that are in heaven, that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.

All things were created by him and for him. And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church. who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell. and having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself.

By him, I say, whether they be things in heaven, or things in earth, or things in heaven, and you that were sometime alienated, and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled. In verse 22 and 23. reconciled in the body of his flesh through death to present you holy and unblameable and unreprovable in his sight. If you continue in the faith grounded, settled, and being not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which you have heard and which was preached unto every creature which is under heaven, whereof I, Paul, am made a minister.

That's quite a lengthy reading there, but all those things, that are in that passage here are recounting those things that God has done and must do for his people. There's no there that God has done his half and we do our part now and everything is gonna be fine. It's all of God or it's not gonna take place.

In the bulletin, inside there, there's a passage that says, inside your bulletin that says, it's Isaiah 14, 27. For the Lord Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart him? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back? In that word there in the first part, the Lord Almighty has purposed. He has purposed that these things take place. in his people, and he's purposed all things, but in the salvation of the sheep of the church.

And that has been translated or reused as God has proposed some things. Well, proposed is like a proposal of marriage or a proposal of business. It may or may not take place. If there, I'm sure, are many young men that have been disappointed that it proposed to a young lady that said, no, thank you. That's not the connotation of this word by God here.

These things are purposed according to what he is going to do. And as it said, who's going to question God? And we've looked at the passage about the potter and the clay. What of those, the clay made into pots can question the potter. That's a determined, that potter determines what's gonna take place with that clay and God here, as it says, has purposed and these things that, that the psalmist is praying for are purposed of God for his people, that he has purposed that these will take place.

These are promised things that aren't, it's not a wish list that the psalmist had, but it's a necessary things that must take place, it must be done. And then in chapter 12, Chapter 5 of 1 Thessalonians. Turn over to 1 Thessalonians if you would. And as in what we just read in Colossians, and as there in Psalm 119, those thoughts and prayers, the psalmist to God desires our thoughts and prayers and desires according as he has quickened us, and that we live according to his word. That's what the psalmist is pleading for and praying for.

But in chapter five here of 1 Thessalonians, And starting with verse nine, it says, for God hath not appointed us unto wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

Wherefore, comfort yourselves together and edify one another, as even as also ye do. And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake and be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feeble-minded, support the weak, be patient towards all men. See that none render evil for evil unto any man, but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves and to all men.

Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the spirit. Despise not prophesying. Prove all things. Hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly, and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you who will also do it. Brethren, pray for us. Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss. I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

And verse 24, of all those things that are requested of and needful to God's people, verse 24 says, faithful is he that calleth you who will also do it. It is of his doing that'll do it. And that's what I believe the psalmist is appealing to, God's doing this. And then, We're gonna turn to another spot in the Psalms. The 23rd Psalm, turn to the 23rd Psalm, if you will. And this is used in different ways and different times and different thoughts about the 23rd Psalm, but it's a Psalm of promise of what the Lord does indeed do for his people that he is the one that takes care. It says, lords, my shepherd, I shall not want or have any lack of those things needed.

Make this to lay down in green pastures and lead us beside the still waters. He gives us that peace. It says, verse three, restore my soul. He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his namesake. And I think that refers to, when he's speaking to those things in Psalm 119, of those things that the Lord must do, that he must open the eyes, that he must direct, he must turn our paths, he must quicken us, he must do those many things that are listed there, but they're all things that God does, It says, and promises to do for his people, that scripture holds forth. In verse four, yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will feel no evil, for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff, they comfort, they comfort me. And we're comforted by his leading and by his correction and by the scripture and by those things that David is asking for. They're by way of knowledge of the Lord, of correction, of directing our paths however that he would have them. prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

I anointeth my head with oil, my cup runneth over. And then verse six, surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. And those things that goodness and mercy that he refers to there in those list of things that he does, that he teaches and makes us understand. and quickens, inclines our heart to his ways and his thoughts that we have.

And then in Psalm 25, in Psalm 25, right close there, a few verses, starting with verse six. Some words in this Psalm that sound very, similar to Psalm 119, that he is trusting in God and to work in us. But Psalm 25, starting with verse six, it says, remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies and thy loving kindnesses, for they have ever been ever of old. Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions.

According to thy mercy, remember thou me for thy goodness sake, O Lord. Good and upright is the Lord, therefore he will teach sinners in the way. The meek will he guide in judgment and the meek will he teach his way. All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies. For thy namesake, O Lord, pardon my iniquity for it is great. This list of things here of his tender mercies and his goodness and that he does do and that he does that for his people. And it says, verse 10, all the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth under such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.

And that the desire of the psalm is to do that, to do those things. And the same, the prayer of God's people of all times. And then one last time in the book of Psalms 136, Psalm 136. This psalm is 26 verses long, and every verse in this ends with, for his mercy endureth forever. On all 26 verses that. The first verse says, oh give thanks unto the Lord for he is good, for his mercy endureth forever. And then verses 23 and 24, who remembereth in our lowest state for his mercy endureth forever, and hath redeemed us from our enemies for his mercy endureth forever.

And because of his heaven's mercy to us, that his grace is extended to us, and those things that are requested of by the psalmist are those things that he desires that we have, and he provides for us in the Lord. And those are all the epitome of qualifications or attributes that our Lord has. Those are all the highest ideals of those thoughts. And as there, we saw that other passage about any virtuous things to think on, and he is all virtuous things, the Lord himself. are that if or since our God before us, who or what can be against us?

And in that, and in the Psalms here and these other parts we've looked at, that the mercy endureth forever, Psalm 136, that shows that God is constant, everlasting, loving, and faithful. and all those things speak to those attributes of God in his people and for his people. And once again, as we said there, that he is speaking those things that God's people desire and pray for and that the spirit formats what God's people poor prayers that we may come up with and have, we don't know those things correctly. He puts them in that right way and presents them to God in that way. And with that, we're gonna bring this to a close today. And next week, Lord willing, we'll consider those verses a little more particularly. diverse and so stay tuned.