Our scripture reading, with some additional scriptures, comes from Psalm 119, the third book, Gimel. And before I start this, I'd like to share with you a little something that Becky and I experienced yesterday. We went to a funeral at one of those big warehouse churches, and I just couldn't believe how many times they said, make a decision. to accept Jesus as Lord. And I just wanted to say, I wanted to yell it out.

Jesus is Lord, whether you accept Him or know Him or not. So many times, so I couldn't even count, and they never even mentioned the name of the Lord once. But they had these Bibles they were gonna give out, and they wanted everyone who raised their hand to make their decision to accept Jesus as Lord, to write in there the date, and this is the time because of Melissa's departure from this world to remember this is the date they made a decision for Christ and that's going to make it so they can go join him, join her and have him join them.

And it's just, it's very sad. It's another gospel that the Bible talks about. It was not the gospel of the Lord saving grace. And we have a great privilege to be at this church where the gospel is actually preached. So I just wanted to share that with you. Psalm 119 verses 17 through 24. I know John put, the second section in there too, but I don't have anything prepared for that, so it's just gonna be any board that we put. We're just doing it.

Gimel. Gimel is the third letter in the Hebrew alphabet, and it represents a camel, or to benefit or reward. A camel in the desert is used symbolically to represent God's ability to provide and sustain us. to literally carry us through life's struggles and trials. Gimel also represents to benefit and reward. This definition serves to remind us that God blesses us and sustains us throughout our lives. Psalm 119 verse 17 through 24, Gimel, deal bountifully with thy servant that I may live and keep thy word.

Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of the law. I am a stranger in the earth. Hide not thy commandments from me. My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times. Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from thy commandments. Remove from me reproach and contempt, for I have kept thy testimonies. Princes also did sit and speak against me, but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes. Thy testimonies are my delight and my counselor's.

So I have a few scriptures I want to read that kind of go along with this and they just, these are the scriptures that spoke out to me and if there's one single scripture or even a part of one that God uses to speak to you, then I say amen. In verse 17 and 18, we read how the psalmist pleads with God to deal bountifully with him, asking God to open his eyes, that he may live, keep God's word, and behold wondrous things. The psalmist knows that only God can give eyes that see. And we read in Matthew, words of Jesus himself, Matthew chapter 13, verses 16 and 17, but blessed are your eyes that they see, and your ears for they hear. For verily I say unto you, that many prophets and righteous men have desired to see, those things which ye see, and have not seen them, and hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

Psalm 119, verse 19, the psalmist says, I am a stranger in the earth. Anyone that by God's grace and mercy that has been given faith to believe the gospel of Christ and Him crucified for the salvation of our souls knows, or should know, this earth is not our home. We are sojourners in the land, and our home is ultimately with the Father in heaven. Just as our forefathers, the elders of the tribe of Israel, Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and Sarah describe in Hebrews 11 verse 13, these all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. They all died in faith, knowing that they were strangers and pilgrims of the earth. They had God-given faith.

As we read in Psalm 119 verse 18, Open thou my eyes, as only God can open the eyes to see His grace. And God dealing with us bountifully, as described in verse 17, is further emphasized in Hebrews chapter 11 verse 6. but without faith it is impossible to please him. For he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." That's right, it says right there how God deals with us bountifully. He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Psalm 119 verse 20 says, My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath been to thy judgments at all times. When I read this verse, I'm reminded of Paul when he describes the war between his flesh and the Spirit of God that dwells within. Romans 7, verses 19-25.

For the good that I would, I do not, but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law that when I would do good, evil is present with me, for I delight in the law of God after the inward man. But I see another law of 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.

That's why Psalm 119 verse 20 says, my soul, break it. It just breaks our heart. I cry with the psalmist and Paul the same plea, for thy longing unto thy judgments at all times. Psalms 51 verse 17, the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. It's easy to remind myself of why my spirit is broken and my heart is contrite. My sin is what nailed my Savior to the cross. A broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

A contrite heart is profoundly humble, remorseful, and repentant spirit that recognizes its fault and sin, resulting in sincere desire for change and God's forgiveness. Psalm 119 verse 20, my soul breaketh and longeth. That's the scriptures I felt went along with that one. Psalm verses 21 through 24 of Psalm 119.

Thou hast rebuked the proud that are accursed which do err from thy commandments, removed from me reproach and contempt, for I have kept thy testimonies. Princes did sit and speak against me, but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes. Thy statutes also are my delight and my counselors.

These last scriptures in Psalm 119, Yemel, seem to me to circle back to the theme of this section, that God's word His testimonies and commandments that carry us, sustain us, delight us, and counsel us. We know that God's Word is all about Christ. The Gospel of Christ and Him crucified is the theme of this entire book. Jesus Christ is God Almighty. It is His Word, His testimonies, His commandments that carry us, sustain us, delight us, and counsel us. In Ephesians 1 verse 3, Blessed be the God, our Father, of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. And may the Holy Spirit add understanding to this scripture.