Our scripture reading this morning is taken from Psalms 119. It's a rather lengthy psalm. Raise your hand if you need a break. We should be done around 8 or 9 p.m. tonight. We're just going to read the first eight verses. John said I could add a few scriptures and a few comments to this. So this is more than just scripture without comment this morning.

Psalm 119 is traditionally attributed to King David. Some scholars suggest it may have been written during the Babylonian exile. However, the exact author remains uncertain, as the psalm does not explicitly name one. Psalm 119 is the Bible's longest chapter, 176 verses, structured in an alphabetic acrostic with 22 stanzas, each corresponding to a Hebrew letter and containing eight verses.

So I had to look up what acrostic means. Acrostic is a piece of writing where the particular set of letters, typically the first letter in each line, word or paragraph, spells out a word or a phrase. So, in this case, the cross design is referring to how each of the 22 stanzas or sections consisting of the eight verses, each one is labeled with the successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet, such as Aleph, Beth, Gemal, and so on and so forth, in the 22 sections. Also, in the original Hebrew text, each of the eight verses in each of the 22 sections also started with the letter.

So that this structure is kind of, in a sense, lost in our English tradition. but they did this to help memorize the scriptures when people, you know, in the past were just trying to remember it. It aids in memorization and recitation and emphasizes the completeness of God's law covering all aspects of life.

First section of Psalm 119 verses 1 through 8 is Aleph. It emphasizes the blessings of following God's commandments. Psalm 119 verse 1, Aleph. Blessed are the undefiled in the way. who walk in the law of the Lord. There is so much meat in these scriptures, like Lance Heller used to say in the past, the scriptures are full, deep, rich, and complete. You can literally preach a whole message on this first verse, and there are so many scriptures that can go along with.

So I just tried to pick out a few here and there, but we know because God word tells us that since Adam rebelled against God in the garden, we died spiritually. And Ephesians two one says it. And you have the quicken who were dead in trespasses and said, and a dead man can't walk.

The only way a person can walk in the law of the Lord is if God has mercy on their soul, giving them the life saving grace to have faith in the finished work of Christ and him crucified to save you. Amen. Ezekiel 36, 27 says, and I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and you shall keep my judgments and do them. So we see the only way you can walk in the law of the Lord is if God causes you to have life, saving faith in Christ and his finished work on the cross.

Psalm 119 verse 2 says, Blessed are they that keep his testimonies and that seek him with the whole heart. Verse 3 says, They also do no iniquity. They walk in his ways. Verse 4, Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently. The gospel is a command. Listen to what our Lord commands us in Mark chapter 1 verse 14. Now after that John was put in prison. Jesus came into Galilee preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God saying the time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent ye and believe the gospel. This is a command from a king.

This isn't some won't you pretty please believe that believe in God so he can save you. No, this is a command from a king of kings that goes out to all mankind to repent and believe. Notice the word of God doesn't just say believe and be saved. No, it says repent and believe. The devil believes and fears God. Your sin is your sin. My sin is my sin. God says you put that sin in your life, so you take it out. And by his grace, he will give you the ability to do that.

Psalm 119 verse 5, O that my ways We're directed to keep thy statutes. I love this. Our ways are directed. Nothing happens by chance. Our God is a God of purpose and power over all things, including our ways. What a mighty God we have. Ephesians 111 says he worketh all things after the counsel of his own will. Proverbs 16 9 says a man's heart devises his way, but the Lord directs his step. You want to make God laugh? Just make plans.

Proverbs 1633, a lot is cast into the lap, but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. These scriptures flat out say that God controls everything. There is no odds of winning or losing with God. It's not a gamble. God controls the odds of everything. Psalm 119, verse six, then shall I not be ashamed when I have respect unto all thy commandments. Verse seven, I will praise thee with uprightness of heart. when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments. Verse 8 says, I will keep thy statutes. Oh, forsake me not utterly.

I don't know about you, but these last couple of verses hit me hard. How can I praise God with an upright heart? How can I keep his statutes, his law, when my best works are filthy rags, when I'm literally sin from head to toe? Sin is not what I do, but sin is what I am. God's words tell me this. How can I obey Psalm 119? How can I respect his commandments? How can I praise with an upright heart? Philippians 4, verse 13. I can do all things through Christ who strengthened me. Amen. Hebrews 12, verse 2. Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, I can tell you by the authority of God's word, this is the only way.