Psalm 119 v57-64

Q: What does the Bible say about the importance of God's Word?

The Bible teaches that God's Word is essential for instruction, correction, and righteousness, as revealed in 2 Timothy 3:16-17. God's Word is presented in the Bible as divinely inspired and profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness. In 2 Timothy 3:16-17, it emphasizes that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, highlighting its authority and significance in shaping the believer's life. The Psalms, particularly Psalm 119, reinforce this by showcasing the psalmist's deep reliance on God's laws and testimonies as a source of life and direction. Thus, the importance of God's Word is paramount, serving as the foundation of the Christian faith and guiding believers in their daily walk with Christ.

Q: How do we know God's mercy is abundant?

God's mercy is abundant and evident throughout Scripture, as seen in Psalm 136:1 and Psalm 103:10-12. The Scriptures declare the abundance of God's mercy, most notably in Psalm 136, which repeatedly states, 'for His mercy endures forever.' This refrain underscores the eternal and unchanging nature of God's mercy towards His creation. Additionally, Psalm 103:10-12 illustrates how God does not treat us as our sins deserve, reflecting His deep mercy and grace. The psalmist recognizes that God's mercy pervades the earth, offering hope and peace to those who seek refuge in Him. Overall, the countless declarations of God's mercy throughout the Bible provide assurance of His unfailing love and compassion for His people.

Q: Why is self-examination important for Christians?

Self-examination is crucial for Christians as it aligns our lives with God's Word and prompts repentance, as encouraged in 2 Corinthians 13:5. Self-examination is an important spiritual discipline for every Christian, as it allows believers to reflect on their thoughts, actions, and alignment with God's Word. In 2 Corinthians 13:5, Paul urges believers to examine themselves to ensure they are in the faith. This practice encourages repentance and fosters spiritual growth, helping believers identify areas in their lives that do not honor God. Furthermore, the psalmist in Psalm 119 emphasizes the necessity of turning one's feet towards God's testimonies, which suggests a continual commitment to align with God's will. Thus, self-examination serves as a vital component in maintaining a vibrant and faithful relationship with God.

Q: What does it mean that God is our portion?

God being our portion signifies that He is our ultimate inheritance and source of satisfaction, as illustrated in Psalm 119:57. When the psalmist declares 'Thou art my portion, O Lord' in Psalm 119:57, it signifies deep spiritual truth that God Himself is the ultimate source of satisfaction and belonging for believers. This concept mirrors the inheritance promised to the people of God, where our ultimate hope and fulfillment are found in a relationship with Him. The association with inheritance is further supported in Lamentations 3:24-26, where the Lord is recognized as the portion of the soul that gives hope and sustenance. This understanding emphasizes that earthly possessions and achievements pale in comparison to the richness of our relationship with God, who will ultimately present us faultless before His glory, as noted in Jude 1:24.

Q: Why should Christians keep God's commandments?

Christians should keep God's commandments as an expression of love for Him, following John 14:15 and James 1:22. The call to keep God's commandments stems from a response of love and gratitude towards Him. As noted in John 14:15, Jesus instructs His followers, 'If ye love me, keep my commandments,' demonstrating that obedience is a natural outflow of a loving relationship with the Lord. Furthermore, James 1:22 emphasizes the necessity of being doers of the Word, not just hearers, signifying that true faith is expressed through action. By adhering to God's commandments, believers align their lives with His will and purposes, growing in holiness and reflecting God's glory to the world around them. Therefore, keeping the commandments is foundational to the Christian faith, highlighting both love for God and commitment to live out His truth.

I just wanna say one thing real quick about Mother's Day, Happy Mother's Day. There's one thing in this world that does not fail, and that's love. The Bible says that love faileth not. And I can't think of anyone who proves that more than a mother. And so God bless all the mothers in this world today, and thank you, Lord, for our mothers. I don't think most boys would make it to adulthood without their mother. This morning's study is taken from Psalms chapter 119, Verses 57 through 64, it's spelled C-H-E-T-H, the Hebrew letter, but apparently it's pronounced ket or het. So I'm gonna use ket.

It's the eighth section, eighth Hebrew letter, and for the sake of anyone who might not have heard before about what the nature of Psalm 119 is, I'm gonna briefly describe it in case there's someone here in this message for the first time on the study of Psalm 119.

The form is called an acrostic poem. It uses the Hebrew alphabet. And each section corresponds to the letter of the Hebrew alphabet. So in this case, it's the eighth letter. Each section has eight verses. And each verse originally started with that same Hebrew letter.

But because the original Hebrew text has been translated into English, we lose a little bit of the nature of what's called an acrostic poem. That's what it's called. Because it's been translated into English. So when we look at each eight verses in each section, we should try to correlate the meaning of the letter for that section, because originally it did start, each verse started with that letter. So in this case, ket, the eighth Hebrew letter, symbolizes life, a new beginning or a fence, and often interpreted as a doorway.

So if we think about life in John 14, 6, Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me. And if we think of a doorway, in John 10, 7, we read, Jesus' words himself, God's words himself. Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not enter, did not hear them. I am the door, by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

In the Bible, the Hebrew alphabet is not merely a set of letters, but it carries profound spiritual and symbolic meanings. Ket, as the eighth letter, is often linked to the concept of new beginnings and resurrection. The number eight in biblical numerology is frequently associated with the new order or creation. as seen in the eight people saved in Noah's Ark, in Genesis 7, 13, and the circumcision of male infants on the eighth day, in Leviticus 12, 3, we read about that. Symbolizing a covenantal relationship with God.

Interesting. The book of Psalms in the Bible is a wonderful study no matter where you look. Psalms 119 is so long, it's almost like its own book. The author of most of the Psalms is attributed to David, but the author of some Psalms 119 is unknown. But most scholars agree that it is written by David, Ezra, Daniel or Jeremiah. But whoever the author is, it was considered to be inspired word of God, which gives the scripture divine importance. Second Timothy, verse three, chapter three, verses 16 and 17, read all scripture is given by inspiration of God. and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

I love what Don Fortner says about the book of Psalms. He says, quote, Psalms is God's book of praise. The word Psalm itself, or Psalms, is a word that reflects praise itself. The Psalms teach us to worship God always, through all trials, through all circumstances. The Psalms teach us to be occupied with God in our heart and our mind, and to focus on God's greatness, God's glory, and God's wondrous works. Don goes on to say, the Psalms teach us how to bow down before God and worship Him, to find strength for the labor of the day, and to find comfort for the labor that we must endure, and to find solace in our sorrows." The Psalms are just as important today as when the Psalms penned them. They help us to do what Paul has encouraged us to do in Colossians.

In Colossians 3, verses 1-3, If then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. So, Psalms 119, verses 57 through 64, Ket. Starting in verse seven.

Thou art my portion, O Lord. I have said that I would keep thy words. I entreated thy favor with my whole heart. Be merciful unto me according to thy word. I thought on my ways and turned my feet unto thy testimonies. I made haste and delayed not to keep thy commandments. The bands of the wicked have robbed me, but I have not forgotten thy law. At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments. I am a companion of all them that fear thee and of them that keep thy precepts. The earth, O Lord, is full of thy mercy. Teach me thy statutes. So, beginning on verse 57. Ket, thou art my portion, O Lord. I have said that I would keep thy words.

In this verse, the psalmist highlights that God is the believer's ultimate satisfaction. And the psalmist, in his prayer to God here, has committed to obey God's word. Bible scholars almost unanimously say Jeremiah wrote Lamentations, and many believe Jeremiah wrote this section of Psalm 119 because of the opening verse, thou art my portion.

In Lamentations chapter three, verses 24 through 26, the Lord is my portion, saith my soul, therefore will I hope in him. The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. David says the same thing in Psalms 16, verse five.

The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance, and of my cup thou maintainest my lot. Similarly, in Numbers, we see God told Aaron that he is his portion, or inheritance. In Number, Numbers chapter 18, verse 20. And the Lord spake to Aaron, thou shall have no inheritance in the land, neither shall thou have any part among them. I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel. Like the psalmist, like David or Jeremiah or Aaron, the Lord is our portion, our inheritance.

And as we all should know, our inheritance is the same. for all precious blood-bought children of God. That's right. Our inheritance is to be found spotless before the glory of God Almighty. That's our inheritance. In Jude chapter 1 verse 24, now unto him that is able to keep you from falling and present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. Isn't that a wonderful thing? That's a wonderful inheritance.

A believer's inheritance is that when we go through that doormark death and stand before the judgment seat of God Almighty, God will see the blood of his precious son who lovingly laid down his life for his since named children. God is righteous and just and must punish sin. Our inheritance is when God looks at us who are sin. God will see the penalty for sin punished, brutally punished in his own precious son who bore our sins. Portion or inheritance is when God looks upon the sin-stained child of God who has placed their faith and trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ and him crucified God says not guilty What a beautiful inheritance life The meaning of cat itself.

What a beautiful inheritance instead of death He gave to us his son in our stead in Psalms 119 kept a to keep him better and symbolizes life, as I mentioned, and we see this in verse 57. Ket, thou art my portion, O Lord. Like the psalmist, the believer can say, thou art my portion, O Lord, life. Our inheritance is life. Psalm chapter 119, verse 58 reads, I entreated thy favor with my whole heart. Be merciful unto me according to thy word.

The psalmist in this verse is focusing on praying with his whole heart. seeking God's grace and relying on the promises of God and His Word, like the song, Standing on the Promises of God. This verse may again be an indicator that Jeremiah wrote this section, because this prayer could be an answer to what God commanded him to do. In Jeremiah 29, verse 12 and 13, we read, Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you, And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. Or as Moses declares in Deuteronomy 4, verse 29, But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, and thou shalt seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.

In this day and age, we seek our relationship with God through Christ our Redeemer, the only mediator between God and man. 1 Timothy 2, verse 5 says that. There is one God, one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus. There is no other mediator between God and man. Hebrews 4, verse 16 says, Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. James 4, verse 8, Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.

So moving on in Psalms 119, verse 59 says, I thought on my ways and turned my feet unto thy testimonies. In this section, the psalmist is emphasizing self-examination. I thought on my ways, he says, and repentance by aligning his life with God's word.

We can see Paul say pretty much the same thing in 2 Corinthians chapter 13, verse five, examine yourselves. Whether you be in the faith, prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you? Galatians chapter six, verse four, but let every man prove his work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone and not in another. Jeremiah says in Lamentations chapter three, well, we think Jeremiah wrote Lamentations, but I don't think we know for sure.

Let us search and try our ways and turn again to the Lord. In this section, the psalmist effectively reminds us to examine ourselves and make sure our thoughts align with God's word. For the word of God warns us about our thoughts. Our thoughts can be deceiving and dangerous. Look at what Solomon tells us in the Proverbs about our thoughts. Proverbs chapter 14, verse 12, there is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. Proverbs chapter 16, 25, very similar. There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. The psalmist says, I thought on my ways, I turned my feet unto thy testimonies. Something important we can take from this is we need to continually examine ourselves and turn our feet to God's testimony of his Son, Jesus Christ. After all, the entire Bible from the beginning to the end is all about Christ.

And it says that in Psalms chapter 40, verse seven, Then said I, Lo, I come, in the volume of the book it is written of me. But in Hebrews, that scripture is expounded a little more. In Hebrews chapter 10, verses five through seven, wherefore when he cometh into the world, he sayeth, sacrifice and offerings thou wouldest not, but a body thou hast prepared me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin, thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come, In the volume of the book it is written of me to do thy will, O God.

We need to turn our feet continually to stand on the solid rock of Christ Jesus. Like the song says, all other ground is sinking sand. 1 John 1, verse 7, but if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another. And the blood of Jesus Christ, his son, cleanses us from all sin. Psalm chapter 119, verse 60.

I made haste and delayed not to keep thy commandments. Here the psalmist focuses on the immediate proactive obedience to God, avoiding the human nature of procrastination. We all procrastinate. It takes effort to not put off today what we can do tomorrow. The psalmist recognizes this and vows to make haste, delay not, Our God, in the person of Jesus Christ, directly commands us in John 14, verse 15, if ye love me, keep my commandments. Or as in James, where he emphasizes action over just hearing or intending to do. In James 1, verse 22, be ye doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Tomorrow is not guaranteed for anyone. Proverbs 27, verse 1, Boast not thyself of tomorrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth." Tomorrow is not guaranteed for anyone, ever. In an effort to use this Hebrew letter ket, symbolizing a fence or a boundary, we can consider tomorrow. The fact that tomorrow is fenced off, we are not guaranteed tomorrow. So don't put off keeping the commandments of God, and to take it a little farther, the letter represents life also.

God commands us to believe his word in the first thing Jesus the Lord God Almighty said in Mark chapter 1 verse 15, the first words of Christ recorded in Mark. The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent ye and believe the gospel. Words of God Almighty right there. Come to Christ. Put your faith in Christ and his finished work on the cross for salvation of your soul right now and be saved. I gotta say, one time I heard Henry Mayhem preaching, you know, and he's like, I feel like the same way too.

He says, woe is me, I'm a man of unclean lips. I mean, there's nothing I can, I'm a foolish man up here trying to expound on the scriptures of God. And he says, like Paul, woe is me if I preach not the gospel. But he also said, woe is you if you believe not the gospel.

That's right. Amen. Believe right now and be saved. Tomorrow's not guaranteed. And if you put this off until tomorrow and you go through that doormark death before tomorrow, we know what the Word of God says your portion will be. In 1 John 5, verse 12, he that hath the Son hath life, and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. John 3, verse 36, he that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life, And he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.

This is serious stuff. That's why the psalmist says in verse 60, I made haste and delayed not to keep thy commandments. And somehow in that verse, ket, meaning life, has to do with keeping the commandment of God to believe so that you will live and not die. Psalm chapter 119 verse 61 says, the bands of the wicked have robbed me, but I have not forgotten thy law. The psalmist in this verse is focusing on remaining faithful to God's word, despite persecution, affliction, or traps laid by the enemy. He's relying on God's word for comfort and direction while facing life's perils.

We can see some examples of this in God's word, such as in Acts chapter five, verses 40 through 42, And to him they agreed, and when they had called the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus and let them go.

And this is the apostles, they got beaten for preaching the gospel, basically. And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. And daily in the temple and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ. This has got their a beating of their lives. We're worthy of that, worthy of preaching the gospel, and we're going to continue. Even after the apostles were beaten, they did not abandon preaching the gospel of Christ and Him crucified.

Look what Peter said, 1 Peter 4, verses 12-14. Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you. But rejoice inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings, that when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye, for the spirit of glory and of God resteth on you. And there part he is on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

Look at what David said when facing some extreme peril. In Psalm chapter three, verses one through four, when he fled from Absalom his son, he says, Lord, how are they increased that trouble me? Many are they that rise up against me. Many there be which say of my soul, there is no help for him in God, Selah. But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me, my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill.

Selah. Chapter 119 of Psalms, verse 62 says, At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments. In this verse, I think the psalmist is saying never stop at any time thinking about God and His great mercy and loving kindness. Amen. 1 Thessalonians 5 16-17 Rejoice evermore and pray without ceasing. God does not sleep. When the wicked are busy doing their dirty deeds at night, God is judging them and hedging us about as He did for Job.

Look at the examples Paul and Silas gave us in Acts chapter 16, verses 23 through 25. Again, they were beaten for preaching the gospel. In this case, they cast that demon out that someone was using for making money off of soothsaying. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely, who having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison and made their feet fast in the stocks. And at midnight, Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God, and the prisoners heard them.

Think about this. Paul and Silas were in cold, dank, moldy prison. And I'm sure serious toxic conditions of bacteria because of lack of any sanitation or restrooms. There must have been a grotesquely nauseous odor in there. And they just got whipped, badly beaten. And here they are singing praises. One example, and the prisoners heard them.

What a witness. You know, the things that we go through in life and how we handle them is a witness. That's right. And we know what Romans 8, 28 says, that all things happen for the good, for those who love God. It doesn't say for me. At that time, it may be very painful. And it may be a heavy trial, but the way we endure those, for the kingdom of God, it praises God and gives God the glory. And for our good, eventually, too, because we know that God chastises us who he loves.

Like when you wrecked your motorcycle. That wasn't too good at the time. You almost died. But when you came to church and said that, that's what the Lord had for you. And it just blessed my heart to hear you give God all the glory for every circumstance in your life. Anyways, it was good for me. It wasn't very good for you at the time. It may be now. I think so.

Psalm chapter 119 verse 63. I am a companion of all them that fear thee and of them that keep thy precepts. Here, the psalmist is reflecting on how he is trying to live his life by aligning himself with like minded people. The psalmist is focusing on fellowship with believers who revere God and obey His commands.

We are in this world, but we are not of this world. When we go through our day in and day out life, we will interact with all kinds of people who hate God and hate His people. And we are to always be ready to give an answer as to why we have faith in God. But we also need to have the wisdom to know when we are just poking a bear or casting pearls to swine, as the scripture says.

The psalmist recognizes the importance of fellowship with like-minded people. as in Proverbs 27, verse 17, iron sharpeneth iron. So a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. In 1 Thessalonians 5, 11, and 12, wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do, and we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you. In Philippians 2, verse 2, fulfill ye my joy, that ye be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

An example of the symbolism of the Hebrew letter ket, meaning boundary or fence. In this case, it may be a good idea to put a boundary between yourself and some people that hate God and hate you. Be careful, because they will hate you and hate God and show that. I've experienced that a lot in my life, in work and just being out and about.

You can't force someone to believe God or an instrument. We can give them scriptures and point them to Christ, but only he can open their eyes and their ears. And if we try to do it, they'll turn around. And like the scripture says, cast some pearls of swine, they'll turn around and devour you. But always be ready to give an answer. Proverbs 13 20, he that walketh with wise men shall be wise, but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. Second Corinthians chapter six, verses 14 through 16. Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belal? Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God. As God hath said, I will dwell in them and walk in them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Psalm chapter 119, verse 64 says, the earth, O Lord, is full of thy mercy. Teach me thy statutes. When the psalmist says the earth, O Lord, is full of thy mercy, it seems to me that he is referring to the fact that no matter where you look, if you're looking for God's mercy, you will find the mercy of God.

Amen. Our God is so merciful that he, God, literally humbled himself and became a man and laid down his life as a testimony to his mercy to save his lost sheep. And God's mercy is so great that he will hold all things together by the word of his power. Until he saves all of his lost sheep, he won't lose one.

That's mercy. God's mercy is so great that it is out of our ability to comprehend how great it is. And that's a fact. Psalm chapter 108, verse four, for the mercy is great above, thy mercy is great above the heavens, and the truth reacheth unto the clouds. His mercy is above the heavens. Listen to this about how great God's mercy is in Psalms chapter 103, verses 10 through 12.

He hath not dealt with us after our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. You know what we deserve? For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy towards them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

That is mercy. Amen. 136 of Psalm verse one. Oh, give thanks unto the Lord for he is good, for his mercy endureth forever. When God's word says something two or three times, it's a good idea to pay attention to what he's saying. God's word for his mercy endureth forever. 26 times in Psalm 136.

When the psalm says, teach me thy statutes on the last verse of Ket, the psalmist recognizes that unless God gives us eyes to see and ears to hear, We won't understand anything in His word of life. And that's exactly what it is, the word of life. How appropriate for the psalmist to end this section with the symbolization of the Hebrew letter Tet, meaning life. He says, teach me thy statutes, or teach me thy word, and the word of God is the word of life.

The word of life, 1 John 1. That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled the word of life. And one more, we read earlier, but it's there in repeating, 1 John 5, verse 11 and 12. And this is the record that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life, and he that hath not the Son of God It's all about life. The word of life. Amen? Amen.

Psalm 119 v57-64

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about the importance of God's Word?

How do we know God's mercy is abundant?

Why is self-examination important for Christians?

What does it mean that God is our portion?

Why should Christians keep God's commandments?

Sermon Transcript

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Psalm 119 v57-64

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about the importance of God's Word?

How do we know God's mercy is abundant?

Why is self-examination important for Christians?

What does it mean that God is our portion?

Why should Christians keep God's commandments?

Sermon Transcript

Comments

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