Where would we be without the
written word of God? I want you to think about that.
Where would we be without the written word of God? Where would we be without the
authoritative word of God? These verses are about, as far
as that's what Psalm 119 is all about, the word of God, how we
should fear. And I mean fear, the fear of
reverence and dread of taking the word of God and using it
deceitfully, using it to maintain a position rather than to bow
before what it actually says. Not to come to the Word of God
to try to prove and give me affirmation of what I believe, but to bow
to what God says in His Word. Where would we be without the
Word of God? Isaiah 8, 20 says, to the law
and to the testimony if they speak not according to this Word.
It's because there is no light in them." Now look what some
think this is David speaking to Solomon. It may be. Wherewithal
shall a young man cleanse his way? The answer is very simple. By taking heed thereto according
to thy word. That's simple enough, isn't it? If we had no written word of
God, we couldn't do as the noble Bereans. Remember what's said
of them? When they heard the apostles preach, the scripture
says they searched the scriptures daily, whether these things be
so. So you're not dependent on me
giving you the truth. You've got the written word of
God to see if what I'm saying is so. With all shall a young
man cleanse his way by taking heed unto the word of God. I
love 2 Timothy 3, verse 16, all scripture. This covers Genesis
1-1 through Revelation 22-21. All scripture is given. by inspiration of God. God breathed. Men wrote the scripture but it
was as they were inspired by God himself. And every word is
said exactly as God would have it said. No scriptures of any private
interpretation but holy men spake as they were moved by the Holy
Ghost. Second Peter chapter one. Now if we didn't have the Bible
we're without hope. We would be dependent upon what
men told us with regard to the character of God. We could not
know God. That's how important this book
is. There is no knowing God without
this book. Do you believe that? I know that so. Now there's some
things we can know about God using logic. Turn with me to
Romans chapter one. Verse 18 for the wrath of God
is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness
of men who hold the truth or literally hold down the truth
in unrighteousness because that which may be known of God is
manifest in them for God has showed it unto them for the invisible
things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen.
being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal
power and Godhead so that they are without excuse. Now, what
does that say? I can look at creation and the
only logical explanation for creation is God. This universe didn't just pop
up from nothing. The only logical, rational explanation
is God. God is. And I can know by logic
that God must be all-powerful to make this place, and nobody
made Him. He's eternal. You can know that
by logic, but that doesn't tell me whether God will save me. That doesn't tell me if God's
just. That doesn't tell me if God's gracious or merciful or
if God will forgive sin. The only way I know the true
character of God is from this book. Now back to Psalm 119. In these eight stanzas in Psalm
119, there are eight different words that are used with regard
to the word of God to describe it. Number one, the word. The word. Wherewithal shall a
young man cleanse his way by taking he thereto according to
thy word. Now, what's in my mind? The only
way you can know is by the words that come out. The word of God,
which tells us what's in his mind, who he is. The next word that's used, verse
10, With my whole heart have I sought thee, oh let me not
wonder from thy commandments. The word of God is a commandment.
It's not advice. It's to be believed. It's to
be bowed to. It's not good advice. Everything
God says is by way of commandment. And then look in verse 11. Thy word have I hit my heart.
Now that word is a different word than the one used in verse
nine. It's where we get the word Torah from, the five written
books of the Bible. This is a reference to the actual
written word, the Torah. And then in verse 12, blessed
art thou, O Lord, teach me thy statutes. Now that word is decrees,
the decrees of God. You know, everything that takes
place takes place because God decreed it. And that is what
is referred to in Revelation chapter five, the book written
on both sides of the page, nothing can be added to it, sealed with
seven seals. That's talking about the decrees
of God. I love the fact that the Lord
decrees and whatever he decrees takes place. That's his word,
the statutes. And then we read in verse 17
of his judgments. Not verse 17, I'm sorry, verse
13. With my lips have I declared
all the judgments of thy mouth. All he says is absolutely just
in accordance with his perfect justice. There's no darkness
in him. No darkness at all. Justice and
judgment are the habitation of thy throne. And then in verse
14, we read of the word testimonies. I've rejoiced in the in the way
of thy testimonies. This is God testifying. This
book is God testifying to me and to you. And then we read
in verse 15, I will meditate on thy precepts, thy mandates,
thy appointments. I will meditate on thy precepts
and have respect unto thy ways. I wanna read a passage from Isaiah
55. I'm sure you're familiar with
it. But in verse eight, God says, for my thoughts are not your
thoughts. Isn't that true? That's so true. My thoughts are not your thoughts. Can you say amen to that? My
thoughts are not your thoughts. Neither are your ways my ways,
saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher
than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my
thoughts higher. than your thoughts. I love the
way the scripture is called his ways. His ways. Now there's a way that seems
right to men. The end thereof are the ways
of death. I want to know his ways. And then he says, I will delight
myself in thy statutes again. His decrees, I will not forget
thy word. Now let's read this and think
about it in light of the written word of God and let me emphasize
this. My attitude towards God himself
is only seen in my attitude toward what this book says. The word of God. Now let's look
at verse one, or I mean, I'm sorry, verse nine. Wherewithal shall a young man
cleanse his way? You know, I don't have any confidence
in my way. How can my way be cleansed? Well,
how does David answer? By taking heed, by listening
to. by bowing to, by receiving, by
taking heed according to thy Word. The Word of God. The Word of God is quick, living,
and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword. Oh, the
Word of God. How am I gonna cleanse my way?
By listening to what God's Word says. reading the word, asking the
Lord to teach me what it means by hearing the preaching of the
word. Now don't, preaching is a supernatural thing. It's where
God makes known his word. I love it in Acts chapter eight
where the Ethiopian eunuch after Philip said to him, do you understand
what you're reading? Now the average person said, of course
I do. Here's what I think it means. I love this man's attitude. He said, how can I? except some
man should guide me. Now that's the attitude we're
to have toward the word preached. And we don't have to think, well,
how do I know he's telling the truth? We got the word to see. I don't ask anybody to ever believe
something because I say it. What does the word of God declare? Now look what he says next in
verse 10. With my whole heart, Have I sought
thee? Oh, let me not wonder from thy
commandments. Now, the Lord can't be sought
in a half-hearted way. The gospel, if true, is of infinite
importance. Nothing can be compared. If false,
it's of no importance at all. The one thing it cannot be is
moderately important. Where I'm fighting to try to
give it a place in my life, no, with my whole heart, have I sought
thee. Not in lukewarmness. He is to
be sought with the whole heart. And I have no doubt that that's
talking about that Heart, David said when he said, created me
a clean heart. Oh God, give me that heart and
cause me to seek you with all my heart. I don't wanna be half-hearted. All in, all in. Is there any other way the Lord
is to be served than with the whole heart? And look what he
says next in verse 10. Oh, let me not wander from thy
commandments. The word wanders go astray like
a lost sheep. You know sheep are dumb. I'm
dumb. I can so easily be led astray
and go in the wrong way. And this is what we're asking
the Lord. Don't let that happen with us. Don't let us wander
from that commandment. I love the song we sing and it's
so true prone to wonder. Don't you know that so view.
Prone to wonder, Lord, I feel it. Prone to leave the God I
love. Here's my heart, oh, take and
seal it. Seal it for thy courts above. Now that's the experience of
every believer. Prone to wonder. And that's why
we cry, Lord, don't let me wander. Don't let me go astray. I love
the last verse of this psalm. I've gone astray like a lost
sheep. Seek thy servant. Seek thy servant. I can't get back to you any more
than a lost sheep can get back to the shepherd. You come after
me and bring me. Now this is the heart cry of
every believer. Don't let me wander from thy
commandments. Cause me to believe thy gospel
and continue in your gospel and continue looking to Christ and
continue walking with him. Oh, let, cause him to be my all
in all. Verse three, he says, thy word have I hid in my heart that I
might not sin against thee. Thy word have I hid in my heart. Now, what I thought of is when
that fella finds the treasure in the field, what's he do? He
hides it. He sees it so precious. He doesn't
want anything to interfere with this being his treasure. And he hides it and goes and
sells all that he has to have that field. Thy word have I hid
in my heart that I might not sin against thee. This morning, we're going to
look at John chapter eight, the woman taken in adultery. And
the last thing the Lord says to her is, neither do I condemn
thee, go and sin no more. It's very important for me and
you to understand this, the gospel does not say sin is OK under
any circumstance, any more than the law does. You believe that? Go and sin no more. Lord's not going to say to her,
now, since salvation's by grace, you don't really need to worry
about this sin. I don't even think, it's interesting, and
this goes on a lot with this, I don't even think he's saying
leave this lifestyle, although she is to leave that lifestyle.
He's saying go and sin no more. Sin is never okay. These things write unto you that
you sin not. When you do, we have an advocate
with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. But David says
in verse 11, thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not
sin against thee. May that be inscribed in my heart,
to have this attitude about sin. to where my great desire is to
not sin against him. Don't you hate your hardened
attitude towards sin? It doesn't really bother you
the way it should. You're used to it. Oh, may the Lord put this
in my heart, thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not
sin against thee. You see, we love him and we understand
sin is against him, every sin. And he says in verse 12, blessed
art thou, O Lord. Teach me thy statutes. Blessed be the God and father
of our Lord Jesus Christ. Same thing, isn't it? Blessed
be thou, O Lord. Blessed be the God and father
of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual
blessings in heavenly places in Christ. Now, blessed art thou,
O Lord. Now look at his desire in verse
12. Teach me. Teach me, Lord, teach
me. Don't lead me to moan understanding.
Teach me thy statutes. I love the scripture, they shall
all be taught of God. That's what the Lord said. And
Lord, teach me. Don't lead me to my own understanding.
Don't lead me to the thoughts of my heart. Don't lead me to
my regular inclinations. Don't teach me. They shall all
be taught of God. Every man, therefore, that hath
heard and learned of the Father cometh to me. I'll tell you when
you've been taught of the Lord, when you come to Christ, that
means you've been taught of the Lord. The only reason you come
is because he brought you there. And we're crying, Lord, teach
me, don't leave me to my own understanding, my own thoughts.
He says in verse 13, with my lips have I declared all the
judgments of thy mouth. Now here is the subject of our
preaching with our lips to declare how many judgments of his mouth?
all the judgments of his mouth. You know what I hear, and I've
heard preachers do this, well this, is this, do you have to
believe this, or is it heretical if you don't believe it? Is this
part important, is that part not important? No, all the judgments
of thy mouth. Every word of God is of critical
importance. And what are we to leave out?
We are to declare all the judgments of His mouth. I think of what
the Lord said, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever
I've said unto you. And lo, I'm with you always,
even to the end of the world. With my lips have I declared
all the judgments of thy mouth. What do you gotta believe to
be saved? Everything God says. Everything, without exception. That's what you gotta believe,
to be saved. All the judgments of His mouth.
Verse 14, I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies as
much as in all riches. You know, when Christ said, I
am the way. You know, he rejoicing in the way of his testimonies.
When Christ said, I am the way. I am the truth. I am the life. No man comes to the Father but
by me. And when I think of what the Lord says, you're not coming
to the Father unless you come by me. And that doesn't simply
mean Pleading me but being in me so that when I come to the
father you come to the father You know what that does that
rejoices my heart I Rejoice that the Lord himself brings me into
the very presence of the father. I will rejoice in Thy testimonies. Don't you love the way the Lord
testified of this to us? I am the way. That's his testimony.
I am the way. I am the truth. I am the life. My life is your life before God.
No man comes to the Father but by me. I rejoice in the way of
his testimonies as much as in all riches. The word of God is
infinitely more important what we would call material well-being,
our rejoicing has been in all riches. Now look in verse 15,
he says, I will meditate in thy precepts and have respect unto
thy ways. I will meditate. Now, what all
does that mean? the precepts of God, the mandates
of God, the words of God, I will meditate. Well, it means read
them, it means memorize the scripture. It's a good thing to do, memorize
the scripture. But what it means more than anything
else is meditating on the message of the Bible. You know, it's
a good thing to meditate on how God can be perfectly just and
yet justify Make me to where I am perfectly righteous, even
though in and of myself, I'm nothing but sin. How God can
justly do that. Isn't that a wonderful thing
to meditate upon? What about meditating on the
union you have with Christ? It blows my mind. I've always
been in him. Eternally. There was never a
time when I began to exist in his mind. He said, behold, I've
loved you with an everlasting love. Therefore, with loving
kindness, have I drawn thee. Meditate on that. Meditate on
the fact that the Lord said, as the father hath loved me.
How did the father love the Lord Jesus Christ? perfectly. He saw him as altogether beautiful
and lovely and glorious. The Lord says, the Father has
loved me, so have I loved you. Meditate on that. I will meditate in thy precepts
and have respect. Now the foundation of a good
relationship is respect. just on a human level. If somebody
doesn't respect you, if someone is a disrespectful person, really
that person, they're not gonna get very far. Disrespect, and
really understand this, respect people. If I treat people disrespectfully,
and everybody ought to be treated with respect, Everybody they
act disrespectfully so ugly. It's so teacher kids to be respectful
people That's the that's the respect authority to respect
the Word of God respect Now David says I will have respect Unto
thy ways. I respect the Lord's way of salvation. I Respect it. I see is glorious. I respect it And David says in
verse 16, I will delight myself in thy statutes. Don't you delight
yourself in his decrees. I will delight myself in my statutes
and I will not forget thy word by your grace, by your grace. I will not forget thy word. Whether withal shall a young
man cleanse his way, by taking heed thereto according to thy
word.