Weekly Sermon
Psalm 119:12 reads, “Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.”
Throughout Psalm 119 we encounter four primary themes. First, we encounter the theme concerning God’s Word as the perfect guide for life. Second, we encounter the theme concerning God’s servant in his right relationship with God’s Word. Third, we encounter the theme concerning God’s servant in his desire to walk with the Lord through God’s truth. Finally, we encounter the theme concerning God’s servant in his suffering for the Lord’s sake. Thus the theme of Psalm 119 as a whole might be viewed as – The desire of the Lord’s suffering servant to seek the Lord through His Holy Word.
Yet why did the Lord’s suffering servant have such a driving desire to seek the Lord through His Word? Why did he exclaim in verse 5, “O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!” Why did he make searching request in the opening portion of verse 9, “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?” Why did he express the burden of his heart in the opening portion of verse 10, saying, “With my whole heart have I sought thee”? The answer is to be found in the opening portion of verse 12, wherein this young servant of the Lord proclaimed, “Blessed art thou, O LORD.” This young servant of the Lord was motivated to seek the Lord with all his heart through God’s Word because he was convinced with full assurance of faith that the Lord was abundantly worthy of his love, trust, submission, and service.
In fact, throughout this psalm the psalmist gives notice to seven characteristics by which he was convinced that the Lord was so abundantly worthy, and by which he was moved to proclaim, “Blessed art thou, O LORD.”
Psalm 119:12 reads, “Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.”
Throughout Psalm 119 we encounter four primary themes. First, we encounter the theme concerning God’s Word as the perfect guide for life. Second, we encounter the theme concerning God’s servant in his right relationship with God’s Word. Third, we encounter the theme concerning God’s servant in his desire to walk with the Lord through God’s truth. Finally, we encounter the theme concerning God’s servant in his suffering for the Lord’s sake. Thus the theme of Psalm 119 as a whole might be viewed as – The desire of the Lord’s suffering servant to seek the Lord through His Holy Word.
Yet why did the Lord’s suffering servant have such a driving desire to seek the Lord through His Word? Why did he exclaim in verse 5, “O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!” Why did he make searching request in the opening portion of verse 9, “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?” Why did he express the burden of his heart in the opening portion of verse 10, saying, “With my whole heart have I sought thee”? The answer is to be found in the opening portion of verse 12, wherein this young servant of the Lord proclaimed, “Blessed art thou, O LORD.” This young servant of the Lord was motivated to seek the Lord with all his heart through God’s Word because he was convinced with full assurance of faith that the Lord was abundantly worthy of his love, trust, submission, and service.
In fact, throughout this psalm the psalmist gives notice to seven characteristics by which he was convinced that the Lord was so abundantly worthy, and by which he was moved to proclaim, “Blessed art thou, O LORD.”
The Lord our God is the portion and provision for His own.
In Psalm 119:57 the psalmist declared, “Thou art my portion, O LORD: I have said that I would keep thy words.” For the Lord to be our portion means that He cares for us and that He will take care of us. It means that He is our Source to provide for all our need. Even so, in Psalm 16:5-11 David spoke of this matter, saying, “The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot [that is – thou providest for all my need]. The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage. I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons. I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Again in Psalm 73:23-28 Asaph spoke of this matter, saying, “Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee. But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.” The Lord our God is our portion and our provision for ever. We have no other Source to meet all our need beside Him. He is our Source to uphold us in the way. He is our Source to guide us in the path of life. He is our Source to fill our hearts with joy, peace, and hope. He is our Source to grant us spiritual strength. “Blessed art thou, O LORD!”
The Lord our God is abundantly full of tender mercies.
In Psalm 119:64 the psalmist declared, “The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy; teach me thy statutes.” Again in verse156 he declared, “Great are thy tender mercies, O LORD: quicken me according to thy judgments.” For the Lord to be merciful toward us means that He will forgive us when we repent of our sins and that He will help us when we call upon Him in times of trouble. Even so, in Psalm 51:1 David prayed unto the Lord in repentance of sin, saying, “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.” Again in Psalm 86:1-7 David prayed unto the Lord in his time of trouble, saying, “Bow down thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I am poor and needy. Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee. Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily. Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. Give ear, O LORD, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications. In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.” “Blessed art thou, O LORD!”
The Lord our God is good and does good for his faithful servants.
In Psalm 119:65 the psalmist declared, “Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O LORD, according unto thy word.” Again in verse 68 he declared, “Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.” By His very nature the Lord our God is good; and out of the eternally abundant goodness of His nature, He deals bountifully in goodness for his faithful servants. Even so, in Psalm 13:6 David proclaimed, “I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.” Again in Psalm 145:7-10 he proclaimed, “They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness. The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works. All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints shall bless thee.” Yea, all things do indeed “work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28) “Blessed art thou, O LORD!”
The Lord our God chastens in the faithfulness of His love.
In Psalm 119:75 the psalmist declared, “I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.” Now, this affliction from the Lord was His hand of chastening against His servant; for in verse 67 the psalmist declared, “Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.” When His children wander from Him into sin, the Lord our God is faithful in His love for them to chasten them until they return back unto His fellowship. Even so, in Proverbs 3:11-12 the instruction is given, “My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: for whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.” Again in Hebrews 12:10-11 the encouragement is given, “For they [our earthly fathers] verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he [our heavenly Father] for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” “Blessed art thou, O LORD!”
The Lord our God is faithful “unto all generations.”
In Psalm 119:90 the psalmist declared, “Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.” The faithfulness of our Lord is eternally great. It reaches unto the highest heaven. He will not allow His faithfulness to fail. Every promise of His Word will be fulfilled in perfect faithfulness. Even so, Moses proclaimed unto the children of Israel in Deuteronomy 7:9, “Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations.” Even so also, Hebrews 6:17-19 declares unto us today, “Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil.” “Blessed art thou, O LORD!”
The Lord our God is the deliverance and defense for His own.
In Psalm 119:114 the psalmist declared, “Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.” The Lord our God is our hiding place, our Source of deliverance and comfort. The Lord our God is our shield, our Source of defense and victory. Even so, in Psalm 3:3 David proclaimed, “But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.” Again in Psalm 18:1-2 he proclaimed, “I will love thee, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.” Yet again in Psalm 32:7 he proclaimed, “Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.” Finally, in Psalm 91:1-4 the psalmist proclaimed, “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.” “Blessed art thou, O LORD!”
The Lord our God is everlastingly righteous and upright.
In Psalm 119:137-138 the psalmist declared, “Righteous art thou, O LORD, and upright are thy judgments. Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful.” Again in verse 142 he declared, “Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.” Even so, in Deuteronomy 32:4 Moses proclaimed, “He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.” Again in Psalm 145:17 David proclaimed, “The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.” There is no unrighteousness with the Lord our God. “Blessed art thou, O LORD!”
Certainly then, brethren, the Lord our God is worthy. He is worthy for us to seek Him with all our heart. He is worthy for us to put our trust in Him. He is worthy for us to love Him and cleave unto Him. He is worthy for us to obey Him and serve Him. He is worthy! “Blessed art thou, O LORD!”
Posted in Weekly Sermon, Psalms, Blessing of the Lord, Grace and Mercy of God, Lovingkindness of the Lord,
Judgment of Our Lord, Love of the Lord, Faithfulness of Our Lord, Deliverance of Our Lord, Refuge of the Lord, Righteousness of Our Lord
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