Weekly Sermon
Psalm 119:17-24 reads, “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 thy 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 also are my delight and my counsellors.”
The theme of Psalm 119 as a whole is – The desire of the Lord’s suffering servant to seek the Lord through His holy Word. In verse 17 this servant of the Lord sought the Lord in prayer, saying, “Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word.” Herein the psalmist, this servant of the Lord, expressed his desire to walk aright with the Lord his God – to live a godly life of obedience unto God’s Word. Yet herein the psalmist, this servant of the Lord, also expressed his understanding of his need for the Lord to help him so that he might walk aright – to deal bountifully with him so that he might live a godly life. Even so, we also should maintain a desire to walk aright with our Lord; and we should make request daily that our Lord might help us to walk aright. In Psalm 119:17 we find four ingredients to this request by the Lord’s servant.
Psalm 119:17-24 reads, “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 thy 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 also are my delight and my counsellors.”
The theme of Psalm 119 as a whole is – The desire of the Lord’s suffering servant to seek the Lord through His holy Word. In verse 17 this servant of the Lord sought the Lord in prayer, saying, “Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word.” Herein the psalmist, this servant of the Lord, expressed his desire to walk aright with the Lord his God – to live a godly life of obedience unto God’s Word. Yet herein the psalmist, this servant of the Lord, also expressed his understanding of his need for the Lord to help him so that he might walk aright – to deal bountifully with him so that he might live a godly life. Even so, we also should maintain a desire to walk aright with our Lord; and we should make request daily that our Lord might help us to walk aright. In Psalm 119:17 we find four ingredients to this request by the Lord’s servant.
The Assurance in the request of the Lord’s servant
In the opening line of Psalm 119:17, the psalmist prayed, “Deal bountifully with thy servant.” Herein we take note that the this servant of the Lord did not simply make request for help. Rather, he made request for help in a bountiful manner. In this context the word “bountifully” refers to a reward of abundant goodness. Through this request the psalmist revealed his assurance that the Lord his God could indeed deal with him bountifully. In the first place, through his prayer this servant of the Lord revealed his full assurance of faith that the Lord Himself was completely good in His very nature. Even so, in the opening half of verse 68, the psalmist proclaimed, “Thou art good, and doest good.” Furthermore, the opening half of Psalm 25:8 proclaims, “Good and upright is the LORD.” Again Psalm 33:5 proclaims, “He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.” Therefore, Psalm 34:8 gives the instruction, “O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” In the second place, through his prayer this servant of the Lord revealed his full assurance of faith that the Lord was able to grant a reward of abundant goodness. Even so, in Psalm 31:19 David exclaimed, “Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!” Furthermore, Psalm 34:10 declares, “The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.” Finally, 2 Corinthians 9:8 declares, “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.” In the third place, through his prayer this servant of the Lord revealed his full assurance of faith that the Lord was willing to be merciful in granting abundant goodness. Even so, in Psalm 84:11-12 the psalmist proclaimed, “For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.” Furthermore, in Psalm 86:5 David proclaimed, “For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.” Finally, in Psalm 116:5-7 the psalmist proclaimed, “Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful. The LORD preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me. Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee.” Let us then also have full assurance of faith that our good Lord is both able and willing to deal bountifully in abundant goodness with us.
The Claim in the request of the Lord’s servant
Again in the opening line of Psalm 119:17, the psalmist prayed, “Deal bountifully with thy servant.” The assurance of the psalmist was that the Lord was able and willing to deal bountifully with His own. Yet the claim that the psalmist had upon the Lord’s bountiful dealing was that he was one of the Lord’s faithful servants. As we have previously read, Psalm 31:19 reveals that our Lord’s abundant goodness is laid up for them that fear Him and put their trust in Him. Again as we have previously read, Psalm 84:11 reveals that our Lord will not withhold any good thing “from them that walk uprightly.” Even so, in Psalm 119:17 the psalmist made his claim on the Lord’s bountiful dealing and abundant goodness as a faithful servant of the Lord. Yea, throughout the remaining context of verses 18-24, the psalmist revealed a number of characteristics whereby he walked as a faithful servant of the Lord. In the first place, he maintained a continual desire for the truth of God’s Word. In verse 20 he declared, “My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times.” In the second place, he maintained a consistent obedience to the principles of God’s Word. In verse 22 he declared, “Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies.” In the third place, he maintained a constant meditation in the wisdom of God’s Word. In verse 23 he declared, “Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.” Finally, he maintained a confident delight in the counsel of God’s Word. In verse 24 he declared, “Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors.” Let us then also walk as faithful servants of our Lord, by continually desiring the truth of His Word, consistently obeying the principles of His Word, constantly meditating in the wisdom of His Word, and confidently delighting in the counsel of His Word. Yea, let us walk as faithful servants of our Lord in order that we might also have a claim on His bountiful dealing and abundant goodness.
The Substance in the request of the Lord’s servant
Yet again in the opening line of Psalm 119:17, the psalmist prayed, “Deal bountifully with thy servant.” The assurance of the psalmist was that the Lord was able and willing to deal bountifully with His own. The claim of the psalmist upon the Lord’s bountiful dealing was that he was one of the Lord’s faithful servants. However, in what particular matters did this servant of the Lord desire that the Lord might deal bountifully with him? The answer is found through two additional requests that the psalmist made in the further context of verses 18-24. In the first place, the psalmist made the request in verses 18-19, “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me.” In the second place, the psalmist made the request in verse 22, “Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies.” The psalmist’s request for bountifully dealing from the Lord concerned two matters. He did not desire that the Lord might deal bountifully with him in wealth or in health. Rather, he desired that the Lord might deal bountifully with him in guidance and in deliverance. First, he desired that the Lord might deal bountifully with him spiritually in helping him to learn and understand the wisdom of God’s Word. He desired to learn the wisdom of God’s Word, and he desired to grow in his knowledge of and fellowship with the Lord through the wisdom of God’s Word. Second, he desired that the Lord might deal bountifully with him circumstantially in delivering him from the reproach and contempt of the ungodly. He desired to be delivered from the reproach of the ungodly, and he desired the freedom to “lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.” (1 Timothy 2:2)
The Objective in the request of the Lord’s servant
As we have observed, in the opening line of Psalm 119:17, the psalmist prayed, “Deal bountifully with thy servant.” Then in the closing line of the verse, the psalmist revealed the objective for his request, saying, “That I may live, and keep thy word.” This servant of the Lord did not make request with the motive to consume the Lord’s bountiful dealing upon his own lust. Rather, this servant of the Lord made request with the motive to live an obedient and godly life before the Lord. He desired for the Lord’s bountiful dealing of deliverance in order that he might live. Yet this servant of the Lord did not simply desire to possess a life that he might live unto himself. Rather, he desired to possess a life that he might live in obedience unto the Lord. Thus he desired, not only for the Lord’s bountiful dealing of deliverance, but also for the Lord’s bountiful dealing of guidance. He desired for the Lord’s bountiful dealing of guidance in order that he might keep God’s Word. So then, do we also desire the Lord’s bountiful dealing of both guidance and deliverance in our lives? Yea, do we also desire our Lord’s bountiful dealing with us in order that we might live a life of obedience unto His holy Word?
Posted in Weekly Sermon, Psalms, Prayer, Trust in God, Lovingkindness of the Lord, Serving the Lord, Spiritual Guidance, Deliverance of Our Lord, Walk in Righteousness
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