Weekly Sermon
Psalm 119:9-16 reads, “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes. With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.”
Through the grammatical constructions of Psalm 119:9-16, we may note five elements of truth in these eight verses. The first element that we note in this passage is the concern of God’s man. In the opening portion of verse 9, the psalmist, this young man of God, expressed his spiritual concern and burden through the grammatical form of a searching question – “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?”
The second element that we note in this passage is the responsibility of God’s man. In the closing portion of verse 9, this responsibility was delivered through the grammatical form of an instructional answer – “By taking heed thereto according to thy [God’s] word.”
The third element that we note in this passage is the praise of God’s man. At the center of these eight verses, in the opening portion of verse 12, the psalmist, this young man of God, revealed the spiritual assurance and faith of his heart through the grammatical form of an exclamatory praise – “Blessed art thou, O LORD.”
The fourth element that we note in this passage is the request of God’s man. In these eight verses, the psalmist, this young man of God, lifts up two requests unto the Lord through the grammatical form of a heart-felt prayer. In the closing portion of verse 10, this young man of God lifted up his first request unto the Lord – “O let me not wander from thy commandments.” Then in the closing portion of verse 12, this young man of God lifted up his second request unto the Lord – “Teach me thy statutes.”
The fifth and final element that we note in this passage is the commitment of God’s man. Actually, this matter of commitment encompasses the majority of these eight verses, including the opening portion of verse 10, all of verse 11, and all of verses 13-16. In these verses, the psalmist, this young man of God, presented his fervent and faithful commitment through the grammatical form of a personal declaration. In verses 10-11 he declared, “With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Then in verses 13-16 he declared, “With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.”
In this message let us focus our attention upon the fourth element of the passage – the request of God’s man; and let us consider the two-fold request that this young man of God lifted up unto the Lord. Yea, let us consider these two requests with the recognition that we ourselves also ought to lift them up from our hearts unto the Lord each and every day.
Psalm 119:9-16 reads, “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes. With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.”
Through the grammatical constructions of Psalm 119:9-16, we may note five elements of truth in these eight verses. The first element that we note in this passage is the concern of God’s man. In the opening portion of verse 9, the psalmist, this young man of God, expressed his spiritual concern and burden through the grammatical form of a searching question – “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?”
The second element that we note in this passage is the responsibility of God’s man. In the closing portion of verse 9, this responsibility was delivered through the grammatical form of an instructional answer – “By taking heed thereto according to thy [God’s] word.”
The third element that we note in this passage is the praise of God’s man. At the center of these eight verses, in the opening portion of verse 12, the psalmist, this young man of God, revealed the spiritual assurance and faith of his heart through the grammatical form of an exclamatory praise – “Blessed art thou, O LORD.”
The fourth element that we note in this passage is the request of God’s man. In these eight verses, the psalmist, this young man of God, lifts up two requests unto the Lord through the grammatical form of a heart-felt prayer. In the closing portion of verse 10, this young man of God lifted up his first request unto the Lord – “O let me not wander from thy commandments.” Then in the closing portion of verse 12, this young man of God lifted up his second request unto the Lord – “Teach me thy statutes.”
The fifth and final element that we note in this passage is the commitment of God’s man. Actually, this matter of commitment encompasses the majority of these eight verses, including the opening portion of verse 10, all of verse 11, and all of verses 13-16. In these verses, the psalmist, this young man of God, presented his fervent and faithful commitment through the grammatical form of a personal declaration. In verses 10-11 he declared, “With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Then in verses 13-16 he declared, “With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.”
In this message let us focus our attention upon the fourth element of the passage – the request of God’s man; and let us consider the two-fold request that this young man of God lifted up unto the Lord. Yea, let us consider these two requests with the recognition that we ourselves also ought to lift them up from our hearts unto the Lord each and every day.
We ought to pray daily that our Lord might guard us from wandering into disobedience.
The first request that the psalmist lifted up unto the Lord in this passage is found in verse 10. Therein the psalmist declared and prayed unto Lord, saying, “With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.” The motivation for the psalmist’s request was a whole-hearted desire to walk in a right fellowship with the Lord his God. He sought the Lord’s righteous fellowship with his whole heart. Yet he also understood that like a sheep he was prone to wander away from the authority of the Lord’s will and from the commandments of the Lord’s Word. Therefore, this young man of God made request unto the Lord that like a good shepherd the Lord might keep him from wandering away. Thus in verse 29 this young man of God prayed unto the Lord, “Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously.” Again in verses 36-37 this young man of God prayed unto the Lord, “Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness. Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.” Yet again in verse 133 this young man of God prayed unto the Lord, “Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.”
In like manner, brethren, we must understand that we ourselves also are spiritually prone to wander. We must understand that the deceitful temptations of our adversary the devil are ever drawing us away from our Lord into disobedience. We must understand that the corrupt system of this present evil world is ever flowing away from our Lord into disobedience. We must understand that the natural desires of our selfish, sinful flesh are ever directed away from our Lord into disobedience. Do we not find it true, that we are often prone to wander from our Lord’s commandments? Do we not find it true, that the things which our Lord commands us to be doing, we are prone to neglect doing them? Do we not find it true, that we are prone to neglect a daily study of God’s Word, to neglect a fervent prayer life before the Lord, to neglect a Spirit-filled witness to the lost around us, to neglect a servant-minded love in our relationships with one another, etc.? Do we not find it true, that the things which our Lord commands us not to do, we are prone to pursue them anyway? Do we not find it true, that we are prone to wander and disobey in our attitudes, in our thought lives, in our priorities, in our words and communication, in our actions and behavior, etc.? Certainly then, we need to pray each and every day that our Lord might guard us from wandering into unrighteousness and disobedience.
In addition, the psalmist, this young man of God, had such a desire for the Lord to guard him from wandering into disobedience that he expressed gratitude for the corrective affliction of the Lord’s chastening work in his life. In verse 67 he declared, “Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.” Then in verse 71 he declared, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.” Finally, in verse 75 he declared, “I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.” So then, let us also not despise the correction and chastening of our Lord; but let us receive it with gratitude as one of His great tools in guarding us from wandering into unrighteousness and disobedience.
We ought to pray daily that our Lord might guide us in the way of obedience.
The second request that the psalmist lifted up unto the Lord in Psalm 119:9-16 is found in verse 12. Therein the psalmist declared and prayed unto Lord, saying, “Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.” The motivation for the psalmist’s request was a whole-hearted faith in the trust-worthy character of the Lord his God. With full assurance of faith, this young man of God was convinced that the Lord is good, righteous, faithful, and merciful in character. Therefore, this young man of God made request unto the Lord that the Lord might teach him in the way of righteousness and obedience. In fact, this desire and prayer for the Lord to teach him the right way is a continuing theme of the psalmist. In verse 26-27 he declared and prayed unto the Lord, “I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes. Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.” In verse 33 he prayed unto the Lord, “Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.” In verse 64 he declared and prayed unto the Lord, “The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes.” In verse 66 he prayed unto the Lord, “Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.” In verse 68 he declared and prayed unto the Lord, “Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.” In verse 108 he prayed unto the Lord, “Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me thy judgments.” In verse 124 he prayed unto the Lord, “Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes.” Finally, in verse 135 he prayed unto the Lord, “Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; and teach me thy statutes.”
In like manner, brethren, we must understand that we ourselves also need the guidance of our Lord for our daily walk. We must understand that we need our Lord to teach us the truth and wisdom of His Word, and that we need Him to teach us how to apply that truth and wisdom in our daily lives. We must understand that we need our Lord daily to teach us in His way and to lead us in His truth. We must understand that we need our Lord daily to teach us to do His will and to lead us in the paths of righteousness. We must understand that we need our Lord daily to guide us and direct us in the way wherein we ought to walk. We must have full assurance of faith that our Lord is indeed trust-worthy to guide our walk and our way, and we must understand that He alone can guide us aright in all things. So then, we need to pray each and every day that our Lord might guide us in the way of righteousness and obedience.
Posted in Weekly Sermon, Psalms, Prayer, Fellowship with the Lord, Spiritual Guidance, Word of God,
Walk in Righteousness
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