Weekly Sermon
This sermon is a companion to a previous sermon: With Uprightness of Heart – Psalm 119:7 (Part 1)
Psalm 119:7 reads, “I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.”
In this verse we find three ingredients. First, we find the ingredient of praising the Lord. Second, we find the ingredient of an upright heart. Third, we find the ingredient of God’s true and righteous Word. Furthermore, in this verse we find a progression to these three ingredients. Although we encounter the ingredient of praising the Lord first in the sentence, it is actually the last ingredient in the progression of thought. The opening portion of this verse speaks of praising the Lord our God “with uprightness of heart.” Indeed, in order to so praise the Lord our God, we must first possess the ingredient of an upright heart. In fact, in order for our praise to be acceptable unto the Lord our God, it must flow out of an upright heart. So then, in the progression of thought “uprightness of heart” must come before acceptable praise unto the Lord. Yet the closing portion of the verse then proceeds to reveal the means to such “uprightness of heart,” saying, “When I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.” Indeed, the ingredient of an upright heart comes only as and after we learn the righteous truths of God’s Holy Word. In fact, God’s true and righteous Word is the very foundation for an upright heart. An upright heart can only be built upon the foundation of God’s righteous Word. So then, in this series of messages, let us consider the relationship of God’s righteous Word to an upright heart and the process to develop “uprightness of heart” through the truth of God’s righteous Word. In the first part of the message, we have already considered the first three steps in this process: (1) Our hearts must be gleaning from the truth of God’s Word; (2) Our hearts must be governed by the truth of God’s Word; and (3) Our hearts must be guarded by the truth of God’s Word. In this second part of the message, let us consider the next two steps in the process to develop “uprightness of heart” through the truth of God’s righteous Word.
This sermon is a companion to a previous sermon: With Uprightness of Heart – Psalm 119:7 (Part 1)
Psalm 119:7 reads, “I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.”
In this verse we find three ingredients. First, we find the ingredient of praising the Lord. Second, we find the ingredient of an upright heart. Third, we find the ingredient of God’s true and righteous Word. Furthermore, in this verse we find a progression to these three ingredients. Although we encounter the ingredient of praising the Lord first in the sentence, it is actually the last ingredient in the progression of thought. The opening portion of this verse speaks of praising the Lord our God “with uprightness of heart.” Indeed, in order to so praise the Lord our God, we must first possess the ingredient of an upright heart. In fact, in order for our praise to be acceptable unto the Lord our God, it must flow out of an upright heart. So then, in the progression of thought “uprightness of heart” must come before acceptable praise unto the Lord. Yet the closing portion of the verse then proceeds to reveal the means to such “uprightness of heart,” saying, “When I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.” Indeed, the ingredient of an upright heart comes only as and after we learn the righteous truths of God’s Holy Word. In fact, God’s true and righteous Word is the very foundation for an upright heart. An upright heart can only be built upon the foundation of God’s righteous Word. So then, in this series of messages, let us consider the relationship of God’s righteous Word to an upright heart and the process to develop “uprightness of heart” through the truth of God’s righteous Word. In the first part of the message, we have already considered the first three steps in this process: (1) Our hearts must be gleaning from the truth of God’s Word; (2) Our hearts must be governed by the truth of God’s Word; and (3) Our hearts must be guarded by the truth of God’s Word. In this second part of the message, let us consider the next two steps in the process to develop “uprightness of heart” through the truth of God’s righteous Word.
Our hearts must be growing through the truth of God’s Word.
The fourth step in the process to develop “uprightness of heart” through the truth of God’s righteous Word is revealed in Psalm 119:32 – “I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.” Now, this reference to an enlarged heart is not a reference to some physical issue with one’s physical heart. Rather, this reference to an enlarged heart is a figure of speech that indicates an expanded ability to understand, to perform, and to succeed. It indicates a growth in spiritual maturity, whereby the Lord our God renews the spirit of our mind, transforms the character of our heart, and empowers the strength of our soul. It indicates a growth in the grace of God our heavenly Father and “in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 3:18) Yea, it indicates our spiritual growth in dependence upon our Lord’s grace and in the experience of our Lord’s fellowship. It indicates our growth unto the righteous image of our Lord Jesus Christ, “unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 4:13) Even so, this growth in spiritual maturity (which is growth in “uprightness of heart”) will result in a more fervent and faithful walk after the way of our Lord’s Word and will, even as the psalmist declared, “I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.”
Yet through what means may we come to such growth in spiritual maturity? 1 Peter 2:2 provides the answer, saying, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.” We are able to grow in spiritual maturity through the pure truth of God’s Holy Word. Indeed, it is through the truth and wisdom of God’s Holy Word that our souls (our inner character) can be delivered from the spiritual corruption of our sinful flesh. Even so, the closing portion of James 1:21 declares, “And receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.” In addition, it is through the truth and wisdom of God’s Holy Word that our souls (our inner character) can be transformed unto the pure righteousness of our Lord Jesus Christ. Even so, the opening portion of Psalm 19:7 declares, “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul.” It is through the truth and wisdom of God’s Holy Word that we can be enlightened unto spiritual wisdom and discretion. Even so, the closing portion of Psalm 19:7 declares, “The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;” and the closing portion of verse 8 adds, “The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.” It is through the truth and wisdom of God’s Holy Word that the Lord our God sanctifies us unto His righteous service. Even so, in John 17:17 our Lord Jesus Christ prayed unto the Father concerning His own, saying, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” It is through the truth and wisdom of God’s Holy Word that we can be perfected in spiritual maturity and “throughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Timothy 3:17) Therefore, we must ever be submitting our hearts unto the doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction of God’s Holy Word, in order that we may ever be spiritually exercised unto growth in spiritual maturity thereby.
Our hearts must be guided through the truth of God’s Word.
The fifth step in the process to develop “uprightness of heart” through the truth of God’s righteous Word is revealed in Psalm 119:35-37 – “Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight. Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness. Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.” As we allow our hearts more and more to be gleaning from the truth of God’s Word, to be governed by the truth of God’s Word, to be guarded by the truth of God’s Word, and to be growing through the truth of God’s Word, our hearts will become more and more inclined toward the ways of righteousness and away from the ways of unrighteousness. Yea, as we allow our hearts more and more to be gleaning from, governed by, guarded by, and growing through the truth of God’s Word, our hearts will be more and more guided through the truth of God’s Word to discern between the ways of righteousness and unrighteousness and to choose the ways of righteousness over the ways of unrighteousness. As the Lord our God transforms our soul (our inner character) through the truth of His Holy Word, He will also be guiding us through the truth of His Holy Word “in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” (Psalm 23:3) Indeed, the truth and wisdom of God’s Word will lead us “in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment [of spiritual discernment],” in order that we might understand and pursue “every good path.” (Proverbs 8:20; 2:9) Therefore, we must ever be submitting our hearts unto the counsel of God’s Holy Word, in order that we may ever be guided to go in the way that we ought to go at any given step of our daily walk.
Posted in Weekly Sermon, Psalms, Walk in Righteousness, Word of God, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Guidance
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