Weekly Sermon
This sermon is a companion to two previous sermons: With Uprightness of Heart – Psalm 119:7 (Part 1)
With Uprightness of Heart – Psalm 119:7 (Part 2)
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 two parts of the message, we have already considered the first five 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; (3) Our hearts must be guarded by the truth of God’s Word; (4) Our hearts must be growing through the truth of God’s Word; and (5) Our hearts must be guided through the truth of God’s Word. In this third part of the message, let us consider the next step in the process to develop “uprightness of heart” through the truth of God’s righteous Word.
This sermon is a companion to two previous sermons: With Uprightness of Heart – Psalm 119:7 (Part 1)
With Uprightness of Heart – Psalm 119:7 (Part 2)
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 two parts of the message, we have already considered the first five 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; (3) Our hearts must be guarded by the truth of God’s Word; (4) Our hearts must be growing through the truth of God’s Word; and (5) Our hearts must be guided through the truth of God’s Word. In this third part of the message, let us consider the next step in the process to develop “uprightness of heart” through the truth of God’s righteous Word.
Our hearts must be grounded in the truth of God’s Word.
The sixth step in the process to develop “uprightness of heart” through the truth of God’s righteous Word is revealed in Psalm 119:80 – “Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed.” Our hearts must become spiritually sound in the truth and wisdom of God’s Holy Word. Our hearts must become deeply grounded and rooted in the truth and wisdom of God’s Holy Word. Yea, our hearts must become established, strengthened, and settled in the faith, that is – in the truth of God’s Word for our belief and in the teaching of God’s Word for our behavior. (1 Peter 5:10; Colossians 2:7) Indeed, the more and more that we are gleaning from, governed by, guarded by, growing through, and guided through the truth of God’s Holy Word, the more and more we shall become grounded in the truth of God’s Holy Word. Therefore, we must fervently and faithfully hold fast to the sound words and sound wisdom of God’s Word, in order that our hearts may become spiritually sound (spiritually grounded) in the faith.
Even so, in Proverbs 2:1-9 the instruction and promise is given, “My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; so that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth [that is – out of His Holy Word] cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints. Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.” Indeed, it is through the sound words and sound wisdom of God’s Word that our hearts may become spiritually sound. Therefore, we must ever ground and root our hearts in the truth and teaching of God’s Word.
Even so also, in Proverbs 8:6-14 the personified wisdom of God’s Word declares, “Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things. For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips. All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them. They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge. Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it. I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions. The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.” Indeed, it is through the sound words and sound wisdom of God’s Word that we may become spiritually sound in a godly mindset, in godly trust, in godly love, in godly endurance, in godly communication, and in every good and godly work. Yea, it is as we become more deeply grounded and rooted in the truth of God’s Holy word that we shall be like trees that are spiritually fruitful and that experience no spiritual withering. Even so, Psalm 1:3 proclaims concerning each one who delights and meditates in God’s Word daily, and whose heart is spiritually grounded in God’s Word thereby, “And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”
Therefore, we must “take fast hold” of the truth and teaching, principles and precepts, counsels and commands, standards and statutes, wisdom and warnings, instructions, exhortations, and admonitions of God’s Word. (Proverbs 3:13) We must not let it go. We must keep it and root it in our hearts, for it is the foundation of spiritual “uprightness of heart” and the way to spiritual abundance of life. We must “give the more earnest heed” to the sound words and sound wisdom that we have learned from God’s Word, “lest at any time we should let them slip.” (Hebrews 2:1) We must set our hearts with all diligence to hold fast unto sound words and sound wisdom of God’s Word, in order that our hearts may become spiritually sound in God’s Word.
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