## Psalm of the Word #1

## Psalm 119:1-8

Some people have the idea that the Bible is just for those who are mentally weak, not too smart, those who are not well educated. Others think that the Bible is for elderly people and shut-ins who have nothing else to do but read. Some people have the idea that the Bible is just for children. Thy memorized it as boys and girls in Sunday School, but when they were a bit older they quit going to Sunday School and church and hence, quit reading and memorizing the Word of God. Actually the Bible has been on the 'best-seller' list for years. Of all books ever written, only the Bible is found in almost every home. It makes no difference whether or not the people are saved, somewhere there is a Bible.

If this is the world's greatest Book, and it is, then why don't we read it? It is more exciting than any adventure story, contains more intrigue than any mystery, speaks of greater love than any love story could, and yet it remains unread by the majority of people who possess the Book.

Tonight I want to begin a series of messages on the Psalm of the Word - Psalm 119. It is the longest chapter division in the Bible. Notice that the psalm is divided into 22 sections of 8 verses each. At the beginning of each section you have a Hebrew character of the alphabet. Nearly every verse has a word that refers to God's Word, as law, word(s), ordinances, commandments, precepts, testimonies, statutes, judgments, or ways.

In Aleph we find what will happen in the life of those who make the Word of God the center of their life. It is not theoretical or philosophical. It works and is practical in our lives. What God wants us to understand is: He is the only one who can fill the emptiness of the human heart, which longs for fulfillment and happiness, and God is the only one who can give those to us. These verses lead us to that truth.

I. Aleph: The Word Of God Will Make Us:

A. Happy v1-3

1. 'BLESSED' Most of the time we associate happiness with right happenings.

a. A Wedding.

b. The birth of a child.

c. A raise in salary.

d. Good results of medical tests, etc.

2. But, true happiness is the overflow of joy.

a. It is not dependant on circumstances or happenings.

b. Jesus is the source of joy.

c. Happiness is the stream that flows from the joy of knowing Christ.

3. "God bless you."

a. Someone has said that it isn't Scriptural for us to say, "God bless you."

b. Instead we ought to say, "May you always be in a place that God can bless you."

4. We can be happy when the Word of God RULES in three areas of our life:

a. In Our Way v1a "...undefiled in the way."

1) WAY is to be differentiated from ways v3

(John 14:6) "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

2) It means to know JUSTIFICATION

3) Cf. Romans 4:6-8

b. Our WALK [v1b] "...who walk in the law of the Lord."

1) A constant, habitual lifestyle.

2) Note what David's cry in Psalm 38:1-8

(Psa 51:8) "Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice."

(Rom 6:17-18) "But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. {18} Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness."

c. In Our WILL [v 2-3]

1) The Psalmist sees two things that happen when we bring our wills into the Word of God.

2) It gives purpose to life, and everybody is seeking something in life. Ecc 2:4-10.

3) It guarantees purity of life Isa 1:18

(Isa 1:18) "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." a) John Bunyan said, "This Book will keep you from sin or sin will keep you from this Book." b) The Bible will show us what to do in our life, and It will never lead us wrong.

B. Holy v4-6

1. Our Duty v4

a. 'Diligently' speaks of persistent care; not casual; a refusal to let go.

(2 Pet 1:5) "And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;"

b. Means to be vehemently and speedily.

2. Our Desire v5 (Jer 10:23) "O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps."

a. 'Keep' points to the desire not to fail.

b. We know that our fallen nature doesn't want to keep God's statutes.

c. Our carnal nature is what leads us to find excuses for not obeying God.

3. Our Decision v6

a. Guilt is something only a Christian can deal with completely!

b. Knowing God's forgiveness delivers us from guilt.

C. Humble v7-8

1. Still Learning v7

(Phil 3:14) "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

2. Still Longing v8

(1 Pet 2:2) "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:"

a. 'Desire' [intensely crave]

b. 'Sincere' unadulterated and pure.

c. No human influence!

The Word Of God Will Make Us:

A. Happy

B. Holy

C. Humble

1. Read the Bible, study it.

2. Meditate on the Bible, think about it.

3. Practice tile Bible, regulate your life according to Biblical precepts and principles.