Read: v129-136
In this section of the longest chapter in the Bible the psalmist praises the Word of God. The Bible is more relevant to our lives tonight as the morning newspaper. It is alive and powerful. God's Word literally changes lives! It is exciting to read and study it, but it is more exciting to live it out in our day to day lives. Consider what the psalmist has to say to us this evening.
I. The Wonderful Word. v129-130
A. Wonderful in its Sufficiency.
1. Everything we need to know for life is included in the pages of this Book.
2. The wisdom of God is revealed to us through each chapter and each verse.
3. The Bible is the instruction manual for life…when all else fails…read the instructions!
4. We don't need to add to it and we certainly shouldn't try to remove from it.
5. Peter tells us that it is sufficient…God has supplied "…all things…"
(2 Pet 1:3-4) "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: {4} Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."
B. Wonderful in its Simplicity.
1. God's Word is not hard to understand.
2. Today's laws are so complicated that we need an entire branch of government and a legion of lawyers to interpret what they mean.
3. But even a child can understand what God commands us in His Word.
a. God tells us what we need to do.
b. He then tells us what will happen if we fail to do it.
c. He goes on to explain how to deal with the failure.
d. And He instructs us on how to avoid making the same mistake again.
(2 Tim 3:16) "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:"
C. Wonderful in its Supply. v130
1. I have already mentioned that God has supplied us with all that we need for life.
2. But here the psalmist reminds us that God's Word brings with it certain benefits…Light and Understanding!
3. We can choose to shut the light out of our lives and live in darkness…and we can choose to remain in ignorance….but it will be our choice, not God's.
4. He has supplied both for our benefit.
5. The psalmist said, "…Therefore doth my soul keep them."
6. God's Word is wonderful, and we should live according to them.
II. The Walk in the Word. v131-135
A. Desire for the Word.
1. The picture is like one who has been struggling through the desert, and is longing for a drink of fresh water.
2. That is how we should desire the Word of God.
3. Peter said, "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby." Cf 1 Pe. 2:2
4. We will not walk in the Word if we have no desire for it in our lives.
B. Desire for Mercy. v132-133
1. "…As thou usest to do unto those that love thy name."
2. The psalmist is asking God to treat him like those in the past.
3. When we look at the characters in the pages of Scripture, what do we think about?
4. They were just common everyday people like you and I…but God did some amazing things in their lives.
5. Do you suppose that those things happened by chance or accident? No.
6. God delights in using those who have a heart to be used in His service.
7. He asks, "…Order my steps in thy word…"
(Psa 37:23) "The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way."
C. Desire for Blessing. v134-135
1. The subject of deliverance is still on his mind.
2. He asks God not allow iniquity to have dominion over him and to deliver him from his oppressors.
3. "Make thy face shine…" this isn't so hard for us to understand is it?
4. He wanted God to look upon him favorably and bless him.
5. Do we desire that God would look favorably upon us? Are we living by His Word?
III. Those Without the Word. v136
A. Compassion for the Lost.
1. Here he speaks of those who reject God's Word.
2. He started out thinking about how wonderful the Word of God was, and how wonderful his life in the Word was.
3. Now he considers those who were oppressing him.
4. The difference was the Word.
5. Paul never lost sight of that truth…he remembered when he was on the other side.
6. All of us need to be reminded from time to time that but for the grace of God…
B. "Rivers of waters…"
1. Tears of compassion for those who are still in darkness…still ignorant of God's marvelous grace.
2. Some would say, "Real men don't cry!"
3. To that I reply, "Jesus wept." Jn. 11:35
4. This world's thinking would rob us of one of the most Christ-like characteristics that we can possess. "Tears"
5. Tears were never far from the eyes of Jesus…He looked into the hearts and homes of people and what He saw there broke His heart.
Fannie Crosby put it like this….
"Weep o'er the erring one. Lift up the fallen: Tell them of Jesus, the mighty to save."
God's Word is wonderful, we should seek to walk in its ways, and we should have compassion on those who are without.