Finally, we come to the close of this Psalm. We began this journey November 22, 1998! Perhaps our next series will be a verse by verse study of the book of Isaiah (only 66 chapters). Yes it has been a lengthy study, but I believe a very rewarding study of how the Word of God affects the life of the child of God.
Tonight we will look at the psalmist's final plea concerning the Word. These final eight verses are arranged in four couplets. Let's consider them this evening.
I. Petition Made.
A. Prayer for Enlightenment. v169
1. He says, "Let my cry come near before thee, O Lord…"
2. That speaks of a relationship that is unique within the realm of worship.
3. We have a God who is accessible to us!
4. He has chosen to provide the link between us.
5. That link is the Lord Jesus Christ!
(Heb 4:15-16) "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."
6. What is it that the psalmist asks God?
a. First that He would listen to his petition.
b. Next that He would grant him "…Understanding according to Thy Word."
c. Knowledge is important, but oh how we need understanding.
d. The ability to 'separate mentally' to 'discern'.
e. This understanding is to be according to the Word.
f. Which means to be able to discern things in light of what God's Word has said…and apply them to our given situations.
g. That is understanding!
B. A Prayer for Enablement. v170
1. Again the psalmist is asking God to rescue him.
2. He had asked God to deliver him, and he had ask God to give him an understanding of why that had not happened.
3. He needed deliverance from difficulties, but also from doubt.
4. There were three possibilities for why deliverance had not come.
a. There was something wrong with God's promises…but that wasn't possible.
b. There was something wrong with the psalmist's behavior…and he was being chastised.
c. There was something wrong with his prayers…maybe they were not getting through.
(Psa 66:18) "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:"
d. He was asking God to enable him to understand what was happening.
e. Do we ever wonder why God hasn't answered our prayers? f. Do we ever doubt?
(Psa 139:23) "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:"
II. Praise Promised.
A. "My lips shall utter praise…" v171
1. He had learned God's statutes from others.
a. That is where most of us begin.
b. We are taught, perhaps as children.
c. We learn basic passages of the Scripture and we are instructed in His Word.
2. But the best lessons are those taught by the Lord Himself.
a. As we read and study His Word, the Holy Spirit enlightens us and teaches us.
b. That is one of the responsibilities of the Holy Spirit…to teach us.
(John 14:26) "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."
3. When he is taught by the Lord…his lips shall utter praise.
a. The word 'utter' means to send forth or to pour out.
b. The indication is that it is something that cannot be contained.
c. I must praise God for what He has taught me!
B. "My tongue shall speak of Thy Word…" v172
1. Unfortunately, most of the words that come out of our mouths are ours.
2. Often what comes out is prideful, destructive, and disrespectful.
3. James reminds us of the power of our tongues.
(James 3:6) "And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell."
4. The psalmist promises to speak the Word of God.
a. In order to do that, we must first get the Word of God into our lives.
b. We must read and meditate upon it.
c. Jesus reminds us that we are defiled, not by what goes into our mouths…but by what comes out!
(Mark 7:15) "There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man."
III. Provision Desired.
A. Lord, Help Me v173
1. The basis for the appeal is that the psalmist had made a choice.
2. His choice was the precepts of God.
a. We are chosen by God.
b. But there is also a choice that we each must make.
c. We must decide what or who will govern our lives.
d. The psalmist chose the precepts of God…His Word.
B. Lord, Save Me. v174
1. The salvation the psalmist spoke of was not present tense.
2. But he was talking about the future tense of salvation.
a. At the moment of salvation we are saved from the penalty of sin.
b. As we walk with Him daily, we are saved from the power of sin.
c. One day, in heaven, we will saved from the very presence of sin.
3. The psalmist was longing for that day.
4. As we delight in God's law, we long for complete salvation and our glorified bodies.
5. Someone wrote the song, "Heaven's Sounding Sweeter".
IV. Protection Sought.
A. He seeks strengthening. v175
1. He was aware of his need for life.
2. Life comes from God and God alone.
3. He also acknowledges that God's Word is that which will help and strengthen him.
4. As long as we live, our lives should praise the Lord.
5. But we cannot survive without His Word to help us.
B. He seeks God's tender care. v176
1. Jesus said, "I am the Good Shepherd".
2. We need the tender and loving care of our Shepherd.
3. The songwriter put it this way, 'Prone to wander, Lord I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love.'
4. That is us!
5. When we find ourselves separated from the flock, having wandered away, we need to remember the Word of God.
6. Remember that we have a Shepherd who loves us and will seek us until He finds us and restores us to the fold.
Where are we tonight? Have we wandered from the God we love? Come home…He is seeking for us this evening. Come back to the Word of God. Find the provision and protection that is there. Offer up the prayer and praise that He is due.