PSALMS LESSON 123
We will continue with the verse by verse study of the 119th Psalm
in Psalms 119:17 "{GIMEL.} Deal bountifully with thy servant, [that] I
may live, and keep thy word."
This dealing bountifully with thy servant shows us that the
psalmist here has already made a decision to serve the Lord. We, also,
know that this is not speaking of material blessings, because it says
so that I might keep thy Word. This is speaking of an empowering from
the Lord to better live and keep the word of God. It is as if he is
asking to be baptized with the Holy Ghost, so that his life of serving
would be more effective. His concern is living the right life, keeping
the Word of God.
Psalms 119:18 "Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous
things out of thy law."
Jesus taught that many have eyes to see, and yet they do not see.
The psalmist here, and Jesus in His statement, are not speaking of
seeing with the physical eyes. They are speaking of their
understanding being opened, that they might know better the will of
God. The law is actually an outward expression of the will of God.
The Holy Spirit will lead you into all truth. The Holy Spirit is the
Teacher and Guide. The disciples did not understand the parables that
Jesus taught, until He opened their eyes of understanding. This is
what this Scripture is speaking of. We sing a little chorus from the
Bible at our church that says," Open my eyes Lord, I want to see
Jesus".
Psalms 119:19 "I [am] a stranger in the earth: hide not thy
commandments from me."
The psalmist, here, and all true believers in the Lord Jesus
Christ, are aware that they do not belong in this sinful world with
this worldly people. We are in the world, but not of the world. We are
strangers passing through enemy territory. We are headed for our
promised land, {heaven}. If we are to make the journey successfully,
we must keep the commandments of God. We can not keep the commandments
unless we know what they are. The psalmist here is saying, along with
us, make me understand your commandments that I might keep them.
Psalms 119:20 "My soul breaketh for the longing [that it hath]
unto thy judgments at all times."
In the flesh, we can not keep the judgements of God. To know that
it was impossible to keep the judgements would break your heart. Even
Paul, said that he wanted to do the will of God, but many times his
flesh protested. The spirit of man desires to please God. The flesh of
man wants to please his own flesh. The soul of man is the battle
ground. Man must make his flesh obey the spirit, for his soul to be at
peace.
Psalms 119:21 "Thou hast rebuked the proud [that are] cursed,
which do err from thy commandments."
The proud do not want any one, or anything, telling them what to
do. They want to do it their own way. The proud are cursed, because
they do not humble themselves and seek the Saviour. The proud are not
interested in doing the commandments of God, because they would not be
in total control. The proud will not submit to the authority of God.
Psalms 119:22 "Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have
kept thy testimonies."
The psalmist just has to be David, because this sounds just like
him. He has kept the testimonies of the Lord in his heart. It is bad
enough to feel the reproach of earthly friends, but David is saying he
could not bear the contempt of God. He is asking, here, for all
contempt and reproach to be removed.
Psalms 119:23 "Princes also did sit [and] speak against me: [but]
thy servant did meditate in thy statutes."
The princes, mentioned here, are probably David's own sons. His
sons did speak out against David, and worse than that, they tried to
overthrow his rule. In all of David's troubles, he never stopped
thinking on the things of God. He considered the law of God in all of
His actions.
Psalms 119:24 "Thy testimonies also [are] my delight [and] my
counsellors."
Worldly counsellors give bad advice. David is saying here, that
his advice was found in the Lord's teachings. There are no problems
that arise that the answer cannot be found in the Bible.
Psalms 119:25 "{DALETH.} My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken
thou me according to thy word."
Jesus Christ is the quickening Spirit. I Corinthians 15:45 "And
so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last
Adam [was made] a quickening spirit." Our body is but dust, and it
shall surely return to dust. The psalmist, here, is sorrowful at his
earthly connection. He will put his trust and hope in the Word of God.
Psalms 119:26 "I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me:
teach me thy statutes."
This is possibly saying, I have repented and you heard me and
forgave me. Teach me your ways so that I will not sin against God.
I John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive
us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." I believe
the psalmist, here, has sought and found forgiveness. Now he wants to
be sure not to fall back into sin again. That is why he is asking to
be taught God's statutes.
Psalms 119:27 "Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so
shall I talk of thy wondrous works."
Precepts, above, means mandate or the law collectively. When we
truly understand the teachings of the Lord, then we can minister to
others that they might know, also, the teachings of the Lord. The
psalmist, here, is very well aware that the understanding of the ways
of God are a gift from God. We can accumulate learning of the Word,
but until the Lord opens our understanding of His Word, we can not
have the wisdom it takes to be able to apply it to our life. Wisdom is
not accumulated learning, it is a gift from God.
Psalms 119:28 "My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me
according unto thy word."
Strengthen my inner man is the request of the psalmist here.
The sorrow in his heart is just about to melt him away. When we come
to the end of ourself, then God takes over and makes us into what He
would have us to be. II Corinthians 12:9 "And he said unto me, My
grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in
weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my
infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." When we get
to the place where we are at the end of what we can do, then God takes
over. Praise God! It is not in my power that I write these Bible
studies. It is Christ in me.
Psalms 119:29 "Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy
law graciously."
The psalmist is saying, that not only does he want to not lie
himself, but he does not want anyone else to lie to him either. Those
who love to and make a lie are listed as those headed for destruction.
The grace of God takes the place of the law of God in our lives. Jesus
fulfilled the law, that we might live under His grace.
Psalms 119:30 "I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have
I laid [before me]."
Jesus is the Way and the Truth. There are only two ways to go in
this life. One way is to follow after Truth. The other way is the way
of Satan, who is the father of all lies. David has chosen the way of
Truth. He has put the judgements of God before him and considered
them, and has chosen to walk in Truth.
Psalms 119:31 "I have stuck unto thy testimonies: O LORD, put me
not to shame."
The psalmist is saying, here, that he has based everything he
believes upon the testimonies of the Lord. He has based his life on
the Word of God. We should say with David, here, that we have based
our life upon the Word of God. We trust in the Living Word. Then he
adds, as if there was a possibility that God's covenant with man is
questionable, whether it will be kept. I know that David had no such
feelings. This little addition here is showing the folly of such
thinking. He is saying, keep covenant with me O Lord.
Psalms 119:32 "I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou
shalt enlarge my heart."
To run, and not walk, shows an eagerness to do the commandments
of God. The heart is what a man is. With a heart that is enlarged to
the things of God, there would be wonderful activity in doing the
commandments.
Psalms 119:33 "{HE.} Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes;
and I shall keep it [unto] the end."
Man can not teach you God's ways. Only God can truly teach you
His ways. He is saying, open my understanding to your ways, Lord and I
will stay in that way, until the day I leave this world. We can say,
from this, if we are truly seeking the ways of God, we will find them.
When we truly find the understanding spoken of here, it will be with
us all the days of our life. To know and love God is a growing
experience. The more we study His Word, the more He reveals to us. The
more He reveals to us, the more we want to know. Those who seek the
Truth, find it.
Psalms 119:34 "Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law;
yea, I shall observe it with [my] whole heart."
This understanding is not so much a learning on the part of the
psalmist, but is a gift from God. Notice, the word {give}. He, also,
is saying, that he will not reserve a portion of his heart for worldly
things, he will give all his heart to God. Let us look at just how
important it is to give God all of our heart. Mark 12:33 "And to love
him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all
the soul, and with all the strength, and to love [his] neighbour as
himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices."
Psalms 119:35 "Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for
therein do I delight."
When I see this it reminds me of {Lead me in the paths of
righteousness for thy name's sake}. Lead me, guide me, do not let me
wander away. Keep your Light ever before me and draw me unto You. Lord
the desire of my heart is to follow You. I John 1:7 "But if we walk in
the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another,
and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."
There is a path that we must walk that is straight and narrow, but it
is well lighted by the Light of Jesus. Keep us in thy Light.
Psalms 119:36 "Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to
covetousness."
One of the commandments of God is, thy shalt not covet. We must
not claim, or desire, things that belong to others. You may call it
what you want to, but that is coveting. If we have the testimonies of
the Lord ever before us, we will not covet. Anything displeasing to
God is sin. The psalmist is saying here, cause my heart to be open to
your teachings, Lord.
Psalms 119:37 "Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; [and]
quicken thou me in thy way."
The very things that got Eve in trouble in the garden of Eden
included lusting with her eyes. She looked on the fruit with desire in
her heart. Jesus told the disciples, that to look on a woman with lust
in their heart caused them to be guilty of adultery. The psalmist
knows the danger of looking with lustful eyes at things of the earth.
He is saying, do not even let me turn my eyes in the direction of sin.
Let me remember thy way and not be tempted by things of this world.
Psalms 119:38 "Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who [is
devoted] to thy fear."
When something is stablished, it means it cannot be moved. He is
saying, put your Word so steadfastly in my heart that nothing will be
able to move it. Then he says, I greatly fear the Lord. Fear of the
Lord is the beginning of wisdom. The fear, here, is, also, a great
reverence of the Lord. So much reverence and fear causes him to desire
that the Word will not be shaken in his heart.
Psalms 119:39 "Turn away my reproach which I fear: for thy
judgments [are] good."
David is not alone in fearing the reproach of God. I believe
about the worst thing that could happen to someone who loves the Lord,
would be rejection by Him. We read in Matthew of those who believed
they were saved, and when they stood before the Lord in judgement, He
rejected them. They had not lived the salvation they had received.
Here is the rejection in the words of Jesus. Matthew 7:23 "And then
will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that
work iniquity." We are not to second guess the judgement of God. His
judgements are good. We look at the outward appearance of man, but God
looks on the heart. He judged their hearts and found them guilty of
sin.
Psalms 119:40 "Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken
me in thy righteousness."
The desire of all those who are wise, is to receive the
righteousness of Christ. We should be aware that our own righteousness
is but filthy rags. The only hope for us, is to believe on the Lord
Jesus Christ and receive His righteousness. His righteousness buys our
eternal life for us.
Questions 123
1. What shows us that the psalmist, in verse 17, has already made his
decision to follow the Lord?
2. Why do we know the blessings that he is seeking are not material?
3. What is it as if the psalmist is asking for here?
4. What is the concern of the servant in verse 17?
5. How do you know the psalmist, in verse 18, was not physically
blind?
6. What is verse 18 speaking of, if not physical blindness?
7. The law is actually an outward expression of the ____ -- ---.
8. What 2 things is the Holy Spirit?
9. What are the words of the chorus we sing here?
10. The psalmist said he was a _______ in the earth?
11. Who should be able to say that with the psalmist?
12. We are __ the world, but we are not __ the world.
13. We are we on a journey to?
14. If I am to be successful on my journey, I must keep the _________
of God.
15. The flesh of man wants to please ___ ____ _____.
16. How can the soul of man be at peace?
17. Why are the proud cursed?
18. In verse 22, he asks for two things to be removed from him, what
are they?
19. Who are the princes in verse 23?
20. Worldly counselors give ____ _________.
21. Who is the quickening Spirit?
22. Quote 1 Corinthians chapter 15 verse 45.
23. Quote 1 John chapter 1 verse 9?
24. What does precepts mean in verse 27?
25. Wisdom is not accumulated learning, it is a ____ from ___.
26. God's strength is made perfect in our __________.
27. In verse 29, he asks for the Lord to remove what?
28. Who is the Way and Truth?
29. Who is the father of all lies?
30. What does the word, run, show us in verse 32?
31. In verse 33, he promises to keep the statutes of God, how long?
32. The understanding, in verse 34, comes from what?
33. Verse 35 reminds the author of what?
34. Quote 1 John chapter 1 verse 7.
35. What is covetness?
36. What was one of the main things that got Eve in trouble in the
garden of Eden?
37. Jesus said, to look on a woman to lust is committing what sin in
your heart?
38. What does the word {stablished} mean?
39. Where do we read of Jesus rejecting someone, who thought he was
saved?
40. What righteousness do we need?
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