The Authority of Scripture; Psalm 119:17-23

1/2/2011

Thesis: We need God’s gracious word in order to live righteous lives.

I. We are a dependent people (17-19)

The confession that we are God’s servants begins and ends this portion of Psalm 119. In verse 17 we pray, “deal bountifully with your servant. In verse 23 we confess, “Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statutes.” Because God has created us we are dependent upon him. Because God has redeemed from slavery to sin through the work of Jesus Christ we are dependent upon him. We are a people who understand and live in light of the fact that we do not belong to ourselves but to God. He is not the servant of us. No, we are his dependent servants.

A.  We are dependent upon God’s grace for righteousness (17)

If God doesn’t do for us, or deal bountifully with us his servants, then life is not life.  Do you see the prayer of verse 17, “Deal bountifully with your servant [so that] I may live and keep your word”? We read last week in Revelation 20 verse 10 that at the end of time the devil, the beast, and the false prophet will be tormented day and night forever and ever in the lake of fire. Would these three agree with the Psalmist that their continued existence is completely dependent on God’s grace? No, “that I may live” is more than continuing to exist. People will continue to exist in a terrible state of punishment not because of God’s grace but because of his justice. The Psalmist is praying for grace in order to live a righteous life. He’s not content just existing.

I’m not content to just exist. I want to live a life that glorifies God. I want a marriage that proclaims the gospel of Jesus Christ for the glory of God. I want to raise children in a way that proclaims the excellencies of God. I want to be a neighbor and a pastor who walks in righteousness. And I know me so I need God’s grace to live this way. If God doesn’t pour out his cleansing and empowering grace upon me then I will not live a righteous life. I am dependent upon his grace in order to keep his word. We would do well to begin and end each day praying Psalm 119:17, “Be gracious to me your servant so that I may live a righteous life.” We are dependent on his grace for righteousness and

B.  We are dependent upon God’s grace for beholding wondrous things (18)

Verse 18 is a confession of blindness. This is one of God’s children, the Old Testament equivalent of a born-again saint, saying, “God please open my eyes because if you don’t I’m going to miss what your word is all about.” If we would do well to pray verse 17 before each day begins then we would do well to pray verse 18 before we read the bible.

These black letters on these white pages can be nothing but poetry, narrative, and prose. Many people with unopened eyes view this as nothing more than a book. Oh, but when God opens your eyes you see wondrous things within. You come face to face with an infinitely holy God. You enter into the presence of a God who forgives with extravagant grace. The black letters and white pages suddenly come to life as you see the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit takes the truth and brings it to bear on your heart, your wants, and your situation. This doesn’t happen because you are smart. This happens because God is gracious so we pray with the Psalmist, “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of law.”

This is why we prayerfully read Scripture: so that we can see God and through his lens of Scripture understand this world. There are wondrous things in these pages, in every verse. Prayerfully seek after wondrous things in God’s law.

This means we must approach Scripture from the perspective of 2 Timothy 2:7, “Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.”  If you never think about Scripture how do you expect God to reveal wondrous things to you? It is as you are studying, memorizing, and meditating that the Lord reveals wondrous things to you about himself, his Son, his Spirit, and the life he wants you to live.

We are dependent upon God’s grace in order to see wondrous things and

C.  We are dependent upon God’s grace for direction (19)

A sojourner is someone who is passing through; a sojourner is here only temporarily. Some translations use the word ‘alien’ to describe this person who doesn’t belong here. The biblical truth is simple: this world and these possessions are temporary.  The age to come, the new heavens and the new earth, that is eternal (2 Cor 4:18).  Since we belong to God and are headed toward a heavenly city we are sojourners, temporarily occupying this space and possessing these things.

As such, as sojourners, we need God’s commandments. The Psalmist prays in verse 19, “I am a sojourner on the earth; hide not your commandments from me!”  The world has its commandments but they are selfish, godless, and temporary. And God has his commandments which are Christ-centered, fruitful, and enduring. So we as God’s people depend on God to give us his commandments.

Now is the prayer, “hide not your commandments from me” asking God to not play hide and seek with his will? Is the Psalmist asking God to not talk in riddles like God is some trickster who takes pleasure in confusing his children? We know that’s not true. What does James 1:5 tell us about wisdom? “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”

‘Hide not your commandments from me’ is praying in agreement with the nature of God. It could be said this way: I know I don’t belong to this world and I know the world’s goals are a waste. I also know that you know the right way. So God, please give me your commandments. God show me the way to go.

That is a great prayer. The issue, however, is then what do you do after you pray asking God for wisdom?  Some people sit silently waiting on God to speak either audibly or internally through dreams or mind-control.  That response is not recommended by the Psalmist and I do not recommend it to you. What is recommended is that you hide God’s word in your heart. Pray for wisdom while studying, memorizing, and meditating on Scripture; that’s the biblical model for acquiring wisdom.

Look at Psalm 119:9-11 and see if the passive approach is recommended. (read it) Here is our model: diligently work to know God and his ways from God’s word so that you can prayerfully navigate this world.

Commit this morning to the biblical worldview: we are dependent upon God to graciously instruct us concerning how to live and navigate in this world. Then based upon that truth dedicate yourself to mastering God’s gracious commandments which he has already given.

Those who submit to the authority of Scripture are those people who know 2 things: that they are foolish and the wisdom of God is found in Scripture. Pray, study, and live like a dependent. Are you ready today to admit that you are needy, dependent on God’s grace? Let your pride go and discover the blessings of God’s wisdom and grace. Come be one of us; be dependent upon God.

II. We are a people who delight in God’s word (20-23)

A.  We delight in what we believe is glorious and good (20)

The first response when we read verse 20 is to say, “I can’t do that.” In verse 20 the Psalmist states, “My soul is consumed with longing for your rules at all times.”  Before you tell me that you can’t be consumed with God’s word I want to tell you about a man who I met some months ago. This man receives a disability check from the government because he is addicted to pornography. His life is eaten up with desire.  His soul is dominated and the direction of each day is dictated by the pursuit of immorality. Now if an unbeliever can be disabled by desire for what is not good can we honestly say it is impossible for any of God’s children to be consumed by what is good?

The truth of the matter is everyone of us is consumed by what we think is the ultimate good. If you think peace and quiet is the ultimate good you will do everything to get it and fight everyone who stands in the way. The same is true for money, good looks, power, a good reputation, and the like. All of us are eaten up with gaining something. Some of us are even driven by the desire to gain nothing. Humanity is a crazy lot.

Here’s what I want you to grab onto by faith today: with man it is impossible but with God all things are possible (Mt 19:26). The Apostle Paul made the encouraging confession: “I can do all things through [Christ] who strengthens me” in Philippians 4:13. Do you read Psalm 119:20 with discouragement or do you read your bible through faith? With a defeated mindset do you think that you could never honestly say, “My soul is consumed with longing for your rules at all times”? Or through faith in Jesus Christ do you keep praying and memorizing? Do you say, “I may not feel like it today but through Christ I will find strength to rejoice in the word of God”? We delight in what we believe is glorious and good.  Through faith in Christ we are strengthened so that we delight in the word of God.

B.  We wander from God’s word because of pride (21)

We should be fearful that we would ever ignore or disregard God’s word. To wander is to go astray, to go into error, to be deceived, or to be disobedient. These insolent, prideful people, who think they don’t need God’s word are rebuked. These people who bring curses upon themselves by ignoring or disregarding God’s word are admonished by God.

To be rebuked is to be checked by a strong admonition or action (TWOT 370). God gets in your face. This is true of the believer when God corrects and disciplines us. This is true of the unbeliever when you stand before God and your pride and foolishness are exposed by his glory and wisdom.

So we ask: Why does anyone ignore God’s word? Because of pride we ignore God’s word and do our own thing. Church, we’re not going to do that because we are a people dependent upon God’s grace for life. So in humility we delight in obeying the wisdom of God’s word and

C.  When you delight in God’s word expect opposition (22)

The Psalmist, a man trying by faith to listen and obey the word of God, is receiving scorn and contempt. Some people around him are being unduly hard on him because he seeks to live a righteous life.  They say disgraceful things about him. They are disgusted by him and they’re not afraid to tell people.

The Holy Spirit puts it this way in 1 Peter 4:3&4, “for the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you.” The people who knew you before Christ changed you will make fun of you when you stop doing what you used to do.

When you strive to live a righteous life expect persecution (2 Timothy 3:12). Expect it. Prepare for it. And when it comes it’s okay to pray to God that He take it away. When you delight in God’s word expect opposition and know that it is okay to pray for it to stop. But no matter what keep following God’s word.

D.  When you are opposed meditate on the word of God (23)

Verse 23, “Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statues.” The picture here is of a group of highly influential leaders, commanders, or princes gathering together to make plans. And they are planning on how to do away with the righteous. When by faith in Jesus Christ you commit to living a righteous life you will ‘bump into’ those people who disagree with you.  When you by faith in Jesus Christ seek to obey God’s word you will have to oppose the plans and ideals of others. Sometimes you will see God win them to the truth. Other times you will see them plan out ways to get rid of you or do anything they can to take away your influence. What will you do?

Meditate on God’s statutes. Focus on those foundational truths of God.  The truth that led you into the difficulty is sufficient to sustain you in the difficulty. Don’t abandon ship just because it starts to rain.  Jumping out of a ship half way across the Atlantic is not a good idea no matter how big the storm is.

It is precisely during these difficult times that we must commit ourselves to thinking God’s thoughts by meditating on God’s word. To meditate is simply to roll some truth around in your mind looking at all the sides and angles. You know how to meditate. All of us at one time or another have replayed a conversation in our minds and thought of all the things we should have said. That’s meditation; playing it back again and again while thinking of all the implications.

What we must do is commit to meditate on what matters especially in difficulty.  This happens when we are convinced that the word of God that got us into difficulty is sufficient to sustain and guide us through the difficulty. And let me remind you, the word of God is sufficient so that the man of God may be equipped for every good work (2 Tim 3:17).

Now some of you are thinking that all of this is all well and good but for someone else. Maybe it’s good for pastors because we have more time to dedicate to God’s word. You tried it and you didn’t like it. You memorized Scripture for a little while and quit. You started a bible reading plan but didn’t finish. This last point is for you.

E.   Delight in God’s word is an acquired taste (24)

The Psalmist says in verse 24, “Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors.” This man enjoyed God’s word. It strengthened him, led him, and brought him to God. This bible is good stuff.

Now keep this in mind as you read: this was not always the case. There was a time when even this man of God didn’t delight in God’s word or let it set his life’s direction. But when the grace of God appeared he was changed. When the grace of God appears you will be changed. When we say that God gives us a new heart we are saying that God changes our wants. He gives us new desires; new tastes if you will. So delight in God’s word is an acquired taste.

Delight in God’s word requires the new birth. So it may be that you don’t care about God’s word because you are not God’s child. It may be that you don’t give a rip about the way God wants you to live because you don’t have eternal life. The good news for you who do not delight in God’s word because you are not a Christian is this: God stands ready today to forgive you of your sins and give you a new heart with new desires. If the Holy Spirit is exposing your sinful unbelief regarding the word of God then follow his lead. He’s leading you to Jesus Christ who takes away every sin, even the sin of not delighting in God’s word. On the cross he took our sin. Died and was buried. Then he rose again pure and holy because your sins that were on him had been paid for.  Through faith in Jesus Christ crucified, buried, and resurrected you too can be pure and holy. Call out to God today. Repent to God. Tell him you are sorry that you disobeyed him, place your faith in Jesus who died and rose again for you then you will be saved.  Your heart will be changed. Your appetite for God’s word will grow.  You must be born again.

But what about those of us who are born again but struggle to delight in God’s word? What about those of us who learn to listen to God’s counsel not because he said it but because we learned the hard way? Ground yourself in this truth: you are not a Christian because you delight in God’s word and obey his commands. You are a Christian because Jesus always delighted in God’s word and obeyed God’s commands. The righteousness of Jesus Christ has been applied to you. Ground yourself in the work of Jesus Christ and that gratitude will work on your desires.

The more grateful I am for Jesus Christ the more hungry I am for God’s word. So I track my lack of delight in God’s word back deep into my thankfulness for Jesus.  When I am weak on Jesus I am weak in the word but when my delight in Jesus is deep my delight in the word of God grows deeper. So don’t go to bed tonight thinking that you’re just going to wake up the next day and be excited about reading and obeying God’s word. Big decisions aren’t powerful but Jesus Christ is.  Make the simple commitment to learn more about Jesus. Set your alarm 15 minutes earlier. Splash some cold water on your face. Get dressed. Get a cup of whatever gets you going. Then don’t just start reading. No, instead start with prayer. Pray that God would pour out his grace on you and know that God wants to do that. Pray that God would open your eyes so that you see wondrous things and know that God wants to do that. Admit that you are a sojourner dependent upon God’s wisdom and know that God wants to give it. Pray and then read slowly through one of the gospels looking for Jesus. When you find something that is new or amazes you afresh then camp out there. Meditate on it. Right a verse or two on a note card and work on memorizing it.  Focus on Jesus and delight in the word of God will come with Him.