Sermon on Psalm 119:9-16 – The Cleansing of the Word

1. The word cleanses the way for the young man.

1) God’s word was expected under Israel to be taught to the youth. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 says, “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”

2) Solomon exhorted, “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth?.” (Ecclesiastes 12:1).

3) The Psalmist declared, “O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.” (Psalm 71:17)

2. The word prevents us from wandering when we seek God with a whole heart.

1) Proverbs 21:16 “The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.”

2) Hosea 9:17 “My God will cast them away, because they did not hearken unto him: and they shall be wanderers among the nations.”

3) Amos 8:11-12 “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.”

3. The word, stored up in our heart, keeps us from sinning.

1) Psalm 37:31 “The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.”

2) In Matthew 4:1-10 as Jesus was being tempted, he replied each time with “It is written.”

3) Jeremiah records his attitude toward God’s word. “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts” (Jeremiah 15:16).

1. That our praise would be a blessing to God.

1) Correct praise is a blessing:

a. Consider Psalm 34:1 “I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.”

b. Psalm 66:8 “O bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of his praise to be heard:”

2) We can’t offer our own righteousness to God. Romans 10:2-3 “For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God?s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.”

3) God’s righteousness only comes through the gospel today (Romans 1:16-17).

4) And God’s word teaches us to praise Him correctly. John 4:23-24.

2. That we may use our lips to praise Him.

1) Psalm 51:15 “O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.”

2) Consider Hebrews 13:15 “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”

3) 1 Peter 4:11 “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”

3. That our praise would reflect genuine joy for the Lord.

1) Consider Psalm 27:6 “And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.”

2) Psalm 33:1 “Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.”

3) Revelation 19:5-7 “And a voice came forth from the throne, saying, Give praise to our God, all ye his servants, ye that fear him, the small and the great. And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunders, saying, Hallelujah: for the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigneth. Let us rejoice and be exceeding glad, and let us give the glory unto him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.”

1. That we may meditate upon God’s word.

1) Psalm 1:2 “But his delight is in the law of Jehovah; And on his law doth he meditate day and night.”

2) Psalm 145:4 “Of the glorious majesty of thine honor, And of thy wondrous works, will I meditate.”

3) 1 Timothy 4:15-16 “Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.”

2. That we may respect God’s ways.

1) Consider Nebuchadnezzar’s statement in Daniel 4:37 “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven; for all his works are truth, and his ways justice; and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.”

2) 1 Peter 2:9 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”

3) Revelation 19:1 “And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:”

3. That we may delight in God’s word and not forget it.

1) Psalm 40:8 is the attitude we should have, ” I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.”

2) Romans 7:22 “For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:”

3) 2 Peter 1:12-15 “Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.”