Studies in Psalm 119 – The Strengthening of the Word

1. When we are inwardly near death (Psalm 119:25).

1) We all have times when we feel like giving up.

2) The Psalmist had feelings like this as well.

3) He describes himself as cleaving to the dust.

4) This is a picture of one who is hugging the ground, down on all fours, ready to quit.

5) He asks God to quicken, revive, or make him alive by means of God’s word.

6) God’s word has reviving power.

7) Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two?edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

8) Psalm 119:93 “I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me.”

9) John 6:63 “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”

2. When we are inwardly seeking (Psalm 119:26).

1) The Psalmist says that he declared his ways to God.

2) Were these sinful ways?

3) Were these wandering ways?

4) Were these faithful ways?

5) Whatever ways these were, the Psalmist expresses a desire to seek if his ways are right.

6) He expresses confidence that God has heard him.

7) He expresses his desire that God teach him.

8) Do we ever wonder about the decisions of our life?

9) We often seek answers to questions that we face each day.

10) How should I live as a husband, father, wife, mother, child?

11) What should I do when I have a boss that is out to get me?

12) What role does God desire for me in His kingdom?

13) What will happen with me and those I love in the future?

14) Turning to God’s word gives us the answers for which we are looking.

15) 2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

16) Psalm 119:98-100 ” Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.”

3. When we are inwardly challenged (Psalm 119:27).

1) The psalmist prays that God make him to understand the way of God’s precepts.

2) He then expresses his desire to share the things he has learned with others.

3) We need to seek to apply God’s word to our lives every day.

4) In that regard, we need to understand God’s word as to how it applies to our lives.

5) Once we have such an understanding, then we can tell others about God’s word as well and how it can apply to their life.

6) 1 Peter 3:15 “but sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord: being ready always to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear:”

7) Colossians 4:6 ” Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”

1. When overtaken with heaviness (Psalm 119:28).

1) The word “heaviness” here indicates a great burden.

2) This is a burden that is so great that we melt under the pressure of it.

3) It may be a burden over which we have shed tears.

4) It is a great weariness to us to have such heaviness upon us.

5) God’s word can provide strength and comfort in such times if we will let it.

6) God’s word brings comfort to those who are weary under financial burdens because all accounts will one day be settled.

7) God’s word brings comfort to those who are undergoing family crises because there is wisdom there to solve all issues.

8) God’s word brings comfort to those who are suffering as a result of death because God will take care of His saints.

9) Whatever the burden might be, there is nothing too great and for which we cannot find comfort in God’s word.

10) Psalm 119:50 ” This is my comfort in my affliction; For thy word hath quickened me.”

11) 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 “Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.”

12) James 1:21 says that it is this same word which is able to save our souls.

2. When overtaken with sinfulness (Psalm 119:29).

1) The Psalmists asks God to remove him from the way of lying or falsehood.

2) This could be in regard to personal transgressions that he has committed.

3) It could be in regard to temptations that he experiences around him to walk in sinful ways.

4) He then asks for God to grant him His word graciously.

5) The Psalmist wants the fullest experience of God’s word that he can have.

6) He wants God to give His word to him with favor and grace, holding nothing back.

7) He wants learning God’s word to be a pleasurable experience.

8) What a tremendous attitude!

9) How do we look at the false ways around us?

10) How do we look at temptation?

11) How do we look at sin in our life?

12) Do we desire to be removed from it and delivered to God’s word for relief and comfort?

13) Psalm 119:104 “Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.”

14) Romans 12:9 “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.”

15) Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”

16) God’s word provides the remedy for the problem of sin.

1. When we need faithful guidance (Psalm 119:30).

1) The Psalmist expresses confidence in his choice of following after truth.

2) He says that he has laid God’s judgments before him as the guide for his life.

3) Truth is the only thing that will faithfully guide us in this life to the next.

4) John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

5) John 8:31-32 “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

6) John 17:17 “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”

7) God’s word provides the truth we need to be faithfully guided through all life’s paths.

2. When we need confidence (Psalm 119:31).

1) The Psalmist speaks of his faithfulness to God’s testimonies.

2) He prays that God will not put him to shame.

3) This prayer betrays a certain lack of confidence in the Psalmists thoughts.

4) We need to turn to God’s word when we need confidence.

5) In Hebrews 3:14 we read, “for we are become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our confidence firm unto the end:”

6) Luke was confident regarding the message of the gospel. He wrote to Theophilus in Luke 1:4 “That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.”

7) John expressed his confidence in this way, “And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe” (John 19:35).

8) God’s word is tried and true. We can be confident in it.

3. When we need encouragement (Psalm 119:32).

1) The Psalmist says that he will run in God’s commandments.

2) He will do this as God enlarges his heart; i.e. encourages him.

3) Doing God’s commandments in our lives is the best encouragement we can have.

4) Dreading is worse than doing.

5) We need to simply hunker down and do what God tells us to do and we will have the best of all possible lives.

6) James 1:25 “But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”

7) Luke 11:28 “But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.”

8) John 13:17 ” If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.”

9) Revelation 22:14 “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.”