Samekh
Psalm 119 • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 1 viewIn the morning message, we will think about the difficulties of living in a fallen world for God’s people.
Notes
Transcript
Introduction:
Introduction:
Psalm 119 has taught us to do more than speak highly about the Bible.
It has presented what a life of love for God and His Word looks like in a fallen world.
Imperfect conditions will be faced.
What are the right attitudes that we should have about God?
What are the righteous attributes that we should exhibit in the world?
We should be cautious about our society’s perversion of love as acceptance.
Why is acceptance/respect only a one way street?
A Contrast of Relationships
A Contrast of Relationships
This part of the Psalm opens by contrasting the writer’s attitudes/actions toward two different entities.
We first meet, for it is the first word, the double-minded.
Double-minded = those who are divided in opinion or heart.
The classic example comes from 1 Kings 18:21 when Elijah uses it as a challenge to Israel in his generation.
Hence, this is not a word that refers to an innocent state of mind.
It reveals serious lack of trust for Jehovah.
In words that make us uncomfortable, the Psalmist writes that he “hates double-minded ones.”
This is not consistent with “hating the sin but loving the sinner.”
As our world becomes less recognizable and more chaotic, we must be careful to avoid this trap especially if it means that we are supposed to “feel at home” with those who defy God.
God’s word does not produce such fickleness.
It is reliable.
It is trustworthy.
The Psalmist loves it.
God as Protector
God as Protector
The writer stresses the refuge or shelter God is in his person.
He uses the terms “shelter” and “shield” to convey the mental picture of protection from danger.
We must take seriously the threat of false teaching and bad ideas.
They lead us away from having a healthy/sound understanding of God, righteousness, and His will.
God himself, through His word, alone can provide such shelter.
As such, the Psalmist basis his anticipation of future deliverance in God’s word.
Introduction Part 2:
Introduction Part 2:
Hopefully, part one did not sound too scary.
We must be ready to face all possibilities.
The scriptures warn us to be prepared.
Early in the study, we were confronted with the question: why would you want to live?
What would you do with surviving?
What do you want to do with your life?
Is it to obey the Word of God?
Guarding, trusting, fearing are all important words.
How seriously do we take God, His Word, and obeying Him?
Is it loose, or do we fear?
From a biblical view, there are only two types of people.
A Call For Deviation
A Call For Deviation
In a subtle play on words, the writer issues a command to those he classifies as “evildoers.”
He wants them to deviate from him.
Presumably, they have already deviated or turned away from God and the truth.
He wants them to leave him alone.
This implies they have a hostile posture toward him.
He has already spoken of those who love to entrap/ensare those who wish to obey God.
This continues that contest.
He wants to closely guard the commandments of “my God.”
Note the very personal language/references at the end of Ps. 119:115.
A Request for Divine Support:
A Request for Divine Support:
In two successive verses (Ps. 119:116-117), the writer asks God to be His support or to sustain him.
“Uphold” and “hold” (ESV) are used as synonyms in this context so that we find two similar types of requests.
Yet, the objectives are not exactly the same.
Ps. 119:116 repeats the desire to see God fulfill the promise of deliverance or resumption of life.
In this instance, the Psalmist does not want to experience shame because he trust in God’s promised deliverance that never came. Perhaps Paul’s characterization of believers in 1 Corinthians 15 is apropos in light of this statement.
What a sad life if we trust in a promise from God that never had any chance of being fulfilled in the first place.
That is no promise.
The writer does not want to resume life simply because he longs to live.
He wants to do something meaningful with safety and security the fulfillment of God’s promise might bring.
He wants to “gaze” into God’s statutes continually.
“Have regard to”: “the basic idea of sha’a is “look at with interest.” It is never a casual or disinterested glance” (TWOT 2:944).
A Healthy View of God’s Judgment:
A Healthy View of God’s Judgment:
What separates the two types of people presented within this octad?
One fears God and so orders his/her life.
The other does not take God or His word seriously.
Ps. 119:118-119 present two verbs that characterize God’s actions toward those who err from God’s statutes.
Spurn = to make light of, to toss aside.
Discard = in the Hifil, “cause to cease.” Here, with the combination with dross/metal refuse, it must mean to put an end to. Like in the prophets, it is used here of divine judgment.
While in Ps. 119:118, the term “go astray” or “err” can mean to err inadvertently, the context does not seem to allow for simple mistakes.
Cunning refers to deceitfulness, but here those who go astray are not subjects of deceit, they are people who who have deluded themselves into thinking that God does not see in judgment.
Exx. Ezekiel 8:12, 9:9.
The contrast established at the end of Ps. 119:119 and Ps. 119:120 bring things into focus.
What motivates the Psalmist is a healthy view of his accountability to God. What motivates “the wicked” is they do not see themselves as accountable to Him.
He fears God and His judgments.
