A Soul and a Law

Psalm 119:109 My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law.

Charles Spurgeon said, “The man who carries his life in his hand should carry the law in his heart.”

• We are to be good stewards of the life which God has given us. It is through the Word of God we learn how to be good caretakers of this life.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

• God desires that we are sanctified in Him. This means that we should be separated from the world toward Him.

I Thessalonians 5:23 ...the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We live in a dangerous world. Our three great enemies, the world, the flesh and the Devil are out to destroy us. In order to see clearly we need to go to the Word of God, which is a lamp unto our feet, and a light unto our path.

You wouldn’t think of trying to walk through fallen power lines in pitch darkness. Yet, many run blindly through the darkness of this age with no light at all. They have no idea of the danger to their soul. How much safer and easier it is to turn on the light.

An Affliction and An Answer

Psalm 119:107 I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O LORD, according unto thy word.

Most people would point out the fact that they have also faced much affliction. Even when our lives have not been too difficult and we haven’t gone through a lot of trials we still have a tendency to perceive great afflictions. It doesn’t matter if our afflictions are great or light, God is able to help us through them.

Through the Word of God we receive the quickening grace of God in the midst of our afflictions. The reason many Christians can’t see their way through the afflictions they face is because they have no idea what to do or where to go. They have no light because they spend no time in the Word of God. In their affliction they run to their pastor, or a counselor, or their best friend. These people may be glad to help, but even the best of intentions will fall short compared to the Word of God. As a pastor, I truly desire to be a blessing to anyone who is facing difficulties, but I know that I am limited as a person. I don’t have all knowledge, or all strength, or all wisdom, and I know I can fail. A person needs to spend time with God through His Word. God has all knowledge, and has all strength and all wisdom. He can help in every situation. There is nothing wrong with going to your pastor for counsel, but this pastor will take you to God’s Word for the guidance we need.

The Holy Spirit will use His Word to guide you through life’s journey. He will illuminate your way. When we, as a church, walk together down this path the combined light will make every difficult affliction easier and make every dark corner brighter.

A Vow and a Fulfillment

Psalm 119:106 I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments.

God provides no excuses for a person to break a vow. He does not change and he takes swearing (making a vow) very seriously. In fact, God calls the person who will not pay his or her vow a fool.

Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.

God is always faithful to keep His vows.

•  He kept His promise to redeem Israel.

Deuteronomy 7:8 ...because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

• He kept His promise to have compassion on Israel.

Deuteronomy 13:17 ...there shall cleave nought of the cursed thing to thine hand: that the LORD may turn from the fierceness of his anger, and shew thee mercy, and have compassion upon thee, and multiply thee, as he hath sworn unto thy fathers...

• He kept His promise to judge Israel for disobedience.

Judges 2:15 Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed.

A Lamp and a Light

Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

The people in Papua New Guinea carry flashlights all the time. They are needed to walk through the bush (jungle) at night. Since the electricity doesn’t work a great deal of the time it is important to have them even in town.

We need to be able to have the Word of God available all the time. It will guide us as we travel through this dark and filthy world. It is important that the Word of God is not just a book we carry, but that it has transformed our minds.

God uses comparisons to teach us in the Bible. A deep theological truth is easily understood because it is like something with which we are familiar. The Bible is a self-defining book. This verse does not say that God’s Word is like a lamp, but that it is a lamp.

• This Book will help us walk in newness of life.

Romans 6:4 ...like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

• This Book will help us walk in the Spirit.

Galatians 5:16; 25 Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh... If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

• This Book will help us to walk worthy.

Colossians 1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God...

I Thessalonians 2:12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory

Sermon 11.8 - "How Can We Walk in Wisdom?"

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Hating

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

Not only should we not walk down the wrong way, we should hate the false way. The evil path should be easy to see, but a false way implies deception. A false way could appear to be morally good. Anything that is not in line with the Word of God is a false way.

We should measure every circumstance, every decision, and every choice by the Word of God. We should hate every way which does not measure up to God’s Word.

I am afraid there are many Christians who don’t seem to be bothered by false ways. They live good, moral lives. They don’t drink or smoke, and are faithful to their commitments. They stand against abortion and against homosexuality. They would seem to be perfect examples to others, but they will not stand against the false doctrines taught in many religious institutions. 

Many who claim to be believers today do not truly hate the false, deceitful ways being taught. Whether it is the Easy-Believism of the Progressive Church Movement, or the Health and Wealth gospel of the Charismatic Movement, it seems most Christians just look the other way. These false ways are not just insignificant deceptions, but they are taking multitudes down a path which leads to hell. It is not my contention that every person involved in these movements is lost, but they are being introduced to a false god.

Why do we not hate a way which takes people to eternal judgment? Why do we not speak up when people are being misled? The hate of the false way may be the only hope for the deceived.

Tasting

Psalm 119:103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth.

Just as we love to eat certain kinds of food, the Word of God is sweet to the taste of the man who loves it. Sometimes, when we are sick, we don’t even want to eat our favorite foods. We couldn’t eat even if we tried. A sign that we are spiritually sick is a lack of appetite for the Word of God. When God’s Word is no longer sweet to you, remember that the problem is not the Bible.

First, knowing the Word of God helps us to be greater witnesses.

Ezekiel 3:1-4 ...he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel. So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll. And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness. And he said unto me, Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them.

Second, knowing the Word of God produces joy in our hearts.

Jeremiah 15:16 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.

Third, God’s Word is our source of strength.

Job 23:12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

What does God’s Word taste like to you? Does it taste like dry oatmeal or filet mignon? 

Departing?

Psalm 119:102 I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me.

Deuteronomy 5:32 Ye shall observe to do therefore as the LORD your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.

When we learn from God’s word we will not depart from His judgments. Life and problems and circumstances are seen more clearly when viewed through the Word of God. It is only through the power of God that we are able to obey Him and stand against sin. It is through this power we will not even consider departing from His Word.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

It is by God’s Word we are taught how to stand, but if we should happen to fall we learn how to get back on our feet again through repentance. It is through God’s Word we see sin for the evil that it is, rather than something that is flippant and easy to be justified. It is God’s Word that must be planted in the hearts of unbelievers so God can give the increase. God’s Word is the answer to all, so why would we dream of leaving it?

Psalm 18:30-32, 35 As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him. For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God? It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect... Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.

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Refraining

Psalm 119:101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.

First, the statement, “I have refrained my feet,” reminds me of the man who had been saved from alcoholism. He had come to the Lord in repentance and his life had been changed, but he came to his pastor one day and asked him to put him on his prayer list because he was facing great temptations and he was afraid he might yield. He told his pastor that he was tempted to go into the bar he passed while going to work and back. His pastor’s response was, “Drive a different way.” Refrain your feet and don’t go that way anymore.

I Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.

Second, we should not just keep our feet from doing evil, but from the evil way. It is easier to obey God’s Word when the path we take is not leading in the wrong direction. It would have been much easier for Lot to not fall into complacency and pride if he had never pitched his tent toward Sodom, but if he had not followed this evil path who knows what God could have done through him? Refraining our feet from the evil way not only keeps us from doing evil, it also makes it possible for us to do good.

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.

Holiness produces hatred and indignation against ungodliness and wickedness. The righteousness that comes from God will stir up loathing and disgust for every evil way.