Temple Baptist Church - 5-19-2024
Psalm 119:137-144
Introduction: Reiteration or Reinforcement! The work of the Pastor.
A. Psalm 119: 176 verses broken down into 22 stanzas with each stanza correlating with one of the 22 letters in the Hebrew Alphabet. Each stanza is made up of 8 verses which, in the Hebrew Bible, each verse begins with the associated letter of the Hebrew Alphabet forming an Acrostic. What a wonder that we hold in our hands tonight!
B. Psalm 119 was written for two reasons: 1) To Magnify the Word of God and 2) To show the importance of each believer having a relationship to the Word of God so that the Word of God can have a relationship with each believer. God has magnified His Word above ALL His name, and we are to magnify the Word of God also!
C. I know that we do not have to know Hebrew and Greek to understand the Word of God, but Psalm 119 gives us Hebrew letters in each of the 22 stanzas. This leads me to understand that the interpretation of each of these letters is important in understanding where the stanza is leading us.
D. Tonight, we will look at TZADDI ץ (pronounced Sau-di), the 18th letter of the Hebrew Alphabet. TZADDI means “righteous” and “the path of the righteous.” In the Hebrew, by righteous it means man in his original state before sin. The goal of the Word of God is to help fallen man be restored back to God through salvation spiritually, and back to a righteous state through sanctification.
E. To put TZADDI (Sau-di) in perspective, I want to look at two passages in the New Testament that beautifully describe the ultimate goal of the Word of God.
Romans 8:28-30 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (29) For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (30) Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
1 John 3:1-3 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. (2) Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (3) And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
F. The will of God for His children is that:
1. They be scripturally saved. I know this is a little factious since you cannot become a child of God with a spiritual or new birth. So many church people never have a relationship with God through His Word because, as unsaved, they have no desire to read what they cannot understand.
1 Corinthians 2:11-14 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. (12) Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. (13) Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. (14) But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
2. They continue to grow spiritually.
2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
3. They systematically conform to the image of Jesus Christ.
Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
G. This stanza is broken down into 3 parts when speaking of a righteous path.
1. Verse 137. The Righteousness of God’s Path.
a. “Righteous art thou, O LORD” The Righteousness of God is manifested in His Person and His path is a righteous one.` God never leads in an unrighteous way because of His name’s sake.
b. God is completely righteous as holiness in all His works are displayed. This creation declares the glory of God in both the heavens and on the earth. Perfectly designed to meet every need of billions of people. As knowledge on earth grew, the resources were already there to carry out their progress.
c. “and upright are thy judgments.” The Righteousness of God is manifested in His Judgements. The judgements of God perfectly set for the wicked’s punishment and for the godly’s protection. Israel used a system of “Retribution” instead of “Incarceration” and the penalty suppressed the lawlessness.
d. The path of righteousness begins with Salvation and ends with Death.
Psalms 23:1-3 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. (2) He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. (3) He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Psalms 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
2. Verses 138-140. The Righteousness of God’s Word.
a. Verse 138. “Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful.” The Word of God holds testimonies to be read and observed; testimonies to be followed; faithfulness to be found. We can trust the Word of God to always led right.
b. Verse 139. “My zeal hath consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten thy words.” A zeal to exercise. We live in days of apathy and spiritual carelessness. Zeal: enthusiasm, passion, intention, and fanaticism. We are called fanatics (devoted, followers, zealots) simply because we have a zeal for God’s Word. In a world that has “forgotten thy words,” fanatics stand out. We may be nuts, but we are screwed onto the right Bolt!
Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
c. Verse 140. “Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.” You will never follow the Word of God fully until you recognize it for what it is, THE WORD OF GOD! Every child of God needs to love the Word of God! And “thy servant loveth it!”
1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
d. We that stand for an unchanging Bible. The path of righteousness found in salvation continues in God’s Word.
3. Verses 141-144. The Righteousness of the Believer. Now that we have gotten our salvation right, the Word of God right, the believer has a clear path to personally follow.
a. Verse 141. “I am small and despised: yet do not I forget thy precepts.” God’s people who follow the Word of God do not forget its precepts as they are right. The poor are rich in faith and God chose to use “ignorant and unlearned men” in Acts, chapter 4.
Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
1 Corinthians 1:26-29 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: (27) But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; (28) And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: (29) That no flesh should glory in his presence.
b. Verse 142. “Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.” The righteous path of God NEVER changes. Often, people tell me how times have changed and that we need to change with the times. Religions are changing and I have seen much of that change in my short lifetime. I do not find the precept of change in my Bible. Right is still right and wrong is still wrong. The Word of God is truth!
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; (32) And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
c. Verse 143. “Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: yet thy commandments are my delights.” There will be days of trouble ahead for the Biblical believer and there will be anguish (pain and suffering) because of it, but we need to understand that God’s ways are right and following the path of righteousness brings delight instead of shame and guilt. Remain in the Old Paths of our Fathers and you will be alright in the end.
d. Verse 144. “The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live.” Through understanding of the Scriptures and the following thereof, we find life more abundantly.
True rightness has a path that begins with salvation in a Righteous God then trusting in a Righteous Word of God and ending up following a clear, righteous path for God!
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