Holiness and Meditation

 Temple Baptist Church - 1-7-2024

Psalm 119:9-16

 

Introduction:

 

A.  Beth – the Second Stanza of Psalm 119.  As with Alph, each of the verses in this stanza begin with Beth in Hebrew. 

 

1.  Beth, in the Hebrew, means House.  Abraham named his altar Bethel or “Beth-el”, the house of God.  Abraham did not have a place of worship as we do, therefore, he made a place of worship.

 

2.  In the New Testament, we find the body of the believer is called both a house and a temple, indicating that our bodies are a place of both dwelling and worship.

 

2 Corinthians 5:1  For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

 

1 Corinthians 6:19  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

 

3.  Since the Holy Ghost indwells the believer, his body is both a dwelling and place of worship.  We are to make our hearts a home for the Word of God and a place of worship of God.  This is what the second stanza, verses 9-16, are all about.

 

B.  Verse 9 begins with a right direction for a young man or a young lady.  For both young and old (as many of us were saved at a more mature age), it is important how we begin our spiritual lives as well as how we end them. 

 

1.  On most grave markers, there are two dates that pertain to the deceased: the date of one’s birth and the date of one’s death.  Often there is a dash (-) in between these two dates.

 

2.  This stanza is not about the New Birth, nor is it about one’s death.  The “-“ is the life from birth to death.  It matters how we start our lives as much as it matters how we finish our lives.

 

3.  How to begin and end our lives in a holy manner.

 

C.  Verses 9-16.  The stanza begins with an important question: “Wherewithal” - An interrogative or a question which can incorporate the following: what? how?, why? or when?  It also ends with a declarative statement: “I will not forget thy word”.  Start right and end right.

 

1.  Before you can start right and end right, you need to get to know the Word of God in several ways.

 

2.  First, you need to have a right perspective of the Word of God.  The First Mention is found in Genesis, chapter 3, where Adam said, “I heard thy voice in the Garden.” 

 

Genesis 3:8  And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.

 

3.  The Word of God that we have is a living Word and an Abiding Word.  Most people treat the Bible as they would do any other manmade book.  I often say that you cannot separate the Inscribed Word of God from the Incarnate Word of God.

 

1 Peter 1:23  Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

 

 

4.  The Word of God is a living Word that not only has life but also gives life.

 

5.  The Word of God is an abiding Word that has been, is, and always will be with us.

 

6.  You cannot have a proper relationship with the Lord without having a proper relationship with the Word!

 

D.  Now, let us look at the “-“ in between a right start and a right finish.  How to start right and finish right. How do we cleanse our way? 

 

1.  Verse 9.  By Heeding God’s Word!  Heeding God’s Word will cleanse the reader.  Most people never read God’s Word much less heed it.  In order to heed God’s Word, you need to know what it says and know it in detail.  So many who maintain that they are saved do not heed God’s Word.  To obey it!

 

Ephesians 5:26  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

 

2.  Verse 10.  By seeking God’s Word.  “O let me not wander” is the key.  If we are not seeking, we are wandering.  To stray or get off course.  I know a lady who loves to wander in Walmart.  It is a plea to God to help keep us directed in the Word of God.  We do not lose our Bibles as we normally know where they lie so, seeking does not mean to find it as much as it means to go to where it is and read it.

 

Proverbs 2:13  Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;

 

3.  Verse 11.  By hiding God’s Word.  To memorize the Scriptures, thus maintaining the Word of God in our hearts.  The inward Word of God keeps us sensitive to what we do by either guiding or chiding with us.  Moral purity does not come accidentally!  Moral purity is purposed.

 

Proverbs 2:1-2  My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;  (2)  So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;

 

4.  Verse 12.  By learning God’s Word.  I found out years ago that I can read God’s Word but not learn God’s Word. “Study … a workman … approved unto God … rightly dividing the Word of Truth”.  A believer can come to church, hear a Sunday School lesson from God’s Word, hear a biblical sermon from God’s Word, and remained unlearned and unchanged.

 

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.

 

5.  Verse 13.  By sharing God’s Word.  An important part of living a pure life is to share God’s Word.  It keeps us on our “p’s and q’s” because we will not share the Bible unless our lives portray the Bible.  Sin will quickly close our mouths!  Sin should quickly close our mouths so the lost will not hear God’s Word and not see God’s Word in us.

 

Psalms 118:17  I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.

 

6.  Verse 14.  By desiring God’s Word.  I believe that poor old Job said it all: “Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.” (Job 23:12)  Love God’s Word!  Esteem God’s Word!  More than the riches of this world!

 

1 Peter 2:2  As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

 

7.  Verse 15.  By meditating on God’s Word.  As we are to pray without ceasing, we are to keep the Word of God unceasingly before us, as frontlets, so as to see the Lord instead of seeing the world. 

 

Psalms 19:14  Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

 

8.  Verse 16.  By delighting in God’s Word.  If you delight in the Bible, you will not forget the Bible.  The key to cleansing our lives is based upon our desire, delight, and obedience to the Word of God.

 

Romans 7:22  For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

 

Conclusion:  “Wherewithal” - An interrogative or a question which can incorporate the following: what?  The Word of God.   how?  By heeding and hiding. why? Because the Word of God alone can cleanse.  when?  All the time!