Second part of a study of the 119th Psalm, looking for the practical teaching it gives us today

1. PSALM 119 – (2)
Laindon Bible Class – 9th March 2016

2. A brief recap of last week
• Looked at the structure of the Psalm
• Examined the word patterns
• Discovered the recurring use of 10 words
• Considered who the writer might have been
• Looked at some of the Psalmist’s key thoughts
• Puzzled over whether the letters of the Hebrew alphabet had any
more significance
Psalm 119 2

3. Psalm 119 3

4. Psalm 119 4
Word cloud – NKJV
1
2
3
4
5
6
7 8
9
10

5. Our approach
• The need for God’s word
• Is the law now redundant?
• The influence of God’s word over us
• Accessing God’s word
• The resulting state of mind
Psalm 119 5

6. The need for God’s word
• “Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me
understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.” :73
• “My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word.” :81
• “Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every
false way.” :104
• “Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; and teach me thy
statutes.” :135
Psalm 119 6

7. Is the law now redundant?
• “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified
in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” Romans 3:20
• “For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better
hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.” Hebrews 7:19
• “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the
flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for
sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law
might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the
Spirit.” Romans 8:3-4
• Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ,
that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we
are no longer under a schoolmaster.” Galatians 3:24-25
Psalm 119 7

8. 119th Psalm in relation to the law
• The Psalm contains no direct reference to the ritual of the law
• Nearest reference is to the spirit of the law: “Accept, I beseech thee,
the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord, and teach me thy
judgments.” :108
• David may well have been very conscious of Samuel’s words to Saul:
“And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and
sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better
than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.” 1 Samuel 15:22
• The Psalm is much more concerned with the spirit of the law, described
by Jesus as: “the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and
faith” Matthew 23:23
Psalm 119 8

9. The influence of God’s word over us
• “My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word.”
:25
• “Make me to go [Hebrew: bend a bow] in the path of thy commandments;
for therein do I delight.” :35
• “I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.” :59
• “Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.”
:136 [Cf Romans 7:18-25]
• “How sweet [Hebrew: smooth to my palate] are thy words unto my taste!
yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” :103
• “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend
them.” :165
Psalm 119 9

10. Routes and synapses in our brains…
Psalm 119 10
The pathways or synapses are like paths through a forest, they disappear if unused but become clearer as they are used

11. Pathways in the brain
Psalm 119 11
Baby born with zero connections; up to 2 million connections/sec; by age 2, 100 trillion connections; 50% will be pared back

12. Accessing God’s word
• “I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.” :15
• “O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.” :97
• “I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me.”
:93
• “I opened my mouth, and panted [to inhale eagerly]: for I longed for thy
commandments.” :131
• “Mine eyes prevent [to anticipate or confront] the night watches, that I
might meditate in thy word.” :148
• “Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments.”
:164
Psalm 119 12

13. The resulting state of mind
• “And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have
loved.” :47
• “ Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word. :114
[Cf Psalm 130:5-6]
• “Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: yet thy
commandments are my delights.” :143
• “Let thine hand help me; for I have chosen thy precepts.” :173
• “I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not
forget thy commandments.” [Cf Isaiah 41:17-20] :176
Psalm 119 13

14. Psalm 119 14