Psalm 119:97-104 Christian Standard Bible
מ Mem
97 How I love your instruction!
It is my meditation all day long.
98 Your command makes me wiser than my enemies,
for it is always with me.
99 I have more insight than all my teachers
because your decrees are my meditation.
100 I understand more than the elders
because I obey your precepts.
101 I have kept my feet from every evil path
to follow your word.
102 I have not turned from your judgments,
for you yourself have instructed me.
103 How sweet your word is to my taste—
sweeter than honey in my mouth.
104 I gain understanding from your precepts;
therefore I hate every false way.
Word of God for the Children of God
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Encouraging believers to immerse themselves in studying the Scriptures, to discern, meditate upon, understand God’s promises, to discern lies, false and fraudulent teaching, so to find strength, wisdom, and comfort in God’s Word.
Laudable goal?
Certifiably impossible?
Worthy of being locked away with all the gold in Fort Knox?
A secret second only to the recipe of Coca Cola … two halves – each half is held by two persons neither of whom knows who the other is.
Today, we are going to dive deep into God’s word, for exploring the immense power of His promises, the deadly poison of lies, and the life-giving habits of Scripture study.
Listen to what Charles Spurgeon once said. “A Bible that’s falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t.” Ain’t that the truth? There’s something about immersing ourselves in Scripture that steadies our hearts and clears our minds.
The Power of Promises in Scripture
The power of God’s promises in Scripture is a profound and transformative force in the life of a believer.
These promises are not mere words on a page, but divine assurances that truly provide hope, strength, and guidance in our daily walk with Christ.
They are the bedrock of our faith, the anchor for our souls, and the compass that directs our path.
Delving deeper into the power of God’s promises, we discover that they are not only a source of comfort but also a catalyst for spiritual growth and maturity.
Their inherent truthfulness: Unlike human promises, which can be broken or unfulfilled, God’s promises are infallible and unchanging.
Numbers 23:19 reminds us, “God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?”
This verse assures us that God’s promises are steadfast and reliable. When God makes a promise, He will undoubtedly fulfill it, regardless of the circumstances.
This unshakeable truthfulness provides us with a sense of security and peace, knowing that we can fully trust in God’s word completely.
They’re incredibly personal: They are not generic or one-size-fits-all, but tailored to our individual needs and circumstances.
Whether it’s a promise of provision, protection, or peace, or purpose, each promise speaks directly to our hearts, addressing our deepest fears, desires, and aspirations.
This personal nature of God’s promises makes them a vastly powerful tool for spiritual growth.
As we claim these promises, experience them, fulfilled in our lives, our faith in God deepens, our connectional relationship with Him becomes more intimate.
They’re transformative: They have the power to change our perspective, attitudes, and actions.
When we grasp the full extent of God’s promises, we begin to see ourselves and our circumstances through the lens of His love and faithfulness.
This new perspective can radically alter how we respond to life’s challenges and opportunities.
Instead of reacting out of fear, doubt, or self-reliance, we can respond with faith, hope, and dependence on God.
This transformative power of God’s promises is beautifully captured in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
A source of hope: In a world filled with uncertainty, disappointment, and pain, God’s promises offer beacons of hope shining brightly in the darkness.
They remind us that no matter what we are going through, God is with us, and He has a good plan for our lives.
This hope is not just wishful thinking or blind optimism, but a confident expectation based on the character and promises of God.
Romans 15:13 declares, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
They are the words that God has spoken over us, the infallible promises He has made to us, and the truths that He wants us to cling to in every season of life.
Friends, here would be a good place to share a personal testimony about how God’s promises have been true in your own life. How did they affect your faith?
The Poison of Lies
From the very beginning, in the Garden of Eden, we see the destructive power of deception.
The serpent, embodying the father of lies, deceived Eve, leading to the fall of humanity into sin. Lies are not just false statements or untruths; they are a perversion of God’s truth, a distortion of His perfect design. They are a tool of the enemy, used to sow doubt, confusion, and discord among God’s people.
Their subtlety: They often come cloaked in half-truths, making them difficult to discern.
This is why it is so crucial for us to immerse ourselves in God’s Word, to know His truth intimately.
When we know the truth, we can recognize the lies.
Jesus said in John 8:32, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
A corrosive effect on our relationships:
This is true both with God and with others.
They create barriers of mistrust and misunderstanding.
They can lead us to doubt God’s goodness and faithfulness, to question His love for us.
Lies can also cause us to view others with suspicion and fear, undermining the unity and love that God desires for His people.
Can lead us into sinful behaviors and attitudes: When we believe the lie that we can find fulfillment and satisfaction living apart from God, we may be tempted to pursue worldly pleasures and desires.
Or when we believe the lie we are not loved or valued, we may seek validation and approval from others, leading us deep into pride, jealousy, and insecurity.
God’s truth brings freedom, peace, and joy: It reveals our true identity as beloved children of God, created in His image.
It assures us of His unfailing love and faithfulness, His power and presence in our lives.
It guides us in the way of righteousness, leading us into a life of purpose and fulfillment.
As Jonathan Edwards once said, “Truth is the agreement of our ideas with the ideas of God.”
When we align our thoughts and beliefs with God’s truth, we are protected from the poison of lies.
We are equipped to discern deception, to reject falsehood, and to walk in the light of God’s truth.
The Habits of Scripture Study
Studying Scripture is not just about reading the Bible.
It’s about immersing ourselves in God’s Word, meditating on it, and applying it to our lives.
It’s about letting the Word of God shape our thoughts, our actions, and our very being.
Psalmist in Psalm 119:97 declares, “Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.”
This is the kind of relationship we should strive to have with God’s Word.
Regularity: Just as we need physical food every day, we need spiritual food every day.
We should set aside a specific time each day for Bible study.
It could be early in the morning, during lunch break, or before bed.
The important thing is to make it a daily habit.
Meditation: This is not just about reading the Bible, but thinking deeply about what we read.
It’s about pondering the meaning of the words, asking God for understanding, and letting the Word of God sink deep into our hearts.
It’s about letting the Word of God shape our thoughts and our actions.
Application: James 1:22 warns us, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
Studying Scripture is not just about gaining knowledge. It’s about transforming our lives.
We need to apply what we learn from the Bible to our daily lives.
We need to live out the truths we learn from God’s Word.
Memorization: Psalm 119:11 says, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Memorizing Scripture helps us all to recall God’s promises in times of need, resist temptation, and share the Gospel with others.
Conclusion
As we wrap up today, let’s remember the power of God’s promises, the danger of lies, and the importance of immersing ourselves in Scripture.
Let’s make it our daily habit to study God’s Word, to meditate on it, and to let it transform us from the inside out.
In the name of God, the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit ….
Psalm 8
God’s Glory, Human Dignity
For the choir director: on the Gittith. A psalm of David.
1 Lord, our Lord,
how magnificent is your name throughout the earth!
You have covered the heavens with your majesty.[a]
2 From the mouths of infants and nursing babies,
you have established a stronghold[b]
on account of your adversaries
in order to silence the enemy and the avenger.
3 When I observe your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you set in place,
4 what is a human being that you remember him,
a son of man[c] that you look after him?
5 You made him little less than God[d][e]
and crowned him with glory and honor.
6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands;
you put everything under his feet:
7 all the sheep and oxen,
as well as the animals in the wild,
8 the birds of the sky,
and the fish of the sea
that pass through the currents of the seas.
9 Lord, our Lord,
how magnificent is your name throughout the earth!
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 